Heilung and Eivør at Red Hill Auditorium Live Review

Alright, confession time: last night, I may have accidentally joined a cult. But I promise, it’s the kind of cult you want in on. From the moment we entered Red Hill Auditorium, Perth, WA, we’d stepped into a forest, branches covering the stage and barriers, and it set the scene for an unforgettable night. The concert opened with a Noongar smoking ceremony, welcoming us with sage and fire, an acknowledgement of the land and a grounding start to a night that felt both ancient and completely alive.

Eivør took the stage first, and she was nothing short of magical. Known by many for her work on The Last Kingdom and God of War: Ragnarök soundtrack, Eivør is a formidable force. Her voice moved between a high, operatic beauty and deep, raspy-throat singing. Her new album, ENN, has this cosmic quality, but the live iteration elevated every song with powerful drumming, guitar solos, and moments that held us in awe. This was her first time performing in Australia, and Perth embraced her with arms wide open.

And then it was time for Heilung. I was introduced to their sound during the unveiling of Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II and I immediately fell in love, wrapped in goosebumps, but that could not prepare me for feeling it in person. Heilung’s show is a ritual, and they’ve earned that title. From the first horn blast, you could feel the tension and the anticipation build. They had a story to tell, and the visuals were of equal importance to the soundscape. It’s a full sensory experience. The set design, the lighting, and the costumes. It felt intentionally designed to evoke a spiritual atmosphere. You’ll feel every growl, chant, haunting vocal and beat of a drum deep in your bones. It’s emotionally familiar, even if the words are foreign. Throughout the night, I kept finding myself forgetting to breathe, completely lost in the moment, and then exhaling like I’d come up for air. It was transcendent and unlike anything I’d experienced in my many years of attending live events.

As a woman, witnessing the women on stage, painted and topless, fiercely pounding drums, holding spears and shields, dancing with freedom and power, was beyond words. The sheer freedom of expression, the way they expelled every inhibition. It had my complete respect.

The crowd was as eclectic as they come, from metalheads, folk lovers, and everyone in between, with capes, feathers, and foliage crowns galore. It’s a beautiful thing when a performance brings together such a mix of people, and Heilung’s tribal sound creates that kind of unity.

As my partner and I left the venue, we felt an overwhelming sense of connection and catharsis as if we’d been welcomed into a secret circle. I felt renewed, as though I’d glimpsed an alternate timeline where all was well. ‘Amplified History‘ is the perfect descriptor. A shooting star even traced the sky, like it was honouring the moment. It was an otherworldly evening with Eivør and Heilung, and I’d urge you all to join the ritual if you can.