Helga offer a communion with nature and the modern world
SEASON OF MIST
EMANATING FROM
THE
forests of Sweden and echoing through the cobblestone lanes of their eponymous founder’s adopted home, York, Helga’s debut unveils a profound lyrical odyssey, masterfully intertwining the rich tapestry of nature, the weight of cultural heritage and the poignant undertones of human connection. As a solo artist, vocalist Helga Gabriel effortlessly navigated the channels of post-rock, folk and dreampop before forming Helga by placing an advertisement that attracted a group of musicians who were childhood friends. Her metamorphosis into the pulsating core of a vibrant ensemble is profoundly evident throughout the album’s narrative arc, shifting from the ageless allure of unspoiled landscapes to the frenetic rhythms of contemporary urban life.
Opener Skogen Mumlar creates an eerily beautiful tableau, with a jangly introduction drawn straight from Ennio Morricone. As the track builds, it unveils a soulful fusion of folk and prog, woven into plush layers of shoegaze and pop. The band flaunt serious chops in the versatility department too, seamlessly segueing from ambient dreamscapes to scything waves of black metal, as in the enthralling Farfäl and the soaring splendour of Som En Trumma. Contemporary metal is awash with bands throwing dabs of black metal into virtually every genre possible, but Helga incorporate the style with deft subtlety, guided by the frontwoman’s ethereal voice and propelled by powerful drums and seductive fretwork. The latter half of the album synthesises gauzy introspection with ripping salvos of metal, fusing dreampop and folk on Mountain Song and ending with the stark pastoral beauty of the title track.