{{Short description|Swedish Viking rock band}} {{Refimprove|date=October 2020}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Hel | image = | image_size = | landscape = | alt = | caption = | alias = | origin = Eskilstuna, Sweden | genre = Viking rock<ref>{{cite news |title=Mondo avbokar vikingarock efter protester |url=https://www.dn.se/kultur-noje/mondo-avbokar-vikingarock-efter-protester/ |work=Dagens Nyheter |date=2003-05-16 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316140553/http://www.dn.se/kultur-noje/mondo-avbokar-vikingarock-efter-protester/ |archive-date=March 16, 2016}}</ref> | years_active = 1999–present | label = Ultima Thule Records, Peanut Music AB | associated_acts = | website = | current_members = | past_members = }}
'''Hel''' is a Swedish Viking rock band, based in Eskilstuna, Södermanland, Sweden. The band's name is derived from the Norse goddess Hel.
== History == Hel formed in 1999 following the disintegration of Völund Smed, three of the Hel's five members having previously played in that band. A major change from Völund Smed's lineup was that Hel would feature two female vocalists, Malin Pettersson and Ulrica Pettersson.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=http://www.vikingarock.se/banden/hel.php|title=Hel - VIKINGAROCK . SE|website=Vikingarock.se|accessdate=16 October 2020|archive-date=3 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603061505/http://www.vikingarock.se/banden/hel.php|url-status=dead}}</ref> The first release of Hel's material was on the vikingarock compilation album, ''Carolus Rex IV''. As a result of the compilation's commercial success, Hel was initially signed to vikingrock group Ultima Thule's label, Ultima Thule Records, but later formed their own label, Peanut Music AB.
The band toured internationally between 2001 and 2004, finally breaking up following the departure of violinist Cia Hedmark in 2004 to reform Völund Smed.<ref name="auto"/>
In 2008, Malin Pettersson, Ulrica Pettersson, and Adde Norlin debuted a new band called Tales of Origin. Whereas Hel sang in Swedish, Tales of Origin sings in English.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.talesoforigin.com/ |title=Tales of Origin |access-date=2020-01-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101015044418/http://www.talesoforigin.com/ |archive-date=2010-10-15 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Their first album was titled "Through Virgin Eyes."
== Band members == *Ulrica Pettersson: vocals *Malin Pettersson: vocals, guitar *Esa Rosenström: guitar *Piere Karlsson: drums *Stefan Johansson: bass *Adde Norlin: vocals, acoustic- & electric guitar, bass, cello, piano, accordion, flute *Cia Hedmark: violin
== Discography == === Studio albums === *''Valkyriors dom'' (1999) *''Blodspår'' (2001) *''Bortglömda tid'' (2002) *''Det som varit ÄR'' (2003)
=== Appearances on compilation albums === *''Carolus Rex IV'' (1999) *''Genom eld och aska'' (split CD with Ultima Thule) (2000) *''Carolus Rex V'' (2001) *''Carolus Rex VI'' (2002) *''Carolus Rex VII'' (2004) *''Carolus Rex VIII'' (2006)
=== Video === *''Hel - Live'' (DVD) (2005)
==References== {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{Official website|http://www.helsrike.se/}} *[http://www.vikingarock.se/banden/hel.php Profile and discography from vikingarock.se] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603061505/http://www.vikingarock.se/banden/hel.php |date=2016-06-03 }} *[https://archive.today/20070812031040/http://www.ekuriren.se/hermes/article/EK_20010821_07_A_1_2.html Eskilstuna-Kuriren: Hel är trötta på naziststämpeln]
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Category:1999 establishments in Sweden Category:Culture in Eskilstuna Category:Musical groups established in 1999 Category:Musical groups from Södermanland County Category:Viking rock Category:Swedish viking metal musical groups