Enslaved (band)
Encyclopedia
Enslaved is a progressive
black metal
band formed in June 1991 in Sveio
, Norway
, and currently based out of Bergen, Norway.
and Grutle Kjellson
(also known as Kjell Grutle) when they were 13 and 17 years old, respectively. The band name was inspired by an Immortal
demo track, "Enslaved in Rot". After many line-up changes throughout their career, Bjørnson and Kjellson are the only remaining original members. By 2004 the line-up solidified with guitarist Arve "Ice Dale" Isdal, drummer Cato Bekkevold, and keyboardist/vocalist Herbrand Larsen.
Bjørnson and Kjellson had been playing in a death metal
band called Phobia, but like many in the burgeoning extreme metal movement, they were looking for new sources of inspiration and expression. Though Enslaved began as a prototypical Norwegian black metal band, they always incorporated song structures unusual for the genre, with several of their early songs expanding past the ten-minute mark. As such, the band has rejected the black metal genre label and prefers the term 'extreme metal
'. The album Eld (1997) is often considered to be the beginning of the band's shift towards progressive metal
. The band's shift toward progressive viking metal was rendered complete with Mardraum (2000), which contained several multi-part epics such as "Større enn tid - Tyngre enn natt" and "Entrance - Escape"; from that point onward, the band's influence from progressive rock
became stronger on each successive record, with several tracks (most prominently, "As Fire Swept Clean the Earth" from Below the Lights
) even using mellotron
. Mardraum, Monumension
(2001), and Below the Lights
(2003) can be regarded as having somewhat similar styles, although there is a clear progression of sound between the albums regardless; however, Isa
(2004) and Ruun (2006) show a marked departure from previous sounds, most notably, with inclusion of sharp dynamic shifts.
Although the band has used mainly English
lyrics since Monumension
, their albums before that were mostly recorded in Norwegian
except on their first full-length album, where three songs had Icelandic
lyrics, while the lyrics on Heimdallr was an Old Norse
excerpt from Gylfaginning
by Snorri Sturluson
. Most of their lyrics relate to Norse mythology
.
In 2007-2008 Bjørnson, Kjellson, and Isdal collaborated with the Norwegian noise duo Fe-Mail, under the name Trinacria. Enslaved released the album Vertebrae
in September 2008. On this particular album, many of their techniques, particularly harmonies, have been compared to Pink Floyd
. After touring Europe extensively, Enslaved embarked on a North American tour with the progressive death metal band Opeth
in May 2009. Enslaved released their eleventh studio album, Axioma Ethica Odini
, on September 27, 2010 in Europe and the following day in North America. In 2011 Enslaved announced and released two new EPs. The first EP, entitled The Sleeping Gods, which was produced in partnership with Scion Audio/Visual
, was released on May 10, 2011 and made available as a free download consisting of 5 original tracks. The second EP, entitled Thorn, was released on August 27, 2011 in partnership with Soulseller Records in fulfillment of a decade old agreement. The Thorn EP, released on seven-inch vinyl, was strictly limited to 1,000 copies and featured a more atmospheric sound then the band is currently known for. Enslaved will be starting their 20th anniversary tour "Circling Above and Within North America Tour Part IV" in September 2011 with Alcest
and Junius
in the United States and Canada.
Progressive metal
Progressive metal is a subgenre of heavy metal originating in the United Kingdom and North America in the late 1980s...
black metal
Black metal
Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include fast tempos, shrieked vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, blast beat drumming, raw recording, and unconventional song structure....
band formed in June 1991 in Sveio
Sveio
Sveio is a municipality in the county of Hordaland, Norway. Sveio is located in the traditional district of Haugaland-Location:Geographically, Sveio is situated on the Haugaland peninsula. The administrative centre is the village of Sveio. Sveio was separated from Finnås in 1861. Vikebygd was...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, and currently based out of Bergen, Norway.
History
Enslaved was formed in June 1991 by Ivar BjørnsonIvar Bjørnson
Ivar Bjørnson is a Norwegian composer/guitarist for the progressive black/viking metal band Enslaved. He is, along with Grutle Kjellson, one of only two founding members left in the current line-up, being only 13 years old at the time of the band's formation...
and Grutle Kjellson
Grutle Kjellson
Grutle Kjellson is a Norwegian vocalist and bass player for the progressive viking metal band Enslaved. He is one of only two founding members left in the current line-up with Ivar Bjørnson being the other one. He is the man who appears on the cover of Enslaved's album Eld...
(also known as Kjell Grutle) when they were 13 and 17 years old, respectively. The band name was inspired by an Immortal
Immortal (band)
Immortal is a black metal band from Bergen, Norway, founded in 1990 by current frontman/guitarist Abbath Doom Occulta and former guitarist Demonaz Doom Occulta...
demo track, "Enslaved in Rot". After many line-up changes throughout their career, Bjørnson and Kjellson are the only remaining original members. By 2004 the line-up solidified with guitarist Arve "Ice Dale" Isdal, drummer Cato Bekkevold, and keyboardist/vocalist Herbrand Larsen.
Bjørnson and Kjellson had been playing in a death metal
Death metal
Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It typically employs heavily distorted guitars, tremolo picking, deep growling vocals, blast beat drumming, minor keys or atonality, and complex song structures with multiple tempo changes....
band called Phobia, but like many in the burgeoning extreme metal movement, they were looking for new sources of inspiration and expression. Though Enslaved began as a prototypical Norwegian black metal band, they always incorporated song structures unusual for the genre, with several of their early songs expanding past the ten-minute mark. As such, the band has rejected the black metal genre label and prefers the term 'extreme metal
Extreme metal
Extreme metal is a loosely defined umbrella term for a number of related heavy metal music subgenres that have developed since the early 1980s. The term usually refers to a more abrasive, harsher, underground, non-commercialized style or sound nearly always associated with genres like black metal,...
'. The album Eld (1997) is often considered to be the beginning of the band's shift towards progressive metal
Progressive metal
Progressive metal is a subgenre of heavy metal originating in the United Kingdom and North America in the late 1980s...
. The band's shift toward progressive viking metal was rendered complete with Mardraum (2000), which contained several multi-part epics such as "Større enn tid - Tyngre enn natt" and "Entrance - Escape"; from that point onward, the band's influence from progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
became stronger on each successive record, with several tracks (most prominently, "As Fire Swept Clean the Earth" from Below the Lights
Below the Lights
Below the Lights is the seventh full-length album by Norwegian metal band Enslaved. Beyond it being their last full-length for Osmose , a few lineup changes would take place...
) even using mellotron
Mellotron
The Mellotron is an electro-mechanical, polyphonic tape replay keyboard originally developed and built in Birmingham, England in the early 1960s. It superseded the Chamberlin Music Master, which was the world's first sample-playback keyboard intended for music...
. Mardraum, Monumension
Monumension
Monumension is the sixth full-length album by Norwegian progressive metal band Enslaved and the first to feature lyrics sung entirely in English, although some versions of the album include the Old Norse track "Sigmundskvadet" as a bonus.-Track listing:...
(2001), and Below the Lights
Below the Lights
Below the Lights is the seventh full-length album by Norwegian metal band Enslaved. Beyond it being their last full-length for Osmose , a few lineup changes would take place...
(2003) can be regarded as having somewhat similar styles, although there is a clear progression of sound between the albums regardless; however, Isa
Isa (album)
Isa is the eighth full-length studio album by Norwegian progressive metal band Enslaved. It is arguably the band's most progressive release to date, as several tracks segue continuously into one another and the majority of compositions are composed of multiple interlocking movements...
(2004) and Ruun (2006) show a marked departure from previous sounds, most notably, with inclusion of sharp dynamic shifts.
Although the band has used mainly English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
lyrics since Monumension
Monumension
Monumension is the sixth full-length album by Norwegian progressive metal band Enslaved and the first to feature lyrics sung entirely in English, although some versions of the album include the Old Norse track "Sigmundskvadet" as a bonus.-Track listing:...
, their albums before that were mostly recorded in Norwegian
Norwegian language
Norwegian is a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Norway, where it is the official language. Together with Swedish and Danish, Norwegian forms a continuum of more or less mutually intelligible local and regional variants .These Scandinavian languages together with the Faroese language...
except on their first full-length album, where three songs had Icelandic
Icelandic language
Icelandic is a North Germanic language, the main language of Iceland. Its closest relative is Faroese.Icelandic is an Indo-European language belonging to the North Germanic or Nordic branch of the Germanic languages. Historically, it was the westernmost of the Indo-European languages prior to the...
lyrics, while the lyrics on Heimdallr was an Old Norse
Old Norse
Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
excerpt from Gylfaginning
Gylfaginning
Gylfaginning, or the Tricking of Gylfi , is the first part of Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda after Prologue. The Gylfaginning deals with the creation and destruction of the world of the Norse gods, and many other aspects of Norse mythology...
by Snorri Sturluson
Snorri Sturluson
Snorri Sturluson was an Icelandic historian, poet, and politician. He was twice elected lawspeaker at the Icelandic parliament, the Althing...
. Most of their lyrics relate to Norse mythology
Norse mythology
Norse mythology, a subset of Germanic mythology, is the overall term for the myths, legends and beliefs about supernatural beings of Norse pagans. It flourished prior to the Christianization of Scandinavia, during the Early Middle Ages, and passed into Nordic folklore, with some aspects surviving...
.
In 2007-2008 Bjørnson, Kjellson, and Isdal collaborated with the Norwegian noise duo Fe-Mail, under the name Trinacria. Enslaved released the album Vertebrae
Vertebrae (album)
Vertebrae is the tenth studio album release by Norwegian progressive black metal band Enslaved. It was released on 29 September 2008 via Indie Recordings in Europe and on 28 October 2008 via Nuclear Blast in the US. It was received as Album of the Year in Terrorizer Magazine, and later their...
in September 2008. On this particular album, many of their techniques, particularly harmonies, have been compared to Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
. After touring Europe extensively, Enslaved embarked on a North American tour with the progressive death metal band Opeth
Opeth
Opeth is a Swedish heavy metal band from Stockholm, formed in 1990. Though the group has been through several personnel changes, singer, guitarist, and songwriter Mikael Åkerfeldt has remained Opeth's driving force throughout the years...
in May 2009. Enslaved released their eleventh studio album, Axioma Ethica Odini
Axioma Ethica Odini
Axioma Ethica Odini is the eleventh album by Norwegian progressive viking metal band Enslaved. It was released on September 27, 2010 via Indie Recordings in Europe and on September 28, 2010 via Nuclear Blast in North America.-Track listing:...
, on September 27, 2010 in Europe and the following day in North America. In 2011 Enslaved announced and released two new EPs. The first EP, entitled The Sleeping Gods, which was produced in partnership with Scion Audio/Visual
Scion Audio/Visual
Scion Audio/Visual, a/k/a Scion A/V, a/k/a SA/V is an in-house record label and lifestyle marketing division of the Scion marque produced by Toyota Motor Corporation for the North American market.-Marketing:...
, was released on May 10, 2011 and made available as a free download consisting of 5 original tracks. The second EP, entitled Thorn, was released on August 27, 2011 in partnership with Soulseller Records in fulfillment of a decade old agreement. The Thorn EP, released on seven-inch vinyl, was strictly limited to 1,000 copies and featured a more atmospheric sound then the band is currently known for. Enslaved will be starting their 20th anniversary tour "Circling Above and Within North America Tour Part IV" in September 2011 with Alcest
Alcest
Alcest is a musical project born in Bagnols-sur-Cèze, France. It began in 2000 with three members – Neige, Aegnor and Argoth. This band released a demo of black metal songs in 2001. Shortly after, Aegnor and Argoth left the band, leaving Neige as the sole member...
and Junius
Junius (band)
Junius is an American rock band from Boston, Massachusetts. The bands name is taken after Junius, the pseudonym of a political writer who lived during the late 1700's.-History:...
in the United States and Canada.
Current members
- Grutle KjellsonGrutle KjellsonGrutle Kjellson is a Norwegian vocalist and bass player for the progressive viking metal band Enslaved. He is one of only two founding members left in the current line-up with Ivar Bjørnson being the other one. He is the man who appears on the cover of Enslaved's album Eld...
– vocals, bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(since 1991) - Ivar BjørnsonIvar BjørnsonIvar Bjørnson is a Norwegian composer/guitarist for the progressive black/viking metal band Enslaved. He is, along with Grutle Kjellson, one of only two founding members left in the current line-up, being only 13 years old at the time of the band's formation...
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
(since 1991) - Arve "Ice Dale" Isdal – guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
(since 2002) - Cato Bekkevold – drums (since 2003 - formerly of Red HarvestRed Harvest (band)Red Harvest was a Norwegian industrial metal band from Oslo. Their 2002 album Sick Transit Gloria Mundi was nominated for a Norwegian Grammy and an alternative Grammy in the "Best Metal Album" category...
) - Herbrand Larsen – keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, vocals (since 2004)
Former members
- Trym TorsonTrym TorsonTrym Torson , or just Trym, is a Norwegian drummer, formerly with Zyklon. Torson started playing in the Viking metal band Enslaved and was later invited to play in black metal band Emperor. He co-founded Zyklon together with Emperor member Samoth...
(Kai Johnny Mosaker) – drums (1991–1995) - Harald Helgeson – drums (1995–1997)
- Per Husebø (also known as Dirge Rep) – drums (1997–2002)
- Roy Kronheim – guitar (1997–2002)
Studio albums and EPs
- Hordanes LandHordanes LandHordanes Land is the debut EP by from Enslaved. It was also released as a split album a few weeks later with Emperor's debut EP, Emperor.-Track listing:...
(EP) (1993) - Vikingligr VeldiVikingligr VeldiVikingligr Veldi is the first full-length album release by Norwegian progressive metal band Enslaved. It was released in 1994 on Deathlike Silence Productions, which was the record label run by Euronymous; he was killed before the album's release...
(1994) - FrostFrost (album)Frost is the second full-length album by Norwegian progressive metal band Enslaved. This album in particular is where the band started to incorporate viking metal influences to their sound; indeed, the name "Viking Metal" appears on the back page of the insert booklet, though the album's material...
(1994) - Eld (1997)
- BlodhemnBlodhemnBlodhemn is the fourth full-length album by Norwegian progressive metal band Enslaved. The album was produced by Peter Tägtgren and is the only Enslaved album recorded and produced at the Abyss studio...
(1998) - Mardraum - Beyond the WithinMardraum - Beyond the WithinMardraum - Beyond the Within is the fifth full-length album by Norwegian progressive metal band Enslaved. It is often considered a turning point in the band's discography, as it marks the adoption of various elements of progressive metal, which would continue over the next several releases.-Track...
(2000) - MonumensionMonumensionMonumension is the sixth full-length album by Norwegian progressive metal band Enslaved and the first to feature lyrics sung entirely in English, although some versions of the album include the Old Norse track "Sigmundskvadet" as a bonus.-Track listing:...
(2001) - Below the LightsBelow the LightsBelow the Lights is the seventh full-length album by Norwegian metal band Enslaved. Beyond it being their last full-length for Osmose , a few lineup changes would take place...
(2003) - IsaIsa (album)Isa is the eighth full-length studio album by Norwegian progressive metal band Enslaved. It is arguably the band's most progressive release to date, as several tracks segue continuously into one another and the majority of compositions are composed of multiple interlocking movements...
(2004) - Ruun (2006)
- VertebraeVertebrae (album)Vertebrae is the tenth studio album release by Norwegian progressive black metal band Enslaved. It was released on 29 September 2008 via Indie Recordings in Europe and on 28 October 2008 via Nuclear Blast in the US. It was received as Album of the Year in Terrorizer Magazine, and later their...
(2008) - Axioma Ethica OdiniAxioma Ethica OdiniAxioma Ethica Odini is the eleventh album by Norwegian progressive viking metal band Enslaved. It was released on September 27, 2010 via Indie Recordings in Europe and on September 28, 2010 via Nuclear Blast in North America.-Track listing:...
(2010) - The Sleeping Gods (EP) (2011)
- Thorn (EP) (2011)
Splits
- Hordanes LandHordanes LandHordanes Land is the debut EP by from Enslaved. It was also released as a split album a few weeks later with Emperor's debut EP, Emperor.-Track listing:...
(split with EmperorEmperor (band)Emperor was a Norwegian black metal band formed in 1991. They dissolved in 2001, but reunited in 2006 and again in 2007 for a few festival dates and brief US tours. The group was founded by Samoth and Ihsahn .-Biography:...
, 1993) - YggdrassillThe Forest Is My Throne / YggdrassilThe Forest Is My Throne/Yggdrasill is a split album by Satyricon and Enslaved.-Satyricon:#"Black Winds" – 7:07#"The Forest Is My Throne" – 5:00#"Min Hyllest til Vinterland" – 5:24#"The Night of the Triumphator" – 6:10-Enslaved:#"Heimdallr" – 6:40...
(split with SatyriconSatyricon (band)Satyricon is a Norwegian black metal band, and the first one in the genre to join a multi-national record label .-Biography:Satyricon was formed in 1990 by Czral and Wargod. Ulver and Satyr soon joined them...
, 1995)
DVDs
Enslaved also has two DVD releases, primarily consisting of concert footage.- Live RetaliationLive RetaliationLive Retaliation is the first live DVD from the Norwegian viking metal band Enslaved. Some pressings of the DVD included a bonus EP.-DVD track listing:# "Intro" – 2:03# "Convoys to Nothingness" – 8:04# "Jotunblod" – 3:52# "The Voices" – 5:42...
(2003) - Return to YggdrasillReturn to YggdrasillReturn to Yggdrasill, in addition to being a song off the band's 2004 Isa album, is also a 2005 DVD release by the Norwegian viking metal band Enslaved, consisting primarily of concert footage recorded in Bergen, Norway...
(2005)
External links
- Official website
- "On the Road to Spread the Word of Good, Old-Fashioned Evil," The New York Times, November 8, 2007 (review of Enslaved's concert in Allentown, PennsylvaniaAllentown, PennsylvaniaAllentown is a city located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is Pennsylvania's third most populous city, after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and the 215th largest city in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 118,032 and is currently...
). - Interview with Grutle Kjellson