LIVE REVIEW: Heilung @ Islington Assembly Hall, London
HEILUNG have been taking the attention of people globally in the past couple of years. In a way they are indescribable, but in another when you experience them you know exactly what they are about. When the time comes and you understand what HEILUNG are about, their name becomes fitting. Translated from German, HEILUNG means healing, and that is what they do. They reconnect listeners to states of peace and relaxation in their musical journey. They do this by using their influences and love for history, predominantly the Iron Age and Viking era, using many instruments/objects from shamanic drums, reconstructed swords, human bones, throat singing and more. Using these sounds with lyrics from original rune stone texts, historical events and translated poems of original text, they set themselves up for what should be a performance you’ll never forget. We got to witness their ritualistic performance at Islington Assembly Hall in London and experience something special.
Opening the night was the magnificent cellist, Jo Quail. The solo composer and performer stood in a humble pose whilst she used her instrument as though it was her puppet. The adventure in how she uses her cello was extraordinary, using various techniques and mixing them together with looping techniques, the sound that was delivered should have been coming from multiple sources, not singularly. Her whole approach to the stage was something that set HEILUNG fans up for a night of experiencing something that would unite everyone.
Rating: 9/10
After a short break, the rituals began. HEILUNG took to the stage and from the moment they started the entire room was captivated. Focusing on the elegance of each aspect of the performance that had been so carefully put together, there was no fault to be found. The look of the stage embraced the beauty of nature, the music embraced the unity of people, both put together portrayed a history that we should never forget and can still learn from.
The energy that was displayed from HEILUNG was enchanting, time went by in the blink of an eye because the focus was on them entirely, no gaze went by broken. What they delivered as a unit was flawless and that raw emotion, empowerment and sense of belonging was unleashed into the audience.
Hamrer Hippyer was a sure highlight of everyone’s night. The 14-minute piece had every person from the crowd moving in every way, and for that short period of time it was easy to get lost in yourself and do exactly as HEILUNG‘s name means; heal.
All had an individual presence despite being a unit on stage. Maria Franz had the elegance and grace of something otherworldly. Her stance, her soothing voice echoed and coated the venue like velvet. Kai Uwe Faust‘s throat singing is a skill that he has mastered and what he delivered in London was this ball of overwhelming energy through just his vocals. Christopher Juul brought history back to now, he ignited that feeling of reconnecting with ourselves in a way that was so passion-filled. Each musician, each warrior gave off pure strength and power.
Watching HEILUNG was more than just going to a concert and enjoying music, or a performance. Watching HEILUNG was an experience that got you in touch with your inner-self, that took you away from the business of everyday life and for that couple of hours you were able to escape. It was a show that reminded you of the importance of history, nature, being a human, embracing yourself and other people. What this band have done is something special over the past couple of years, they have done something extraordinary and if they continue to do what they are doing, they will break down every barrier the world will put up.
“Remember, that we all are brothers
All people, beasts, trees and stone and wind
We all descend from the one great being
That was always there
Before people lived and named it
Before the first seed sprouted.”
Rating: 10/10
Check out our photo gallery of the night’s action in London from Karolina Janikunaite here:
