Style: Nordic Folk (Mixed vocals)
Recommended for fans of: Wardruna, Heilung, Heldom
Country: Denmark
Release date: 31 October 2025

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Vikings. A word that strikes up images of giant warriors with horned helmets and deadly axes, hell-bent on pillaging every defenseless town they come across. In reality, they were just seafaring adventurers looking for glory and goods to trade back home, although they still pillaged and ravaged the countryside—but I digress. The Viking Age is a famous part of history, and the men and women that went raiding carved an impressive mark in time. Some musicians have even tapped into the vikingr mindset and made some magnificent songs to jam to.

Solo project of Danish producer Reidar Schæfer Olsen, Danheim, is one of these few, taking inspiration from these vikingrs with his new release, Heimferd. Olsen has been making Norse/Viking inspired music for at least a decade. Alongside Wardruna, Danheim’s music has been featured on the popular—though inaccurate—T.V show Vikings. The haunting Norse ambiences of the project mesh together with the show’s dark themes perfectly. Incorporating a blend of electronics and folk elements, such as lur horns and lyres, to conjure up the glory of the ancient Nords, Heimferd sets out to distant shores. An impressive resume, for sure, but will Heimferd reach Valhalla, or will it be left to wait on the boat?

The word “heimferd” means “to return home” in Old Icelandic; if you’ve listened to Danheim’s previous enchanting works, you get a sense that Heimferd is an attempt to return to the heartfelt songwriting and enchanting landscapes those works conjured. Opener “Agermark” sets the atmospheric tone of the album, starting with worldly noise ranging from birds chirping among rustling trees to the sound of sheep bleating in the distance, before the soft beating of drums herald in the main part of the song. Most every song on Heimferd follows this routine in a similar way; for example, “Haukadalur” begins with waves crashing along a shoreline before the drums come in again. Though this kind of soundscaping isn’t the most unique thing in the world of atmospheric Norse music, it does find a nice place compositionally on Heimferd. Each introductory soundscape finds a way to interweave itself within the rest of the song, often as the key thrust of the song’s rhythm, such as the leaves’ rustling in “Rúnmyrkr.” In other cases, the field recordings serve as faint but pleasant enough background noise—like in the title track, which weaves gusts of wind together with breathy singing to create tasteful soundscapes.

The rhythmic elements and non-standard instruments used evoke the trepidation of a hazardous trip. For example, the cow horn used throughout the record conjures images of some Northmen trekking out on a voyage overseas while their family members bid farewell. Standout “Heljar Skuggar” nails that feeling with its eerie, breathy chants and use of deer antlers smacking together—the track would have been strong even as a standalone single. The other songs on Heimferd just can’t match the grittier bite and speed of “Hiljar Skuggar.” 

While Heimferd may have a short runtime with fairly brief songs, the record never feels rushed. Each track transitions into the next naturally, and a narrative flow emerges in the tracklisting. The songwriting is all played relatively safe—a little too safe. Unfortunately, Danheim’s strength to create simple atmospheric melodies ended up being a self-betrayal, as those same simple ambiences turn into mindless background noise after just a couple spins. The vibes become stale and overdone, except for some exceptions like “Heljar Skuggar.” Songs bleed into one another and lose their independence, which is a shame because each is wonderfully crafted when taken in isolation. Closing track, “Yggdrasil,” is another exception to the status quo, a real treat to enjoy, with Olsen’s gentle voice calling you ‘back to the tree of life.’ However, it feels anticlimactic because it is preceded by “Hafvinder,” which feels like a minute of pointless filler right before the finale.

I went into Heimferd hoping for great things. While Heimferd is a gold mine of authentic sounding Norse/Folk songs that masterfully makes use of interesting instruments and natural noises, a lack of innovation and relying on talented-but-stagnant rhythms has left me wanting more. Standout tracks like ominous “Heljar Skuggar” and calming “Yggdrasil” are declarations that Danheim can whip out some magical ambience. Heimferd is a fine album on its own, and for those that are in love with all things Viking, the record is certainly enjoyable. Yet, with the experienced Danheim manning the wheel, I expected something incredible.

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Recommended tracks: Heimferd, Heljar Skuggard, Stormdans, Yggdrasil II
You may also like: Sangre de Muérdago, Kalandra, Nordein, De Mannen Broeders
Final verdict: 6/10

Related links: Bandcamp | Instagram

Label: Independent

Danheim is:
– Reider Schæfer Olsen (everything)