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.
Brisinghamen
Enslaved Lyrics
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Fanga og låst I ei sorg ingen skjøner
Gleden forsvann langt, langt der ute.
Ei brennande lyst, en ingen håp.
Ho lengtar heim, men finn ingen veg.
Ein sorgfull lagnad gøymt bak eit smil.
Mardol do fagre for fred do blei ofra
Do solgte din lekam, men fann ingen trøyst.
Gern do ga deg hen, og slokka mangt
Eit begjær. Men, framleis drypp
Det om natta gull frå dine auge.
Frøya, od skal do finna når alt er forbi
Då skal do bli sluppen fri.
Inntil den dag finn do inga trøyst.
Sjøl ikkje I glitrande Brisinghamen.
English translate: Brisinghamen
In solitude she cries, the most beautiful of them all
Captured and locked in a sorrow no one can conceive
Joy vanished far out there
Burning desire, but no hope
She longs for home, bu tcan not find a way
A dismal destiny hidden behind a smile
Mardol, you glorious, sacrificed for peace you were
You sold your flesh, but found no comfort
That which glitters does not bring you peace
Gern you devoted yourself
And consumed many desire.
But, still in the night,
Gold is dripping from your eyes.
Frõya, Od you shall find when everything ends
Then you shall be set free
Until that day you shall find no comfort
Not even in the shining Brisinghamen
Enslaved's song "Brisinghamen" is a melancholic and depressing depiction of a woman who is imprisoned in her own sorrow. The lyrics suggest that she is the most beautiful woman around, lamenting about her burning desire, the absence of hope and joy, and her inability to find a way back home. The chorus references Mardol, an angelic figure who sold her flesh but found no comfort, highlighting the fact that life's pleasures are fleeting and rarely provide lasting satisfaction.
The song's underlying concept is exploring the idea that the material things we possess can never truly bring happiness and inner peace. The woman in focus is trapped in her misery and pain, despite all the glitz and glamour around her. The lyrics suggest that until one is free from the internal suffering that we carry in our souls, even the most shimmering objects, like the Brisinghamen, cannot bring solace or comfort.
To sum up, "Brisinghamen" is a tragically beautiful song that speaks to the human experience of internal suffering, the futility of material pleasures, and the search for inner peace.
Line by Line Meaning
In solitude she cries, the most beautiful of them all
A woman who exists alone sheds tears, who is the most beautiful among all
Captured and locked in a sorrow no one can conceive
She is imprisoned and confined in her grief that nobody can understand
Joy vanished far out there
Happiness disappeared in the distance
Burning desire, but no hope
A strong passion exists, but there is no expectation
She longs for home, but cannot find a way
She desires a return to her native place, yet she is unable to locate any path
A dismal destiny hidden behind a smile
A miserable fate concealed beneath a smile
Mardol, you glorious, sacrificed for peace you were
Mardol, you were splendid, but were sacrificed for the sake of peace
You sold your flesh, but found no comfort
You traded your body but obtained no satisfaction
That which glitters does not bring you peace
That which sparkles does not provide tranquillity
Gern you devoted yourself
You committed yourself, Gern
And consumed many desire.
And you fulfilled many desires.
But, still in the night,
Yet, in the night still,
Gold is dripping from your eyes.
Your eyes release golden tears.
Frõya, Od you shall find when everything ends
When everything terminates, you will encounter Frõya and Od.
Then you shall be set free
You will then obtain your freedom
Until that day you shall find no comfort
Until that moment, there will be no solace for you
Not even in the shining Brisinghamen.
Not even the gleaming Brisinghamen will provide any respite.
Lyrics © Royalty Network Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: KJETIL GRUTLE, PEERSON IVAR SKONTORP, ROY KRONHEIM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind