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.