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.
Entroper
Enslaved Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Long have I suffered
Long have I been forced
Blinded by their faith
Laughter resounds no more
I am the son of the ancient breed
I follow not pathetic order
I am the realm of absurdity
Resistant to their conscience
Free of their constant pain
I was born in the flames
Long did they hope
That my logic would save them at last
Long did I know
That I would watch them die
While harvesting their fruits
Of their impotent threats
They forgot the potency
Of the old independency
Claiming my death would
Change the way of existence
Who, but me handled them?
The weapons of hope
They turned safely into non-existence
I will break the chains
I will slay the betrayers
One last time
The laughter shall resound
The lyrics of "Entroper" by Enslaved are complex and philosophical, touching on themes of rebellion, individualism, and the rejection of societal norms. The song seems to be told from the perspective of a protagonist who has been oppressed and forced to conform, but who has finally found the strength to break free from the chains of society and embrace his true nature.
The opening lines "I am the creator of true will / Long have I suffered / Long have I been forced / Blinded by their faith / Laughter resounds no more" set the tone for the song. The singer is declaring his independence from the beliefs and expectations of those around him, and expressing the pain and frustration he has felt as a result of being forced to suppress his true self.
The song then goes on to assert the singer's individuality, and his rejection of societal norms. "I do not pity life / I follow not pathetic order / I am the realm of absurdity / Resistant to their conscience / Free of their constant pain" are all lines that reinforce the idea that the singer is no longer willing to be constrained by the dictates of society. He is embracing his own sense of purpose and rejecting the notion that he must follow a certain path in order to be happy and fulfilled.
The song ends with a declaration of rebellion and a promise to triumph over his oppressors. "I will break the chains / I will slay the betrayers / One last time / The laughter shall resound" are lines that suggest the singer has finally found the strength to assert himself and take control of his destiny. The laughter that has been absent from his life will finally return, as he rises up against those who have oppressed him and claimed victory.
Overall, "Entroper" is a song that speaks to the struggle of the individual against the forces of conformity and oppression, and the power of perseverance and rebellion in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
I am the creator of true will
I am in control of my own destiny and actions.
Long have I suffered
I have experienced much pain and hardship.
Long have I been forced
I have been coerced and manipulated for a long time.
Blinded by their faith
They are unable to see beyond their religious beliefs.
Laughter resounds no more
Joy and happiness have been replaced with sadness and despair.
I am the son of the ancient breed
I come from a long line of resilient and powerful beings.
I do not pity life
I don't feel sorry for the struggles of existence.
I follow not pathetic order
I don't obey nonsensical commands or rules.
I am the realm of absurdity
I exist in a place beyond human comprehension and rationality.
Resistant to their conscience
I won't be swayed by their moral compass or guilt.
Free of their constant pain
I'm no longer burdened by their never-ending agony.
I was born in the flames
I was born in a world of conflict and destruction.
Long did they hope
They held onto the possibility that I would save them.
That my logic would save them at last
They believed that my reasoning would bring salvation.
Long did I know
I had full awareness that they would eventually perish.
That I would watch them die
I would witness their extinction without interfering.
While harvesting their fruits
I took advantage of their weaknesses and flaws.
Of their impotent threats
Their attempts to intimidate me were futile.
They forgot the potency
They underestimated the power and strength of my kind.
Of the old independency
The ability to thrive independently without relying on others.
Claiming my death would
They thought that by killing me they could
Change the way of existence
Alter the course of universal history.
Who, but me handled them?
I was the only one who could deal with them effectively.
The weapons of hope
Their last resort and belief in a better future.
They turned safely into non-existence
Their peaceful demise meant the end of their suffering and pain.
I will break the chains
I will free myself from enslavement and control.
I will slay the betrayers
I will punish those who have betrayed and wronged me.
One last time
This will be the final battle.
The laughter shall resound
Happiness and joy will return once again.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ARVE ISDAL, CATO BAEKKEVOLD, HERBRAND LARSEN, IVAR S. PEERSEN, KJETIL GRUTLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind