Summoning a plethora of layers and genre, HELGA culminate their premier album ‘Wrapped in Mist‘ into dirgeful lamentations of mortality and mental health, punctuated by formidable drums, spectral strings and chugging riffs. The album’s first single, ‘Skogen mumlar’ (The Forest Murmurs), transcends forthwith into emotive dreamscapes that leave hairs trembling on goose-pimpled skin. Ennio Morricone echoing as the intro’s muse.
“I’ve always had a fascination with Swedish folklore,” says vocalist Helga Gabriel. “This song is about the forest-dwelling beings from those stories of old.”
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
Style: Haunted Ethereal Progressive Metal FFO: Opeth, Anna Von Hasswolff, Alcest, The Gathering, Mt. Zion,
Myrkur, King Crimson
Photo by Ester Segarra
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
Recording
Guitars and vocals recorded by Tom Peters at Trapdoor Studios
Drums recorded by Bob Cooper at Chairworks Studios
Production
Produced and mixed by Luiz Felipe Netto
Mastered by Brad Boatright at Audiosiege
Additional musicians
Damian Bolotin – Violin on “Skogen mumlar”, “Vast and Wild” and “Wrapped in Mist”.
Antonio Guerra – Grand piano on “Mountain Song” and “Vast and Wild”.
Mafram do Maracanã – Percussion on “Skogen mumlar” and “Wrapped in Mist”
Bruno Migliari – Double bass on “Mountain Song”, “Skogen mumlar” and “Wrapped in Mist”
Luiz Felipe Netto – Acoustic guitar on “If Death Comes Now” & “Wrapped in Mist”, as well as additional electric guitars, keyboards and string arrangements.
Ayran Nicodemo – Violin on “Mountain Song”, “Skogen mumlar”, “Vast and Wild” and “Wrapped in Mist”
Bruno Serroni – Cello on “Farväl” and “Vast and Wild”
Joe Zeitlin – Cello on “Farväl”, “Mountain Song”, “Skogen mumlar”, “Vast and Wild” & “Wrapped in Mist”
