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.
Convoys to Nothingness
Enslaved Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Floating patterns of no coherency, none needed
From behind the chapel of dreams came imagery
From another world
The left for a brighter star
A new home called "now"
Womb, death, dawn
Follow seafarers on an ocean of silence
Remaining humanoid shells, a distant thought
The chasm between truth and flesh paved
With bricks from secret cities
Entering linear orbit
Crushing the foundations of divided times
Suns reflected
Convoys
Convoys to...
Convoys to nothingness...
The opening lines of Enslaved's "Convoys to Nothingness" present a surreal and abstract image of faces, eyes, and noise, floating in "patterns of no coherency." This eerie image suggests a world beyond our own, where traditional boundaries of language and meaning do not apply. This otherworldly realm is accessed "from behind the chapel of dreams," a phrase that conjures a sense of mystery and mysticism. The "imagery" that emerges from this place leads the travelers of the song to "another world" where they depart for "a brighter star" - a nod to the idea of transcendence and enlightenment.
The song then shifts to a more concrete image of seafarers on an "ocean of silence," who are "remaining humanoid shells" without a clear sense of purpose or identity. This suggests a theme of dislocation and existential angst. There is also a sense of a "chasm between truth and flesh" that is "paved with bricks from secret cities," which adds to the song's sense of unease and ambiguity.
The final lines of the song use the image of "convoys to nothingness" which closes out the song's themes of transcendence and dislocation. While the meaning of these lyrics is open to interpretation, overall, the song suggests a world beyond our own where boundaries between self and other, truth and flesh, and even life and death, may blur and disappear.
Line by Line Meaning
Faces, eyes, noise
A chaotic mix of sensory experiences with no clear direction or purpose.
Floating patterns of no coherency, none needed
Even though the patterns seem random, they don't necessarily need to make sense in order to be significant or beautiful.
From behind the chapel of dreams came imagery
The images come from a place of deep subconscious thought or possibly from another realm.
From another world
The imagery is from somewhere beyond the known physical world.
They left for a brighter star
The people in the imagery sought a better place than where they were previously located, possibly due to dissatisfaction or a desire for something more.
A new home called "now"
They found a new and better way of living in the present moment.
Womb, death, dawn
This trio of concepts represents the cycle of life, from beginnings to ends, and eventual rebirth.
Follow seafarers on an ocean of silence
Traveling alone on a vast, unknown journey without any clear guidance or communication.
Remaining humanoid shells, a distant thought
After a long journey, people may feel as though their bodies are only shells of their former selves, with their minds focused on other things distant in thought.
The chasm between truth and flesh paved
It's difficult to reconcile objective truth with physical reality and experience, and that disparity creates a divide.
With bricks from secret cities
This divide is built on a foundation of unknown or hidden knowledge and understanding.
Entering linear orbit
Starting down a predictable path.
Crushing the foundations of divided times
Bringing down the barriers or walls that divide people and hinder progress, often through force or violence.
Suns reflected
As the barriers fall, people start to see a brighter future, where even the most distant stars (opportunities) seem attainable.
Convoys
A group of people traveling together, often for safety or guidance.
Convoys to...
These groups are moving towards something, though it's not immediately clear what that is.
Convoys to nothingness...
Ultimately, their journey may lead to a destination that is meaningless or unsustainable.
Lyrics © Royalty Network Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: PEERSON IVAR SKONTORP
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
SOGNAMETAL1984
Very, very, very very underrated song that deserves a Galactic Grammy Award.
Javier Garcia
The Mood and Vibe in the Beginning of this Track Fits the Album Cover Brilliantly!!
takezosan
Great song!
Fábio Sacramento
foda!
Ravishingrimm
They live like 20km from my house, yes it's good to be Norwegian ;)=
Ravishingrimm
@Raven - الغراب Good to know your all with us, like we are right there with you brother 😎
Ravishingrimm
@Raven - الغراب Ey bro, one thing we can't control is where & why we are born. It's all fucking magick even the odds of being born, think on that! Big up to Lebanon 😎
Ravishingrimm
@Raven - الغراب That's epic
whitman mosquera
Porfin algo desente