The story of „Heathen Foray“ begins in autumn 2005 in the city of Deutschlandsberg. After the collapse of their old band, Jürgen Brüder (Ex-Plethora) and Daniel Koinegg (Ex-Plethora) decided to try again with a new project.

A drummer was found in december 2005. C. Michael Hofbauer brought a lot of experience and know-how into the project. After short time, he decided to stay in the project as a permanent member.

After a long search for a rehersal place the band came across Markus Engert. Markus offered his private rehersal room and untertook the bass. So the band found a brand new home in the city of Graz.

In Mai 2006 Daniel quit the band. He decided for personal reasons to leave the project. Soon after Daniel had quit a more than fitting replacement was found. Safet Pehlic (Arctic Light) stood in for Daniel.

Shortly after Safet joined the band a new man for the vocals was found. Robert Schroll brought his special character into the band and undertook the vocals.

Just a few weeks after they completed the lineup, Heathen Foray could play a full set of their own songs and began to look for gigs. Soon Heathen Foray played their first gig in Deutschlandsberg. A big success for the band!

Afterwards the band decided to hit the studio to begin the recordings for their first Demorelease. However, the recordings were interrupted by a surprising decision of Safet. He decided to adopt a different music style and left Heathen Foray.

The band began immediately to look for a new guitarist. Soon they found the perfect candidate. Bernd Zahn filled Safet footsteps perfectly and learned the songs in an incredible pace.

After participating in two bandcontests, and winning a first and a second place by audience votes, the band reentered the studio. They interrupted their work only to play some gigs in Vienna, Graz and Linz. The first Demo "Forest" was released in August 2007.

The year 2008 began with a change on the bass. Markus Wildinger filled in and made it possible for the band to play as support for Ensiferum, Moonsorrow, Korpiklaani, Tyr and Eluveitie at the Paganfest 2008. On the same day, Markus became a permanent member!

In summer 2008 the band returned to the studio to record their first full-length Album "The Passage" and shortly afterwards signed with german label Black Bards Entertainment.

The musical style of Heathen Foray is hard to define. Some people say they play Viking-Metal with strong Power-Metal influence. Others say that they play Melodic-Death-Metal with Folk influences. We confess…we don’t know it ourselves. But one thing is sure: The style of Heathen Foray lies somewhere between those extremes!