Norwegian Viking/black metal icons Helheim are back with their 12th studio album — a groundbreaking effort that sees the band venture into uncharted territory by crafting a split album with… get this… themselves! For the first time in their more than 3 decade plus history, core songwriters V’gandr and H’grimnir have each taken complete creative control over one half of the album, handling both vocals and musical direction independently of one another. The outcome is that we get two different takes on the classic Helheim sound.
HrabnaR is the title of the first half of the record. H’grimnir has control of the reins here. It opens with the powerful, yet dark and cold “Geist.” This cut is pure Helheim and will take the listener back to some of the band’s earlier work in the verses, but is meshed with some lovely vocal harmonies in the chorus. An extremely strong opening. The melodic “Sorg Er Dodens Spade” follows and slows things down a bit. Some stand-out vocals again here. I love the space in the mix for the bass, and with that, you can hear a touch of some 80’s goth in here – think The Cure – but just a touch. “Livsblot” speeds the tempo up again and features some of the lightning-fast tremolo guitar the band has made part of their signature sound. Similar sonics are found on “Mennesket Er Dyret I Tale.”
Ad Vesa is the second half of the split record, with V’gandr helming the back four songs. You might recognize V’gandr from his work as live bassist in the legendary Taake, also based out of Bergen, Norway. “Fygla” is the opener here. It’s a bit black and roll and probably the most accessible track on the entire LP, which is accentuated by some very unique sounds here and there with a Hammond organ.
“Hamingja” is a track that uses mixed tempo and time changes. It reminds me a lot of the band’s work from 2010 and their Asgards Fall EP. Some shades of “Dualitet og ulver,” which is one of their best tracks. “Hugr” likewise harkens back to the band’s earlier years with some grit, velocity, and lyrical content that goes deep into Norse metaphysics. The record closes with “Hamr” which introduces some keyboards alongside traditional blastbeats and chord progressions that are unmistakably Norwegian.
Recorded in Duper and Solslottet Studio in 2024-2025, the album was engineered, produced, mixed, and mastered by Iver Sandøy, who you know as the drummer and vocalist for Enslaved. This is Iver’s second record that he produced, that is coming out this month (Gaahl’s Wyrd being the other one).
Helheim is one of those bands that cares little about boundaries or rules. They have always carved their own unique path. This record, in that regard, is no different. It takes risks, and luckily, those risks pay off. While not their best record, this is an invigorating record that is going to really satisfy those who desire genuine Norwegian black metal.
Release Date: June 20th, 2025
Record Label: Dark Essence Records
Genre: Viking Black Metal
Musicians:
- Hrymr / Drums, grand piano, Hammond organ, vocals (clean) (tracks 5-8)
- V’gandr / Vocals (tracks 5-8), bass
- H’grimnir / Vocals (tracks 1-4), guitars (rhythm)
- Noralf / Guitars (lead)
HrabnaR / Ad Vesa Track-list:
- Geist
- Sorg er dødens spade
- Livsblot
- Mennesket er dyret i tale
- Fylgja
- Hamingja
- Hugr
- Hamr
Listen to HrabnaR / Ad Vesa here
Helheim’s 12th studio album is a daring split release in which longtime members V’gandr and H’grimnir each take creative control over one half, delivering two distinct yet authentically Helheim experiences. The result is a bold and dynamic evolution of their Viking/black metal sound, filled with risk-taking compositions that honor their legacy while pushing into new territory
- Songwriting
- Musicianship
- Originality
- Production
