Enslaved was formed in 1991, by Ivar Bjørnson and Grutle Kjellson. Joined by drummer Trym Torsson, they did their first demo in the summer of 1992. While working with the first full length, there came a call from England, resulting in the two 1993 legendary mini albums; Hordanes Land and Emperor These two mini-albums was released as a split-record "Emperor/Hordanes Land". Due to tragic circumstances, Enslaved’s debut album Vikingligr Veldi was held back until the spring of 1994. Enslaved moved their label base to French Osmose Productions, and Frost were released late in the 1994. Enslaved were now known outside the Black / Extreme circles of Northern Europe. This led to the "Winter War Europe Tour ‘95", and the first Norwegian Black / Extreme tour ever in the US, Canada and Mexico during ’95. The tours were a great success; but Trym Torson moved on to join Emperor as a drummer.
Eld was recorded with drummer Harald Helgeson in 1996, and released the year after. However, working with Harald was no permanent solution, so Dirge Rep (then Gehenna) and R. Kronheim were hired, becoming integral parts during the recording of Blodhemn (’98).
Enslaved released an important milestone in 2000 with Mardraum: Beyond the Within, which marked a turning point for the band; and sent shock waves through the Extreme Metal scene with a revolutionary experimental and innovative approach to their genre. The band kept adding fuel to the fire, and released Monumension in 2001, and again the band was shocked to see the positive response to their "no rules" approach to Extreme Metal. Gigs were still being played in Norway, Europe and the States, in front of a faithful and ever increasing audience.
After returning from the UK in March 2002, R. Kronheim had to leave the band. The band kept on working with new material, in which they now saw a synthesis between the original thesis (the "Blacker" Enslaved) and the anti-thesis forming from Mardraum onwards (the experimental, progressive and gloomier Enslaved) – Below the Lights was recorded in 2002 and released the year after, and presented the perfect blend of power, tradition, progressive elements and dark psychedelia. The process and hard work had taken its toll on drummer Dirge, and he left the band.
A new line-up were put together during and after the recording of Below the Lights, including old-timer Cato Bekkevold (Red Harvest founder), Arve Isdal (aka. Ice Dale) and Herbrand Larsen. With all the changes left behind, Enslaved reached new heights with their live performance, also adding strong visual elements in the shape of video art and more. English market leader Kerrang! rewarded their Inferno 2004 performance with a full house: 5 K!’s.
The new line-up recorded ISA during the autumn of 2004, and was released in Oct/Nov ’04 (Feb ’05 in the US). The album received raving reviews in all territories (except Finland obviously), and put Enslaved at the very forefront of contemporary Extreme Metal. A European Tour with fellow Norsemen Vreid took place in February and March 2005. The tour was rewarded with both great reviews and great turnouts. In absentia, during the tour, Enslaved also received both the Norwegian Grammy and the independent Alarm Price for ISA.
The band released the full length album Ruun in 2006, which received great critics world wide and Enslaved received the Norwegian Grammy (Metal) for the second time in a row. Ruun is an extreme progressive metal record with growl-vocals and quite different from the bands first records.
Enslaved released the album Vertebrae in 2008, which gained wide critical acclaim, including Terrorizer Magazine's album of the year and critic's choice album of the year award for 2008. Many of their techniques on the album, particularly harmonies, have been compared to Pink Floyd
Although the band now records in English, their early songs were mostly recorded in Icelandic or Old Norse, with one track on their first full-length album being performed in ancient Norwegian. Lyrics from Frost to Mardraum were mainly in their native Norwegian. Most of their lyrics relate to Norse mythology or history.
They have also recorded a collaboration with the Norwegian noise duo Fe-Mail, under the name Trinacria.
Current members:
* Ivar Bjørnson - guitar, keyboards (1991-) - (Desekrator, ex-Borknagar, ex-Phobia, Obnoxious, ex-Gorgoroth (as "Daimonion"), live session guitar for Taake)
* Grutle Kjellson - bass, vocals (1991-) - (Desekrator, ex-Phobia, guest for V:28, Insanity)
* Arve Isdal - guitar (2002-) - (Malignant Eternal, Audrey Horne, I)
* Cato Bekkevold - drums (2003-) - (Demonic, ex-Ashes to Ashes , Sirius, ex-Red Harvest, Dunkelheit)
* Hakon Vinje - keyboards, vocals (2017-)
Former members:
* Trym Torson (Kai Johnny Mosaker) - drums (1991-1995) - (Emperor, Zyklon, Imperium, Tartaros, Shadow Season, Paganize)
* Richard Kronheim - guitar (1997-2002) - (ex-Subtitles, ex-St. Satan, ex-Kliftones, ex-Desekrator)
* Per Husebø (aka. Dirge Rep) - drums (1997-2002) - (Gehenna, Orcustus, Gorgoroth, ex-122 Stab Wounds, Desspo Hallelujah, Neetzach, ex-Aura Noir, Secht)
* Harald Magnus "Rivheim" Helgeson - drums (1995-1997) - (Thundra, Zeno Morf, ex-Dwelling Souls, session for Evig Natt)
* Freddy Bolsø - drums (2003) - (ex-Blood Red Throne)
* Herbrand Larsen - keyboards, vocals (2004-2016)
* Øyvind Madsen - keyboards (live only) - (Sulphur, Vulture Industries, live for Black Hole Generator)
Discography:
Full-Length Albums:
1994 - Vikingligr Veldi
1994 - Frost
1997 - Eld
1998 - Blodhemn
2000 - Mardraum: Beyond the Within
2001 - Monumension
2003 - Below the Lights
2004 - Isa
2006 - Ruun
2008 - Vertebrae
2010 - Axioma Ethica Odini
2012 - RIITIIR
2015 - In Times
2017 - E (note that the official title of the album is actually the Elder Futhark rune ᛖ, or Ehwaz, which looks like the roman letter M, but the album title is often written as E for simplicity, including in official sources)
Demos:
1991 - Nema
1992 - Yggdrasill
Splits:
1994 - Emperor/Hordanes Land (split with Emperor)
Live albums:
2009 - Live at the Rock Hard Festival
2017 - Roadburn Live
DVDs:
Enslaved also has two DVD releases, primarily consisting of concert footage.
2003 - Live Retaliation
2005 - Return to Yggdrasill
Trivia:
* Grutle Kjellson and Cato Bekkevold are avid sport fishing enthusiasts; in fact, the two met at a related event.
* The band's song Havenless from Below the Lights was featured in the film "Metal: A Headbanger's Journey".
* The band were also reported to have appeared in an episode of the American cartoon series South Park, but this later transpired to be a practical joke at the expense of the Norwegian press.
Api-vat
Enslaved Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Growing in my mind
A voice from eternity
Awaken now and guide me
Awaken now and guide me
Awaken now and guide me
"What might lie ahead?"
Seeing all, but nowhere
"Tell us, will we see the sun again?"
"Waiting is the cost of true vengeance"
Carrying the weight of knowing
"I see darkness, I see evil times"
Time to rise and stand tall again
"The ideals of the One"
I bow to the forefathers
"Towards the Father"
Feeling the transition
"The unity of dimensions"
Leave me not before all fear is gone
Pour into my veins
Let the father become the son,
And I'll keep walking through every winter
I'll keep on walking through every winter
I'll keep on walking through every winter
The song "Api-vat" by Enslaved is a beautiful display of the band's creativity and poetic prowess. The lyrics of this song talk about a voice that grows in the mind of the singer as he sleeps. He is evidently seeking guidance from an eternal voice that is beckoning him to awaken and find his true purpose. As he wakes up, he turns inward to find out what the future holds. He feels the weight of knowing and sees darkness looming, signaling difficult times ahead. However, he remains steadfast towards the ideals of One and bows to the forefathers. He is in transition, and he wants to be rid of all his fears before moving forward.
Towards the end of the song, the singer talks about keeping on walking through every winter, indicating that he is determined to face all challenges and emerge victorious. The song has a mystical and spiritual touch to it, with its vivid description of sound transitions and the unity of dimensions.
The lyrics of the song are open to various interpretations, as one can interpret the voice from eternity as a spiritual force, a muse, or even a love interest. Overall, the depth of the lyrics and the theme of perseverance make "Api-vat" a profound song.
Line by Line Meaning
You lie there sleeping
The idea of something great is dormant in my mind
Growing in my mind
The concept is slowly but surely beginning to develop within me
A voice from eternity
An age-old message from another realm
Awaken now and guide me
Please help me access this knowledge and make use of it
Awaken now and guide me
Please help me access this knowledge and make use of it
He turns inward to see
He introspects and tries to understand
"What might lie ahead?"
What could the future possibly hold?
Seeing all, but nowhere
Fully comprehending the bigger picture, but not knowing where to go from here
"Tell us, will we see the sun again?"
Is there hope for a better tomorrow?
"Waiting is the cost of true vengeance"
Patience is necessary if we seek to achieve true justice
Carrying the weight of knowing
Feeling the burden of understanding
"I see darkness, I see evil times"
The future appears bleak and full of strife
Time to rise and stand tall again
It's time to overcome these challenges and emerge victorious
"The ideals of the One"
The values and beliefs of a higher power
I bow to the forefathers
I pay tribute to those who came before me
"Towards the Father"
Moving forward, guided by a higher force
Feeling the transition
Sensing a significant change in the air
"The unity of dimensions"
All realms and realities coming together as one
Leave me not before all fear is gone
Don't abandon me until I have conquered all my fears
Pour into my veins
Fill me up entirely
Let the father become the son,
Allow the ordinary to become extraordinary
And I'll keep walking through every winter
I'll never give up, no matter the conditions or obstacles
I'll keep on walking through every winter
I'll never give up, no matter the conditions or obstacles
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ARVE ISDAL, CATO BAEKKEVOLD, HERBRAND LARSEN, IVAR S. PEERSEN, KJETIL GRUTLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind