Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson
An Icelandic composer whose haunting, elemental soundscapes bridge ancient pagan spirituality and the avant-garde edges of modern music.
Born 1958 (age 68)·Icelandic musician and composer·Birthday: April 23·Baby Boomers
Biography
Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson, often known simply as HÖH, moves through the worlds of music and ancient faith with a quiet, commanding presence. His artistic journey began in Iceland's punk and industrial scene of the 1980s, collaborating with groups like Þeyr and crafting a stark, atmospheric sound. This sonic exploration naturally intertwined with his deep involvement in Ásatrú, the modern revival of Old Norse paganism, where he eventually rose to become its allsherjargoði, or high priest. His compositions, whether for films like 'Children of Nature' or standalone works, are rarely mere background; they are immersive environments built from minimalist electronics, traditional instruments, and the raw textures of nature. Hilmarsson's work suggests that the old gods are not gone but resonate in the glacial silence, volcanic heat, and synthesized tones of his homeland's sound.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Hilmar was born in 1958, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Hilmar Was Born
The biggest hits of 1958
#1 Movie
South Pacific
Best Picture
Gigi
#1 TV Show
Gunsmoke
Hilmar's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1958Born
NASA founded
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Volare" — Domenico ModugnoBest Picture: Gigi
1963Started school
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1971Became a teenager
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1974Could drive
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1976Could vote
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1979Turned 21
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1988Turned 30
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1998Turned 40
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2008Turned 50
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 60
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 68 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Icelandic Film Award for Best Music for his score to 'Children of Nature', which was also nominated for an Academy Award.
- Served as the art director and composer for the Icelandic band Þeyr, a seminal act in the country's post-punk scene.
- Has been the allsherjargoði (high priest) of the Ásatrúarfélagið, Iceland's pagan association, since 2003.
- Composed the official soundtrack for the ceremony re-establishing the historic Þingvellir parliament site in 2000.
Did You Know?
He is a founding member of the Icelandic band Psychic Terrorism.
He contributed music to the 'Cold Meat' industrial music compilation series.
His work often involves the use of traditional Nordic instruments like the langspil and fiðla.
He has a background in graphic design and has created artwork for albums and events.
“Music is a ritual, a way to connect with something older than ourselves.”
