2020. The year that will live forever in infamy as “The Covid year”. More than half of the population saw life crumble due to disease, economical problems caused by pandemics or mental issues as a result of lockdown. But not Danish symphonic/Viking metallers Heidra. The quartet took the downtime to work on their third album “To Hell Or Kingdom Come” – a record that would complete their trilogy of story-driven concept albums “The Dawn Trilogy”.
The album was recorded in Italy and Denmark in July and August of 2021 and like Heidra‘s previous work “The Blackening Tide”, was recorded with producer Marco Mastrobuono (Hour Of Penance). To play the drums on the album, the band enlisted the help of Francesco Paoli (of Fleshgod Apocalypse fame) whose stellar drumming provided the backbone of “To Hell or Kingdom Come”.
This new album takes Heidra in a more aggressive direction, drawing inspiration from classic melodic death metal, while at the same time having the band’s melodies and clean singing at its core.
“To Hell Or Kingdom Come” will be released in digital, CD and LP (two colours, each limited to 300 units) by Mighty Music on April 8th, 2022. Pre-orders are available.
The first digital single, of the song “Dusk”, will be released this Friday.
Heidra is a Copenhagen-based metal band playing a mix of melodic, black, and power metal with folk-themed undertones, powerful choruses, and brutal growls. Heidra has a strong following in the Danish metal scene with an established yet growing fan base and a rich gigging history around the country.
Heidra was formed in 2006 and has been steadily growing in strength, in song-writing and as a live performing band over the years. Heidra released their debut EP “Sworn to Vengeance” in 2012 which was followed by the band’s first full album “Awaiting Dawn” in 2014. The album was recorded in Andy La Rocque’s (King Diamond) Sonic Train Studios and accompanied by the bands’ first professional video filmed on location at the iconic Møns Klint for the song “The Eyes of Giants”.
These two critically acclaimed releases pushed Heidra forward and landed the band a series of concerts, including two smaller international tours with bands such as Ektomorf, Infest, and Noctem, a Danish tour and support concerts in Denmark for folk metal giants Korpiklaani.
In 2016 the band was given a support slot on a full European tour in support of Ensiferum and Fleshgod Apocalypse. This propelled the band, literally and figuratively onto the international stage and opened the door to many new fans and new friendships.
At the conclusion of the tour work began in earnest to a follow-up album, expanding upon and continuing the epic narrative begun on “Awaiting Dawn”. “The Blackening Tide” was recorded, produced, mixed, and mastered by Marco Mastrobuono in Rome at Kick Recording Studio in 2017, and marked a further evolution in song-writing prowess and metal riffing majesty.
Following the release of “The Blackening Tide”, Heidra once again set out to conquer Europe, supporting Omnium Gatherum on their European tour in the fall of 2019. The following chapter is called “To Hell Or Kingdom Come” and starts now.
Heidra line-up: Morten Bryld – vocals, keys, acoustic guitars / Martin W. Jensen – guitars / Carlos G.R. – guitars / James Atkin – bass, vocals
“To Hell Or Kingdom Come” Tracklist: 1. The Beginning And The End 2. Retribution’s Dawn 3. Dusk 4. The Rebirth 5. Wolfborn Rising 6. Fall Of the Fey 7. To Hell Or Kingdom Come 8. Ancient Gates 9. Cloaks And Daggers 10. Two Kings