Already, on their debut album, HELGA weaved together a dark and enchanting assortment. Wrapped in Mist shifts from progressive, Ennio Morricone-inspired folk to abrasive black metal and booming post-rock. “Simply put, this is an incredibly strong debut from a very talented group of musicians” New Noise wrote in a 4-star review.
Today, the UK band are proud to announce that they’ve received another strong accolade. Their song “Burden” won the grand prize in the Rock category during the first session of this year’s John Lennon Songwriting Contest.
“‘Burden’ is a song that was born out of friendship”, HELGA says. “We never thought of it as something that could win a songwriting contest. We are utterly surprised, moved and honored to have won the grand prize. Thank you, JLSC, for believing in our music”.
Their prize includes a Taylor AD17e acoustic-electric guitar and other recording gear. Next April, “Burden” will compete head-to-head with the Session II winner in an online vote to determine the overall winner for the Rock category.
Watch the video for “Burden”.
https://youtu.be/j0p-WAy1GNk
“Burden” recounts a tale of relinquishment and its complexity. Spectral strings and imposing drums converge into a reassuring mélange of emotions, as vocalist Helga Gabriel recognizes having finally found her place in this world.
“‘Burden’ was the first track that was written for [Wrapped in Mist]”, guitarist Cai Sumpton told Knotfest. “I remember hearing the crescendo to the song… I was so blown away by that. I thought the vocals from Helga were stunning and I knew that it was my job to do that section justice. Helga loves post rock stuff, I used to be in a post-rock band. I just knew that was my time to shine”.
“It’s inspired by me moving away from Sweden to the UK and that sort of melancholy that I felt moving away from home, away from the woods”, Helga told Knotfest during the same interview. But also meeting Cai and Cameron [Gledhill], my bandmates, and the friendship that grew out of this whole thing. I really loved the post rock stuff that Cai and Cameron put into this. I was so happy about it”.
Wrapped in Mist is now available on Season of Mist
Order
https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/HelgaWrappedInMist
Stream
https://orcd.co/wrappedinmistpresave
More praise for HELGA
“HELGA has a bright future ahead of them…fans of eclectic music that lurks around the edges of black and post-metal should take note” – Angry Metal Guy
“It is even more remarkable that the utterly enchanting Wrapped in Mist is a debut record” – Everything is Noise
“An evocative and serene experience that should speak to one and all alike” – Distorted Sound
“It’s a big world“, HELGA proclaim on “Burden”. Indeed, next week, the band are performing at London’s International Festival Forum during the Rising Metal Talent Showcase.
HELGA Live @ The IFF Metal Mixer
26 September London, UK @ Arch 33 [Register]
In November, the band will join the Icelandic metal cowboys Sólstafir for the second half of their European tour alongside Finnish black metal psychedelics Oranssi Pazuzu.
Nordic Descent Tour 2024
13 Nov: Groningen, NL @ De Oosterpoort
14 Nov: Nijmegen, NL @ Doornroosje
15 Nov: Maastricht, NL @ Muziekgieterij
16 Nov: Brussels, BE @ Botanique
17 Nov: Bielefeld, DE @ Forum
19 Nov: Lille, FR @ Le Splendid
20 Nov: Brighton, UK @ Concorde 2
21 Nov: Manchester, UK @ Club Academy
22 Nov: Dublin, IR @ Opium
23 Nov: Glasgow, UK @ Queen Margaret Union
24 Nov: London, UK @ Electric Brixton
26 Nov: Paris, FR @ La Machine Du Moulin Rouge
27 Nov: Rennes, FR @ L’Antipode
28 Nov: Toulouse, FR @ Metronum
29 Nov: Pamplona, ES @ Sala Totem
30 Nov: Madrid, ES @ Sala Mon
01 Dec: Barcelona, ES @ Razzmatazz 2
03 Dec: Milano, IT @ Alcatraz
04 Dec: Pratteln, CH @ Z7
05 Dec: München, DE @ Technikum
06 Dec: Vienna, AT @ Simm City
07 Dec: Warsaw, PL @ Proxima
08 Dec: Leipzig, DE @ Taubchental
09 Dec: Berlin, DE @ Metropol
Tickets: https://solstafir.is/live
Tracklist
1. Skogen mumlar (4:23) [WATCH]
2. Burden (4:57)
3. Water (3:55)
4. If Death Comes Now (3:58)
5. Farväl (4:34)
6. Alive Again (3:35)
7. Vast and Wild (4:04)
8. Som en trumma (4:26)
9. Mountain Song (5:34)
10. Wrapped in Mist (6:41)
Total runtime: 44:07
Hailing from the Swedish hinterlands of Dalarna and Halifax, West Yorkshire, HELGA amalgamated in 2019 in York, North Yorkshire. United by singer, Helga Gabriel, the quintet delve into a musical alchemy on their pursuit of darker manifestations.
“We draw on many different influences from Swedish folk to progressive metal to post-rock to black metal to pop. Distilling this into a single style is a challenge.” -Cai S.
Summoning this plethora of layers and genre, HELGA culminate their premier album Wrapped in Mist into
dirgeful lamentations of mortality and mental health, punctuated by formidable drumming, spectral strings and chugging riffs.
The album’s opening track, Skogen mumlar (The Forest Murmurs), transcends forthwith into emotive dreamscapes that leave hairs trembling, Ennio Morricone echoing as the intro’s muse.
But as the journey through Wrapped in Mist transpires, songs such as Farväl (Farewell) reveal
HELGA’s black metal and darker sensibilities. Bewitching through this myriad range, the album’s waltzing coda flirts with a melodic baroque that crescendos with Opeth-esque climax.
The inception of Wrapped in Mist promises to plunge HELGA deep into the spotlight of mesmerising live
performances following release. From the hills and forests of rural dwelling, this is a band destined for a journey worth following.
Lineup
Helga Gabriel – Vocals
Cai Sumption – Guitar
Cameron Gledhill – Guitar
Ryan Fairclough – Bass
Sami Javed – Drums
Follow Helga