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.
Building With Fire
Enslaved Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The emptiness, the void, the dreams
Unfold
Burning shrouds, the air is cold
The memories of time and space
Unknown
Sleeping tight in rising flames
A mind evokes, the self returns
Seeing life, through the clouds
Abandoning the womb, a seed
Untouched
Like a sea of hope
Assembling forces of old
By the betrayer's funeral pyre
Building with fire!
Like a field with endless harvest
The first breath we take
Uruz awakes, reaching higher
Building with fire!
Like a hammer of thoughts
Our minds reborn
What the inner I desire
Building with fire!
Come and feel the silence
Come and watch the sun
Come and bid farewell
Tales will be told
Tales will be ignored
Tales will once again destroy
Facing fear, facing birth
The emptiness, the void, the dreams
Unfold
Burning shrouds, the air is cold
The memories of time and space
Unknown
Sleeping tight in rising flames
A mind evokes, the self returns
Unhurt
Seeing life, through the clouds
Abandoning the womb, a seed
Untouched
Turning ashes to flesh
Behold the giants in their wake
By the betrayer's funeral pyre
Building with fire!
Turning ice to rivers
Static wheels begin to turn
Uruz awakes, reaching higher
Building with fire!
Turning decay to blossom
To the surface we rise
What the inner I desire
Building with fire!
A picture from a dream forms a destiny
The circle of life bound to be broken
The gods cannot elude the pain
A path in time built with fire
Facing fear, facing birth
The emptiness, the void, the dreams
Unfold
Burning shrouds, the air is cold
The memories of time and space
Unknown
Sleeping tight in rising flames
A mind evokes, the self returns
Unhurt
Seeing life, through the clouds
Abandoning the womb, a seed
Untouched
The lyrics to Enslaved’s “Building with Fire” describe the process of facing one’s fears and the emptiness that comes with birth. The lyrics mention that memories of time and space are unknown, but as sleeping tight in rising flames, the mind evokes and the self returns unhurt. The lyrics convey an image of building with fire and using fire to overcome fears, turning ashes to flesh and turning decay to blossom. The song talks about how the circle of life is bound to be broken, and how the gods cannot elude the pain. The lyrics of “Building with Fire” convey a sense of perseverance even in the face of death, and a desire to keep moving forward.
The imagery that Enslaved uses in “Building with Fire” is particularly poetic. The use of burning shrouds and rising flames as a metaphor for conquering fears is not new, but the integration of these images with the idea of building something from the ashes is compelling. The lyrics speak of turning “ashes to flesh” and turning “decay to blossom,” as if the transformative power of fire can remake even what appears to be dead. Moreover, the lyrics portray the “giants” and “static wheels” that are built by this transformation, and the process of “turning ice to rivers” as if fire can even transmute the fundamental structures of nature.
Line by Line Meaning
Facing fear, facing birth
Confronting the fear and uncertainty of birth
The emptiness, the void, the dreams
The unknown, emptiness, and dreams of what's to come
Unfold
Everything that lies ahead
Burning shrouds, the air is cold
The physical and emotional impacts of birth
The memories of time and space
The history and physical surroundings that shape us
Unknown
What lies beyond our understanding
Sleeping tight in rising flames
Going through the transformative process of birth in a meditative state
A mind evokes, the self returns
Emerging from the transformative state stronger and more connected to oneself
Seeing life, through the clouds
Seeing life with a new perspective
Abandoning the womb, a seed
Leaving the comfort and safety of the womb to begin a new journey
Untouched
Pure and unblemished
Like a sea of hope
The endless possibilities of what can be accomplished
Assembling forces of old
Drawing on the wisdom and strength of those who came before us
By the betrayer's funeral pyre
Using the pain and loss caused by a betrayal to move forward
Building with fire!
Pushing forward with strength and determination to build a better life
Like a field with endless harvest
The abundance of opportunities and possibilities
The first breath we take
The moment we enter the world and begin our journey
Uruz awakes, reaching higher
Activating inner strength to reach new heights
Turning ashes to flesh
Taking something that is no longer useful and turning it into something new
Behold the giants in their wake
Looking at the great things that can be accomplished through hard work
Turning ice to rivers
Breaking through barriers to create new paths
Static wheels begin to turn
Moving out of a stagnant state and towards change and progress
Turning decay to blossom
Transforming something negative into something beautiful
To the surface we rise
Emerging from difficult times with newfound strength and resilience
What the inner I desire
Honoring one's true desires and motivations
Come and feel the silence
Taking time to reflect and be present in the moment
Come and watch the sun
Appreciating the beauty of the world around us
Come and bid farewell
Saying goodbye to the past and moving forward
Tales will be told
Stories will be shared about our experiences
Tales will be ignored
Some stories might not receive the attention they deserve.
Tales will once again destroy
Stories can cause chaos and harm if they are not used responsibly
The gods cannot elude the pain
Even deities are not immune to suffering
A path in time built with fire
The journey we take in life is fueled by our inner strength and determination
Contributed by Bailey P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@trecemuerte
Facing fear, facing birth
The emptiness, the void, the dreams
Unfold
Burning shrouds, the air is cold
The memories of time and space
Unknown
Sleeping tight in rising flames
A mind evokes, the self returns
Unhurt
Seeing life, through the clouds
Abandoning the womb, a seed
Untouched
Like a sea of hope
Assembling forces of old
By the betrayer's funeral pyre
Building with fire!
Like a field with endless harvest
The first breath we take
Uruz awakes, reaching higher
Building with fire!
Like a hammer of thoughts
Our minds reborn
What the inner I desire
Building with fire!
Come and feel the silence
Come and watch the sun
Come and bid farewell
Tales will be told
Tales will be ignored
Tales will once again destroy
Facing fear, facing birth
The emptiness, the void, the dreams
Unfold
Burning shrouds, the air is cold
The memories of time and space
Unknown
Sleeping tight in rising flames
A mind evokes, the self returns
Unhurt
Seeing life, through the clouds
Abandoning the womb, a seed
Untouched
Turning ashes to flesh
Behold the giants in their wake
By the betrayer's funeral pyre
Building with fire!
Turning ice to rivers
Static wheels begin to turn
Uruz awakes, reaching higher
Building with fire!
Turning decay to blossom
To the surface we rise
What the inner I desire
Building with fire!
A picture from a dream forms a destiny
The circle of life bound to be broken
The gods cannot elude the pain
A path in time built with fire
Facing fear, facing birth
The emptiness, the void, the dreams
Unfold
Burning shrouds, the air is cold
The memories of time and space
Unknown
Sleeping tight in rising flames
A mind evokes, the self returns
Unhurt
Seeing life, through the clouds
Abandoning the womb, a seed
Untouched
@terolamberg720
This is a Masterpiece! Nice voice. \m/
@draugsvoll01
Such an awesome song. I love how they incorporated elements of hard rock without sounding overly pretentious. Good job Enslaved.
@amokstudio
I love the clean voice of this song. Awesome.
@silverdreams03
Francesco De Luca yes!!! It's awesome!!!
@Qu3ridity
The moment the bass guitar and vocals kick in is just glorious. It feels like warming myself to wood burning in the fireplace on a cold winter day. So fitting for the song, now that I think about it.
@best-ofmusiccds3934
Some parts of this song are just... unbelievable. Like, I really don't know HOW they could manage to compose and record this.
The chorus is the absolutely perfect blend of cheerful sing-along pop music and grandiose, epic prog rock.
@darksunwithin
The song is already awesome, though the section with the clean guitar chords and the strings behind it is my personal highlight. Perfectly placed also.
@renedonizeti7513
Uma das melhores músicas do gênero...nota 10!!💀🔥🤘
@6lyric882
this album is a masterpiece
@JohnDJonesIII
This is one of those songs that has the rare gift of never getting old... I've probably listened to it over 1,000 times and I've had to reburn my car CD twice now ( and replace a stereo once ) from playing this song over and over and over....