Experimental folk collective HEILUNG has unveiled the official music video for “Læknisgaldr,” the first single from their upcoming album, Sagas, arriving December 11, 2026, via Season of Mist.
The release features previously unheard material created by HEILUNG’s core members Kai Uwe Faust, Maria Franz, and Christopher Juul during their collaboration with video game developer Ninja Theory on the award-winning Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II.
Following a period of inactivity, the collective is also preparing to enter LAVA Studios this month to begin recording its fourth full-length studio album.
A Ritual of Healing
“Læknisgaldr” explores the relationship between language, ritual, and healing, drawing inspiration from early medieval beliefs that naming an affliction could help contain and overcome it.
Built around hypnotic percussion, repetitive rhythms, and atmospheric chants, the composition reflects HEILUNG’s distinctive approach to creating immersive musical experiences inspired by ancient traditions.
The collective explains:
“We see Sagas as its own branch within Heilung’s musical universe. These recordings show a cinematic, immersive and environmental side of what we do and were shaped very specifically by our work with Ninja Theory and the world of Hellblade.”
The accompanying music video, directed by Gornoss, continues a larger narrative exploring trauma and recovery. Filmed in Norway and Iceland, it follows warriors seeking refuge and healing in the forest after battle.
HEILUNG describes the track as an exploration of how rhythmic repetition and ritual can symbolize the release of emotional and physical distress.
Watch the official music video for “Læknisgaldr”:
Inspired by the World of Hellblade II
Sagas originated during HEILUNG’s collaboration with Ninja Theory, which brought the musicians into the world of Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II, a video game set against the landscapes and mythology of ninth-century Iceland.
During the creative process, Faust, Franz, and Juul spent ten days exploring Iceland’s ice caves, waterfalls, rivers, volcanic landscapes, and rugged coastlines.
The experience inspired considerably more music than the game required, eventually leading to the creation of Sagas as a standalone release.
While the recordings retain their connection to the game’s cinematic atmosphere, the album expands HEILUNG’s musical universe through environmental soundscapes, ritualistic compositions, and immersive arrangements.
The deluxe CD and vinyl editions will also include Ambient, a companion collection featuring eight additional soundscapes recorded during the project.
Sagas Tracklist
- Geiteseidh
- Slagt
- Læknisgaldr
- Orrustumaul
- Seidh
- Jøtnarhaiti
- Sverdhasøngurin
- Spjoutsyla
- Sonatorrek
- Opnun
- Dauðimessa
Sagas will be available in several CD and vinyl configurations, including deluxe gatefold editions, limited colored vinyl variants, and special triple-vinyl packages featuring the additional Ambient recordings.
HEILUNG Begins Work on Fourth Studio Album
Alongside the release of Sagas, HEILUNG is returning to the studio to begin work on its highly anticipated fourth full-length album.
The upcoming sessions at LAVA Studios mark the collective’s return to recording following a hiatus, with further details about the new material expected at a later date.
With Sagas, HEILUNG offers listeners a different perspective on its creative world, bridging its ritualistic musical identity with the cinematic storytelling developed for Hellblade II.
Sagas arrives December 11, 2026, via Season of Mist.