Photo – Bruna Feltrin for www.overdrive.ie © 2025. All Rights Reserved.
Opening the evening was Faroese singer Eivør, whose singular presence instantly captivated the growing crowd. Known to some for her ethereal contributions to television scores and others for her striking solo work, Eivør proved once again why she’s among the most distinctive voices in modern folk. Mid-set, during a particularly fevered drum section, she snapped a drumstick clean in two — an unplanned but fitting moment of raw physicality in a set defined by grace and intensity.
Photo – Bruna Feltrin for www.overdrive.ie ©2025.
The real high point of her set came with the title track from her latest album “Enn”. A swelling, beautifully layered piece, it showcased not only her stunning vocal range but also her ability to command an audience with both vulnerability and power. Humble in her between-song addresses and radiating genuine warmth, Eivør left the stage to a thoroughly deserved thunderous reception from the Irish audience.
Then came Heilung.
It’s difficult to articulate what exactly Heilung is — band, theatre troupe, ceremonial gathering, or ancient world re-enactment — but what they achieved in Dublin last night was something transcendent. As the lights dimmed and the “Opening Ceremony” began, a hush swept through the arena. Figures in antlered headdresses and tribal dress circled the stage, chanting incantations while percussive thuds echoed through the venue’s cavernous space.
From the primal pulse of “In Maidjan” to the entrancing elegance of “Norupo”, every track was delivered with unwavering conviction. “Norupo” in particular was spellbinding; Kai Uwe Faust’s throat-singing interwoven with Maria Franz’s soaring, otherworldly vocals created a soundscape both ancient and alien.
Photo – Bruna Feltrin for www.overdrive.ie © 2025. All Rights Reserved.
The sheer physicality of “Alfadhirhaiti” raised the intensity several notches. Drums battered with ritualistic ferocity, limbs moving in time with the relentless rhythms, and chants hurled skyward as if to summon something just beyond the veil. It wasn’t performance for applause but a shared, visceral experience.
As the set unfolded through “Asja”, “Svanrand” and “Tenet”, the audience — a wonderfully eclectic mix of metal-heads, goths, folk fans, the spiritually curious and everything in between — remained utterly entranced. It’s rare to see a crowd of such varied backgrounds united in silence and awe.
The closing moments of “Hamrer Hippyer” and the solemn, “Closing Ceremony” brought the night full circle. The sense of communal release was palpable as the final chants faded, leaving an atmosphere of lingering reverence.
Heilung don’t do encores. What they offer is something far older and more essential than the trappings of modern gig culture — a reminder that, at its core, music is ritual, and ritual is power. An extraordinary night.
Words – Oran O’Beirne
Photo – Bruna Feltrin
www.overdrive.ie 2025