Heilung - Lifa

[The Kilted Heathen]

Came across this band, and holy crap it's awesome.

Heilung is sounds from the northern European iron age and viking period. We used everything from running water, human bones, reconstructed swords and shields up to ancient frame drums and bronze rings in the songs.
The lyrics contain original texts from rune stones and preserved spear shafts, amulets and other artifacts. Furthermore poems, which either deal with historical events or are translations/ interpretations of the originals.
Heilung means healing in German and describes the core of the sound. It is supposed to leave the listener eased and relaxed after a sometimes turbulent musical journey.

Opening Ceremony (@2:10)

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

In Maidjan (@3:20)

Harigasti Teiwa
Tawol Athodu
Ek Erilaz Owlthuthewaz Niwaremariz Saawilagar Hateka Harja
Ha Hu Hi He Ho He Hi Ha Hu

Fehu Uruz Thurisaz Ansuz Raidho Kenaz
Gebo Wunjo Hagal Naudhiz Isa Jera
Eihwaz Perthro Algiz Sowelu Tiwaz Berkano
Ehwaz Mannaz Laguz Ingwaz Dagaz Othala
(x9)

Wuotani Ruoperath

Gleiaugiz Eiurzi
Au Is Urki
Uiniz Ik

Alfadhirhaiti (Names of the Allfather) (@15:48)

Draupnir (Dripper,)
Geri Freki (Greedy, Ravenous,)
Sleipnir (Slippery,)
Gugnir (Swaying one)

(These are Odin's ring, wolves, horse, and spear)

Haegolae Haegolae Haegolae Wiju Bi Gojze (Hail, Hail, Hail I dedicate to the spear,)
Gaegogae Gaegogae Gaegogae Ginu Gahelija (Gagaga, Gagaga, Gagaga I yell resoundingly)
(x9)

Haugen Maunen (Thought, Memory,)

(These are Odin's ravens)

Ok Alfadhir heitir (And he's called Allfather)

Fimbulthulur Fjoelnir (Mighty Thuler, Wise one,)
Udhur Ulfroegni (Striver, Wolfspeaker,)
Thekkur Thudur (Welcomed one, Pale one,)
Onski Ofnir (God of witches, Inciter,)
Rognir Raudhir (Chieftain, Redhead,)
Grimnir Goendlir (Hooded one, Wandwielder,)
Hlefreyr Hangatyr (Famous lord, God of the hanged,)
Njolstapi Naudhvindir (Nebulizer, Needed one,)
Jolfudhr Jafnhaur (Yulefather, Evenhigh,)
Atridhir Alfadhir (Attacking rider, Allfather,)
Sidgrani Sigfadhir (Victory tree, Father of victory,)
Dughirgjafi Dresvarpir (One with a missing eye, God with painted shield,)
Bileygur Biflidhi (Flashing eye, Shieldshaker,)
Margvisir Midhvitnis (Leader of the crowd, One with knowledge,)
Londungr Launhirdir (Shaggy-cloack wielder, Guardian of secrecy,)
Yggr ok Yungir (Terrible one and Stormy one.)
(x4)

Carpathian Forest (@23:08)

Carpathian forest
Where the trees are endless
Forest titans fall to rest
A bed is made for the queen

Mushrooms gather in circles

Where bears walk
Dereliction houses dark spirits
A comet falls deep into darkness

Stones rise in circles

Where drums roar
Water whispers vibrating
People dance under the moon

In circles

Bone to Rune
Skull to Dust
Ice melts the thoughts of the gods
Root promises blossom

Krigsgaldr (War Magic) (@27:07)

Min Warb Naseu
Wilr Made Thaim
I Bormotha Hauni

Hu War
Hu War Opkam Har a Hit Lot?

Got Nafiskr Orf
Auim Suimade
Foki Afa Galande

Hu War
Hu War Opkam Har a Hit Lot?
(all x2)

What am I supposed to do
If I want to talk about peace and understanding
But you only understand the language of the sword
What if I want to make you understand that the path you chose leads to downfall
But you only understand the language of the sword
What if I want to tell you to leave me and my belov'd ones in peace
But you only understand the language of the sword

I let the blade do the talking...
So my tongue shall become iron
And my words the mighty roar of war
Revealing my divine anger's arrow shall strike

All action for the good of all
I see my reflection in your eyes
But my new age has just begun

The sword is soft
In the fire of the furnace
It hungers to be hit
And wants to have a hundred sisters
In the coldest state of their existence
They may dance the maddest
In the morass of the red rain

Beloved brother enemy
I sing my sword song for you
The lullaby of obliteration
So I can wake up with a smile
And bliss in my heart (x3)

Coexistence, Conflict, combat
Devastation, regeneration, transformation
That is the best I can do for you

I see a grey gloom on the horizon
That promises a powerful sun to rise
To melt away all moons
It will make the old fires of purification
Look like dying embers (x6)

Min Warb Naseu
Wilr Made Thaim
I Bormotha Hauni

Hu War
Hu War Opkam Har a Hit Lot?

Got Nafiskr Orf
Auim Suimade
Foki Afa Galande

Hu War
Hu War Opkam Har a Hit Lot?
(all x2)

Ylir Men Aero Their
Era Mela Os

Hakkerskaldyr (Shieldformation) (@37:04)

Y! Ylir men
Ae! Aero Their
Era Mela os
Min Warb Naseu
Wilr Made Thaim
I Bormotha Hauni
I Bormotha Hauni
Got Nafiskr Orf
Auim Suimade
Foki Afa Galande
Foki Afa Galande
Hu! War!
Hu war Opkam Har a Hit Lot

 

[The Kilted Heathen]

Fylgija Ear / Futhorc (@40:15)
Grab bleibt Ekel jedem Edeling (The grave is horrible to every knight,)
Wenn faulendes Fleisch sich gaert (when the corpse quickly begins to cool)
Grund klagt grausam kuehlend (and is laid in the bosom of the dark earth.)
Fahren die Gaben hin verfaulen Garben (Prosperity declines,)
Freude bricht fort Vertraege brechen (happiness passes away and covenants are broken)
(x9)

Ear byth egle eorla gehwylcun
Dhonne faestlice flaesc onginneth
Hraw colian hrusan ceosan
blac to gebeddan bleda gedreosath
Wynna gewitath wera geswicath

​

 

[The Kilted Heathen]

(Futhorc @44:50)​

Feoh byþ frofur fira gehwylcum; (Wealth is a comfort to all men)
sceal ðeah manna gehwylc miclun hyt dælan (yet must every man bestow it freely)
gif he wile for drihtne domes hleotan. (if he wish to gain honor in the sight of the chieftain.)

Ur byþ anmod ond oferhyrned, (The aurochs is proud and has great horns)
felafrecne deor, feohteþ mid hornum (it is a very savage beast and fights with its horns)
mære morstapa; þæt is modig wuht. (a great ranger of the moors, it is a creature of mettle.)

Ðorn byþ ðearle scearp; ðegna gehwylcum (The thorn is exceedingly sharp,)
anfeng ys yfyl, ungemetum reþe (an evil thing for any thegn to touch,)
manna gehwelcum, ðe him mid resteð. (uncommonly severe on all who sit among them.)

Os byþ ordfruma ælere spræce, (The mouth is the source of all language,)
wisdomes wraþu ond witena frofur (a pillar of wisdom and a comfort to wise men,)
and eorla gehwam eadnys ond tohiht. (a blessing and a joy to every thegn.)

Rad byþ on recyde rinca gehwylcum (Riding seems easy to every warrior while he is indoors)
sefte ond swiþhwæt, ðamðe sitteþ on ufan (and very courageous to him who traverses the high-roads)
meare mægenheardum ofer milpaþas. (on the back of a stout horse.)

Cen byþ cwicera gehwam, cuþ on fyre (The torch is known to every living man by its pale,)
blac ond beorhtlic, byrneþ oftust (bright flame; it always burns)
ðær hi æþelingas inne restaþ. (where princes sit within.)

Gyfu gumena byþ gleng and herenys, (Generosity brings credit and honor, which support one's dignity)
wraþu and wyrþscype and wræcna gehwam (it furnishes help and subsistence]
ar and ætwist, ðe byþ oþra leas. (to all broken men who are devoid of aught else.)

Wenne bruceþ, ðe can weana lyt (Bliss he enjoys who knows not)
sares and sorge and him sylfa hæfþ (suffering, sorrow nor anxiety,)
blæd and blysse and eac byrga geniht. (and has prosperity and happiness and a good enough house.)

Hægl byþ hwitust corna; (Hail is the whitest of grain)
hwyrft hit of heofones lyfte, (it is whirled from the vault of the heavens)
wealcaþ hit windes scura; (and is tossed about by gusts of wind)
weorþeþ hit to wætere syððan. (and then it melts into water.)

Nyd byþ nearu on breostan; (Trouble is oppressive to the heart)
weorþeþ hi þeah oft niþa bearnum (yet often it proves a source of help and salvation)
to helpe and to hæle gehwæþre, (to the children of men,)
gif hi his hlystaþ æror. (to everyone who heeds it betimes.)

Is byþ ofereald, ungemetum slidor, (Ice is very cold and immeasurably slippery)
glisnaþ glæshluttur gimmum gelicust, (it glistens as clear as glass and most like to gems)
flor forste geworuht, fæger ansyne. (it is a floor wrought by the frost, fair to look upon.)

Ger byÞ gumena hiht, ðonne godu læteþ, (Summer is a joy to men, when the gods)
halig heofones cyning, hrusan syllan (suffers the earth to bring forth shining fruits)
beorhte bleda beornum ond ðearfum. (for rich and poor alike.)

Eoh byþ utan unsmeþe treow, (The yew is a tree with rough bark,)
heard hrusan fæst, hyrde fyres, (hard and fast in the earth, supported by its roots,)
wyrtrumun underwreþyd, wyn on eþle. (a guardian of flame and a joy upon an estate.)

Peorð byþ symble plega and hlehter (Peorth is a source of recreation and amusement to the great,)
wlancum on middum, ðar wigan sittaþ (where warriors sit blithely together)
on beorsele bliþe ætsomne. (in the banqueting-hall.)

Eolh-secg eard hæfþ oftust on fenne (The Eolh-sedge is mostly to be found in a marsh)
wexeð on wature, wundaþ grimme, (it grows in the water and makes a ghastly wound,)
blode breneð beorna gehwylcne (covering with blood)
ðe him ænigne onfeng gedeþ. (every warrior who touches it.)

Sigel semannum symble biþ on hihte, (The sun is ever a joy in the hopes of seafarers)
ðonne hi hine feriaþ ofer fisces beþ, (when they journey away over the fishes' bath,)
oþ hi brimhengest bringeþ to lande. (until the courser of the deep bears them to land.)

Tir biþ tacna sum, healdeð trywa wel (Tiw is a guiding star; well does it keep faith)
wiþ æþelingas; a biþ on færylde (with princes; it is ever on its course)
ofer nihta genipu, næfre swiceþ. (over the mists of night and never fails.)

Beorc byþ bleda leas, bereþ efne swa ðeah (The poplar bears no fruit; yet without seed it brings forth suckers,)
tanas butan tudder, biþ on telgum wlitig, (for it is generated from its leaves.)
heah on helme hrysted fægere, (Splendid are its branches and gloriously adorned)
geloden leafum, lyfte getenge. (its lofty crown which reaches to the skies.)

Eh byþ for eorlum æþelinga wyn, (The horse is a joy to princes in the presence of warriors.)
hors hofum wlanc, ðær him hæleþ ymbe (A steed in the pride of its hoofs,)
welege on wicgum wrixlaþ spræce (when rich men on horseback bandy words about it)
and biþ unstyllum æfre frofur. (and it is ever a source of comfort to the restless.)

Man byþ on myrgþe his magan leof: (The joyous man is dear to his kinsmen)
sceal þeah anra gehwylc oðrum swican, (yet every man is doomed to fail his fellow,)
forðum godu wyle dome sine (since the gods by their decree will commit)
þæt earme flæsc eorþan betæcan. (the vile carrion to the earth.)

Lagu byþ leodum langsum geþuht, (The ocean seems interminable to men,)
gif hi sculun neþan on nacan tealtum (if they venture on the rolling bark)
and hi sæyþa swyþe bregaþ (and the waves of the sea terrify them)
and se brimhengest bridles ne gymeð. (and the courser of the deep heed not its bridle.)

Ing wæs ærest mid East-Denum (Ing was first seen by men among the East-Danes,)
gesewen secgun, oþ he siððan est (till, followed by his chariot,)
ofer wæg gewat; wæn æfter ran; (he departed eastwards over the waves.)
ðus Heardingas ðone hæle nemdun. (So the Heardingas named the hero.)

Eþel byþ oferleof æghwylcum men, (An estate is very dear to every man,)
gif he mot ðær rihtes and gerysena on (if he can enjoy there in his house)
brucan on bolde bleadum oftast. (whatever is right and proper in constant prosperity.)

Dæg byþ godu sond, deore mannum, (Day is sent by the gods; it is beloved of men,)
mære metodes leoht, myrgþ and tohiht (a source of hope and happiness to rich and poor,)
eadgum and earmum, eallum brice. (and of service to all.)

Ac byþ on eorþan elda bearnum (The oak fattens the flesh of pigs for the children of men.)
flæsces fodor, fereþ gelome (Often it traverses the gannet's bath,)
ofer ganotes bæþ; garsecg fandaþ (and the ocean proves whether the oak keeps faith)
hwæþer ac hæbbe æþele treowe. (in honourable fashion.)

Æsc byþ oferheah, eldum dyre (The ash is exceedingly high and precious to men.)
stiþ on staþule, stede rihte hylt, (With its sturdy trunk it offers a stubborn resistance,)
ðeah him feohtan on firas monige. (though attacked by many a man.)

Yr byþ æþelinga and eorla gehwæs (Yr is a source of joy and honor to every prince and knight)
wyn and wyrþmynd, byþ on wicge fæger, (it looks well on a horse)
fæstlic on færelde, fyrdgeatewa sum. (and is a reliable equipment for a journey.)

Iar byþ eafix and ðeah a bruceþ (Iar is a river fish and yet it always feeds on land)
fodres on foldan, hafaþ fægerne eard (it has a fair abode encompassed by water,)
wætre beworpen, ðær he wynnum leofaþ. (where it lives in happiness.)

Ear byþ egle eorla gehwylcun, (The grave is horrible to every knight,)
ðonne fæstlice flæsc onginneþ, (when the corpse quickly begins to cool)
hraw colian, hrusan ceosan (and is laid in the bosom of the dark earth.)
blac to gebeddan; bleda gedreosaþ, (Prosperity declines, happiness passes away)
wynna gewitaþ, wera geswicaþ. (and covenants are broken.)​

 

[The Kilted Heathen]

Othan (@52:44)
Hariuha laþu laukar gakar alu ole lule laukar ()

Þat kann ek it ellifta: (An eleventh I know,)
ef ek skal til orrostu (if needs I must lead)
leiða langvini, (To the fight my long-loved friends,)
und randir ek gel, (I sing in the shields,)
en þeir með ríki fara (and in strength they go)
heilir hildar til, (Whole to the field of fight,)
heilir hildi frá, (Whole from the field of fight,)
koma þeir heilir hvaðan. (And whole they come thence home.)
Hariuha laþu laukar gakar alu ole lule laukar ()

Þat kann ek it fimmta: (A fifth I know,)
ef ek sé af fári skotinn (If I see from afar)
flein í folki vaða, (An arrow fly 'gainst the folk,)
fýgr-a hann svá stinnt, (It flies not so swift)
at ek stöðvig-a-k, (That I stop it not,)
ef ek hann sjónum of sék. (If ever my eyes behold it.)

Hamrer Hippyer (@1:03:09)

Hanga dýra mingja (Hang the animals)

Sôse benrenkî, sôse bluotrenkî, sôse lidirenkî, (Like bone-sprain, so blood-sprain, so joint-sprain,)
Ben zi bena, bluot zi bluoda, (Bone to bone, blood to blood,)
Lid zi gelidin, sôse gelîmida sîn (joints to joints, so may they be mended.)

Alu Is Urki (May it be of help)​

 

[Aldrnari]

I came across these guys while looking for a futhorc rune poem on youtube. Very interesting.

 

[DanishCrow]

If that tickles your fancy, make sure to check out some of their prior projects, particularly Valravn:

(Come All Creatures - a petition to the spirits of stones, woods and heath to give and show power to the singer)

(Brave in Rose-garth - a classic medieval song about a pagan youth who kills his brother and wife for adultery, answering his mothers inquiries about when he will come home)

are favorites, but in general all the albums rock. There ought to be plenty of translations online, but if there's a song you fancy and can't find one, I'd be happy to do it for you.

 

[The Kilted Heathen]

I really liked Valravn's music; didn't realize that was her!

 

[DanishCrow]

I don't think it is. Some of the session musicians are

 

[DanishCrow]

Just got back from seeing them live, and it's excellent! A ritual with music, more than the other way around, which is to be expected with norse animists on the team.

I came to post that they're also booked to make a ritual and concert at Midgaardsblot, which is an excellent metal festival with heathen themes: www.midgardsblot.no