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.
Eld
Enslaved Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
[Lyrics by Grutle Kjellson 1996]
[Music by Ivar Bjornson & Grutle Kjellson 1996]
Born in a flames in the time before time
In the sparkling embrace of Muspellheim
Born to be your souls darked depths
When your eyes is glowing with hate
A hate older than both men and gods
Then you see the light of Muspell
To strong for any man to tame
The oldest force will man never understand
In the deepest domains of fire, man can never reign
Stronger than the grip of death
Mightier than the lights of Norns
Wiser than Fimbul-Tul
More betraying than the son of Faarbaute
That, who once brought forth life
And gave us Mother Earth
Shall return in the flames of Surt
Our flesh shall burn at Ragnarok
Our souls shall be united in FROST & FIRE
The song "Eld" by Norwegian black metal band Enslaved delves into the concept of fire, which symbolizes power, destruction, and rebirth. The lyrics suggest that fire predates even the existence of gods and men, born in the flames of the primordial realm Muspellheim. The fire is personified as a force that is too strong for any mortal to tame, holding a wisdom and power that is beyond human understanding. It is presented as a primal force that can bring forth life but also destroy everything in its path.
The lyrics also allude to Ragnarok, the Norse mythological event where the world ends in flames, marking its rebirth. The text suggests that fire is the ultimate destiny for all beings, as their flesh shall burn at Ragnarok, and their souls shall be united in frost and fire. Thus, fire is presented as a cyclical force, creating and destroying in equal measure, representing the cycle of life and death.
Overall, "Eld" is a dark and powerful song that explores the primal force of fire and its symbolism in Norse mythology. Enslaved's use of imagery and metaphors creates a vivid picture of fire as an unstoppable force that holds both terror and awe.
Line by Line Meaning
Born in a flames in the time before time
We were created in a fiery moment that existed before time as we know it
In the sparkling embrace of Muspellheim
This fiery moment took place within the realm of Muspellheim, a fiery home of giants in Norse mythology
Born to be your souls darked depths
Our purpose was to explore the depths of the human soul, particularly its darker aspects
Before Audhumla, our ancient mother awakened
We were created before the primeval cow Audhumla, who licked her way out of the ice and helped create the cosmos in Norse mythology
When your eyes is glowing with hate
If you are consumed by hatred, your eyes will glow with its intensity
A hate older than both men and gods
This hatred is so ancient and powerful that it predates even the existence of humanity and deities
Then you see the light of Muspell
At this point, you will see the fiery realm of Muspellheim, which represents destruction and chaos in Norse mythology
To strong for any man to tame
Muspellheim is too powerful and uncontrollable for humans to conquer or control
The oldest force will man never understand
Muspellheim represents an ancient force that humanity will never be able to fully comprehend
In the deepest domains of fire, man can never reign
The fiery depths of Muspellheim are not a place where humanity can exert its will or establish dominance
Stronger than the grip of death
Muspellheim is more powerful than death itself, which is a force to be reckoned with in Norse mythology
Mightier than the lights of Norns
Muspellheim is more powerful than the Norns, who are goddesses of fate that govern the destinies of gods and humans in Norse mythology
Wiser than Fimbul-Tul
Muspellheim is more intelligent and cunning than Fimbul-Tul, which is a reference to the Jotunn Fimbul-Tul who seeks to destroy the world in Norse mythology
More betraying than the son of Faarbaute
Muspellheim is more deceptive and treacherous than the son of Faarbaute, who is a minor character in Norse mythology
That, who once brought forth life
The fiery force that created us also brought life into the world
And gave us Mother Earth
This force was responsible for creating the Earth, which is our mother in a metaphorical sense
Shall return in the flames of Surt
At the end of time, this force will return in the form of the giant Surt, who will destroy the world with his flames
Our flesh shall burn at Ragnarok
During the apocalypse known as Ragnarok, humanity will be destroyed and consumed by flames
Our souls shall be united in FROST & FIRE
After death, our souls will be bound together in the eternal cycle of destruction and rebirth represented by Frost and Fire
Contributed by Joshua H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Aza Thoth
I never realized how impressive the drumming is on this masterpiece until now.
Matthew Catania
The drumming on this album is mesmerizing
Cameron Rayner
The snare drum tone is epic
Brandon Munson
It's Harald! Only Enslaved album he played drums for. Played on all 4 Thundra albums too.
Hrimthur666
I love Enslaved. Old stuff, new stuff, everything is just amazing! There´s not a lot of bands who change their stile so drastically, an manage to keep up the quality!
Friedrich II
After 5 fantastic black metal years from 1993 to 1997, with an explosion of beautiful and unique albums, suddenly the spirit was gone at nearly all bands. Same with ELD, after the unbelievable Vikingligr Veldi and Frost releases.
Ashen Cold
First 3 enslaved albums are all pure gold
Strange Bernardo Rebelo
all enslaved albums are pure gold
Ashen Cold
Bernardo Rebelo
That’s a big no
Colin
@Ashen Cold tfw bands don't rehash 90s bm their whole career :(