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.
Fusion of Sense and Earth
Enslaved Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When it came to be
Fusion of sense and earth
In awe they looked
Those who feared the dark
At the enemy of hate
Conquered by will to live
Marched towards the shores
A war against the abnormal
The obstacles of peace
Victory for the light
"Wisdom and chaos must unite
The storm will linger on"
When fighting blindfolded
Every beast was possible to slay
No fortress guarded
When the serpents
Spat at the surface of the earth
It howled and laughed
Armored with good will
Certain of victory
It fell to the ground
"Wisdom and chaos must unite
The storm will linger on
The lyrics to Enslaved's song “Fusion of Sense and Earth” speaks about the union between the physical world and human perception. The cosmos trembles as the fusion of sense and earth come to be. It is said that those who feared the dark looked on in awe at the enemy of hate. All menaces vanished and were conquered by the will to live. Despite the obstacles of peace, men marched towards the shore to make war against the abnormal. The victory was for the light as the armored with goodwill were certain of victory and it fell to the ground.
The meaning behind the song can be interpreted as an affirmation of the potential human ability to perceive the physical and spiritual realm as one. The fusion of sense and earth means the convergence of human experience with the material world. The references to the enemy of hate and the obstacles of peace imply that this convergence is not without struggle. The line, “When fighting blindfolded, every beast was possible to slay” emphasizes the struggle and the need to overcome the inner demons or “beasts”. The song, therefore, urges the listener to arm themselves with goodwill or “wisdom and chaos” to triumph over these beasts and to exist harmoniously within the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Cosmos trembled
There was a significant change that caused a shake in the universe.
When it came to be
When something new was created.
Fusion of sense and earth
The blending of consciousness and the natural world.
In awe they looked
They were amazed and respectful.
Those who feared the dark
People who were afraid of the unknown.
At the enemy of hate
Directed towards the adversary of malice.
All menaces vanished
Any threat completely disappeared.
Conquered by will to live
Their determination to survive led to victory.
Marched towards the shores
Moved forward towards a new beginning.
A war against the abnormal
A conflict against anything that was considered irregular.
The obstacles of peace
The hurdles that kept tranquility from being achieved.
Victory for the light
Winning against darkness and negativity.
"Wisdom and chaos must unite
The storm will linger on"
Combining knowledge and unpredictability will keep things exciting and dynamic.
When fighting blindfolded
When fighting with limited visibility or direction.
Every beast was possible to slay
Any enemy was conquerable.
No fortress guarded
There were no strongholds left to protect.
When the serpents
When the snakes.
Spat at the surface of the earth
When they projected venomous poison onto the ground.
It howled and laughed
It responded with excitement and enjoyment.
Armored with good will
Protected with benevolence.
Certain of victory
Absolutely sure of winning.
It fell to the ground
It met its defeat.
"Wisdom and chaos must unite
The storm will linger on"
Combining knowledge and unpredictability will keep things exciting and dynamic.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ARVE ISDAL, CATO BAEKKEVOLD, HERBRAND LARSEN, IVAR S. PEERSEN, KJETIL GRUTLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind