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.
For Lenge Siden
Enslaved Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
[Lyrics by Grutle Kjellson 1995]
[Music by Ivar Bjornson 1995]
Hymns were sung
In the times when our people still were proud
In the long gone past
Then came the disease
The disease from south
Deception and false knowledge
Infected our minds
Survival of the fittest was forgotten
But still it didn't disappear
Beneath the layers of a thousand years of deception
Burns the ancient northern thoughts
Fight! Don't let your powers disappear
Our sunset shall also be our dawn
They burned our temples
They killed our men
We shall take back
What once were ours
Fight! Deny not your mind
Our sunset shall also be our dawn
We shall once again sing
Hymns from ancient times
Like we did in those days
A long time ago
The lyrics of Enslaved's song "For Lenge Siden" speak about the history of the Viking people and their decline. The song begins by describing how hymns were sung in a time when the Viking people were proud of their heritage, traditions, and beliefs. However, this era of pride and honor did not last forever, and the people succumbed to the disease from the south, which brought deception and false knowledge that infected their minds. With the rise of misinformation and foolish beliefs, the survival of the fittest was forgotten.
Despite the forgetfulness, the ancient northern thoughts burned deep beneath a thousand years of deception. The song then calls on the people to fight not to let their powers disappear because their sunset shall also be their dawn. The Viking people had faced struggles in their history such as the burning of their temples and killing of their men, but they must take back what was once theirs. They must deny not their mind and must fight to regain their former heritage.
The song ends on a hopeful note, concluding that the Viking people shall once again sing hymns from ancient times, and like they did in those days, a long time ago. Enslaved's "For Lenge Siden" is an ode to the ancient Viking culture, and it speaks to the efforts to restore pride and power within the Old Norse culture.
Line by Line Meaning
Hymns were sung
Our people, who were once proud, sang religious or spiritual songs that have been lost to time.
In the times when our people still were proud
During a time in the distant past when our people were still proud and strong.
In the long gone past
Referencing an era so far back in history that it is now distant and forgotten.
Then came the disease
The arrival of something unwelcome and destructive that began a slow decline or decay.
The disease from south
A reference to a negative influence or idea that spread from the south and infected everything in its path.
Deception and false knowledge
A spread of misleading information and corrupt ideas that aimed to undermine and trap our people.
Infected our minds
Our people became mentally and emotionally poisoned by the negative influence.
Survival of the fittest was forgotten
The guiding principle of evolutionary struggle and survival was lost, and people stopped fighting for their place in the world.
But still it didn't disappear
Despite the loss of the survival instinct, something deeper and more fundamental remained under the surface.
Beneath the layers of a thousand years of deception
Our people have been misled for generations and may have forgotten the truth long ago.
Burns the ancient northern thoughts
But the original, authentic beliefs and ideas of our people still smolder within us.
Fight! Don't let your powers disappear
We must fight to reclaim our strength, lest we become completely powerless.
Our sunset shall also be our dawn
Even though our people may have undergone a period of darkness, we can still rise again and begin anew.
They burned our temples
Our spiritual centers were destroyed and erased from history.
They killed our men
Many of our brothers and leaders were killed, leading to widespread loss and grief.
We shall take back
We must take back what was stolen from us and reclaim our rightful place.
What once were ours
Referencing a time when our people had power and control over their own land, culture, and destiny.
Fight! Deny not your mind
We must not be afraid to fight for what we know is right and true.
We shall once again sing
The time will come when we can reunite with our spiritual traditions and openly celebrate our heritage again.
Hymns from ancient times
Songs and hymns that have been passed down through generations, representing the foundational beliefs and culture of our people.
Like we did in those days
Referencing a time when our people openly celebrated and embraced their spiritual heritage, cultural identity, and power.
A long time ago
Reiterating the idea that these events occurred in a distant past, but adding a hint of hope that the cycle may repeat itself again in the future.
Contributed by Jayce C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.