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.
Daudningekvida
Enslaved Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Kven kunne halde ut
Hvis eg fylgjer deg, blir eg som dei?
-Rak i rygg med fana
Til dei hengde
Dei vart som trea, livlause
Snakka ikkje, rørte seg ikkje
(Mimir, lyttar du?)
Det er langt, men trøttnas du ?
Tida står stilla, alt anna er dødt
Blod og kvad
Likgudens sol skin i kvar og
Ein sitt ansikt
Urd svarar med ekko, kva vil du gjera?
Kor la du hammaren, Thurisaz kallar ;
Røska tak i faginningas rot
Dei vart som trea, livlause
Følte ikke, høyrde ikkje
Handa kald, auga tomt
Ymir, lyttar du?
Dei vart som trea, livlause
Ymir, kvifor er du tyst?
The lyrics to Enslaved's song "Daudningekvida" are in Norwegian, and translate to "Death Song." The song creates a haunting and eerie atmosphere, with the lyrics discussing the idea of being like the dead and embracing death. The first verse talks about an open wound and questions the ability to handle it, asking if following someone else will lead to becoming like them. The second verse describes the dead as being lifeless, not speaking or moving, with cold hands and empty eyes. The mention of Mimir is a reference to Nordic mythology, as Mimir was known as a wise being who guarded the Well of Wisdom.
The third section talks about time standing still and the sun shining on the faces of the dead. The mention of Urd is another reference to Nordic mythology, as Urd was a goddess who represented the past and fate. The lyrics ask what one would do in this situation, with Thurisaz being mentioned as a possible solution. Thurisaz is a rune of the Elder Futhark and represents the concept of strength and force.
The final verse repeats the idea of the dead being lifeless and questions why Ymir, another figure from Nordic mythology who was the ancestor of all giants, is silent. Overall, the lyrics of "Daudningekvida" convey a sense of darkness and death, questioning the concept of mortality and the ability to escape its grasp.
Line by Line Meaning
Som eit åpent sår
Like an open wound
Kven kunne halde ut
Who could endure
Hvis eg fylgjer deg, blir eg som dei?
If I follow you, will I become like them?
-Rak i rygg med fana
Straight-backed with the banner
Til dei hengde
Until they were hung
Dei vart som trea, livlause
They became like trees, lifeless
Snakka ikkje, rørte seg ikkje
They spoke not, moved not
Handa kald, auga tomt
Cold hands, empty eyes
(Mimir, lyttar du?)
(Mimir, are you listening?)
Det er langt, men trøttnas du ?
It is far, but are you getting tired?
Tida står stilla, alt anna er dødt
Time stands still, everything else is dead
Blod og kvad
Blood and poetry
Likgudens sol skin i kvar og
The sun of the god of death shines on all
Ein sitt ansikt
One's own face
Urd svarar med ekko, kva vil du gjera?
Urd responds with an echo, what will you do?
Kor la du hammaren, Thurisaz kallar ;
Where did you leave the hammer, Thurisaz calls;
Røska tak i faginningas rot
Rip the root of the cowardice
Følte ikke, høyrde ikkje
They felt not, heard not
Ymir, lyttar du?
Ymir, are you listening?
Dei vart som trea, livlause
They became like trees, lifeless
Ymir, kvifor er du tyst?
Ymir, why are you silent?
Contributed by Tyler I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.