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.
Death in the Eyes of Dawn
Enslaved Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Unsecure I roam in fear
The final steps I've taken
What waits beyond this void?
"I sucked out your lifeblood
Tore down your fortress
Burned down the woods
Trust and hope
I have lost
I see death
In the eyes of dawn
Deceit
Forged in the darkened depths of the womb
Seeds of betrayal planted in rotten soil
The ground swells
It's the end
I see the face
Of the dead god
Legions of the dead
Invading our realm
Forever deaf to the distant warning
Blinded are my eyes
Tied are my hands
Sleeping wide awake
Got lost within myself
I followed all the paths
Righteous in my heart
Slept without the dreams
Got lost within myself
When will I remember?
When will I hear the call?
When shall my forces gather?
When shall my battle begin?
"I've insulted your life since birth
You have never seen my true face
You failed to realize I'm your kin
I infected your mind when you smiled"
Awake!
The grip of anxiety
Shall s'ngle the brave no more
The son of earth and wind
Shall guide us in our wake
"You might hear the horn resound
You might summon back your king
As long as you love, I will hate
As long as you breed, I will kill"
Blinded are my eyes
Tied are my hands
Sleeping wide awake
Got lost within myself
I followed all the paths
Righteous in my heart
Slept without the dreams
Got lost within myself
The lyrics to Enslaved's song Death in the Eyes of Dawn evoke a sense of foreboding and uncertainty. The opening lines speak of a forgotten creation and a sense of insecurity and fear as the singer ponders what lies beyond the void. This sets the stage for the introduction of a malevolent force that seeks to destroy and harm. The singer recalls the damage done by this force, some of which appears irreversible. The singer is left feeling hopeless and sees death in the eyes of dawn.
The second half of the lyrics shift to a message of awakening and action. The singer realizes that they have been misled and deceived, and that their previous path was not righteous. The singer acknowledges the need to awaken from their slumber and gather their forces to fight against the malevolent force. The final lines of the song are a warning and a call to action, reminding the listener that there is a battle to be fought and won.
Overall, the lyrics of Death in the Eyes of Dawn depict a struggle between opposing forces, with themes of deception, destruction, and the need for awakening and action. The imagery is vivid and intense, painting a picture of a dark and uncertain world.
Line by Line Meaning
The creation I can't remember
I have no memory of when I was created
Unsecure I roam in fear
I wander around afraid and feeling vulnerable
The final steps I've taken
I am at the end of my journey
What waits beyond this void?
I wonder what is on the other side of this emptiness
"I sucked out your lifeblood
Tore down your fortress
Burned down the woods
I poisoned your harvest"
I have attacked you in every way possible, draining your resources and causing destruction
Trust and hope
I have lost
I am no longer able to trust or feel hopeful
I see death
In the eyes of dawn
I perceive death approaching at the beginning of the day
Deceit
Forged in the darkened depths of the womb
Seeds of betrayal planted in rotten soil
Lies and betrayal were conceived deep within and developed in unfavorable situations
The ground swells
It's the end
I see the face
Of the dead god
Legions of the dead
Invading our realm
Forever deaf to the distant warning
It feels like the apocalypse is upon us and the undead are taking over without heeding any warnings
Blinded are my eyes
Tied are my hands
Sleeping wide awake
Got lost within myself
I am feeling helpless and hindered, stuck in a state of confusion
I followed all the paths
Righteous in my heart
Slept without the dreams
Got lost within myself
I have always done what I thought was right, but now I feel like I've been walking aimlessly without purpose
When will I remember?
When will I hear the call?
When shall my forces gather?
When shall my battle begin?
I wonder when I'll remember my true purpose, hear a call to action, and gather my strength to fight
"I've insulted your life since birth
You have never seen my true face
You failed to realize I'm your kin
I infected your mind when you smiled"
I have been undermining your life from the very beginning, and you have never really known me. You didn't realize we're related, and I have been manipulating you from the moment we first met
Awake!
Wake up and be alert!
The grip of anxiety
Shall s'ngle the brave no more
Anxiety will no longer paralyze the brave
The son of earth and wind
Shall guide us in our wake
A mythical figure will lead us
"You might hear the horn resound
You might summon back your king
As long as you love, I will hate
As long as you breed, I will kill"
You might hear a call to action, but I will always oppose you. I will only hate you, and I will only harm you as long as you continue to exist and reproduce
Blinded are my eyes
Tied are my hands
Sleeping wide awake
Got lost within myself
I am feeling helpless and hindered, stuck in a state of confusion
I followed all the paths
Righteous in my heart
Slept without the dreams
Got lost within myself
I have always done what I thought was right, but now I feel like I've been walking aimlessly without purpose
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind