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 á›–, 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.
Giants
Enslaved Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Endless void, absence of life
Chaos dwells outside the womb
Seduce, Invoke
Embrace, Give birth
See through the flesh
See past the soul
Domain of unborn thoughts
Go back, Unveil
Approach the cosmic womb
No smile without pain
No grief without laughter
Ref.:
Turn inwards, Realize
Witness the march of the Giants
- Soil and seed
Turn inwards, Gratify
Witness the storming of heaven
- Endless rebirth
Come nearer, Restless sin
Step into the core
They will welcome your return
Further in
Ride the storm one can't escape
Awake the Gods
Awake the Gods
Ref.:
Turn inwards, Realize
Witness the march of the Giants
- Soil and seed
Turn inwards, Gratify
Witness the storming of heaven
- Endless rebirth
Enslaved's song "Giants" delivers a mystical, dark, and powerful message of the universal existence and the mystery of life. The lyrics describe the boundless expanse of the universe, the absence of life, and the dwelling chaos that entices and seduces the listener. The song invites the listener to journey within, see past the flesh and soul, and feel the pulsating twilight, the domain of unborn thoughts. The song somewhat reminds us that there is no smile without pain and no grief without laughter. It entwines the listener into a beautifully haughty world of self-realization, awakening the Gods, and the storming of heaven. It urges the listener to approach the cosmic womb, witness the march of the Giants, the soil and seed, experience the Endless rebirth, and gratify themselves accordingly.
One of the interesting facts about the song "Giants" is that it is the first track on the album "Vertebrae" released on September 2008, which is Enslaved's 11th studio album. The album was produced by Herbrand Larsen, who is also the keyboardist and clean vocalist for the band. The album was a commercial and critical success, becoming Enslaved's highest-charting album, reaching number 92 on the US Billboard 200 Chart. The song "Giants" alone offers a wholly different sound from the rest of the album, which has a more progressive and experimental sound with clean vocals and a broader range of instrumentation.
Another interesting fact is that the song's theme reflects the band's evolution from black metal to a more progressive and experimental sound. While their earlier albums dealt with Norse mythology, pagan rituals, and nature, "Giants" showcases a broader range of themes, including the mysteries of existence, self-realization, and cosmic space. The song's lyrics show the band's desire to explore the mysteries of life, their fascination with the cosmos, and the limitless expanse of the universe.
Furthermore, Enslaved is renowned for their unique sound, and "Giants" reflects their experimentation with soundscapes, unconventional time signatures, and a blend of clean and harsh vocals. The song builds towards a crescendo, incorporating a meld of sounds that seem to capture the essence of the theme.
Overall, the song Giants from Enslaved reflects the band's experimental and progressive style while inviting the listener to contemplate the mysteries of existence. It's an ode to the universe, an incitement to self-exploration and self-discovery, and a mystical journey.
Unfortunately, the chords for the song "Giants" are not available as it is written for multiple guitars with intricate layering, and it will be complicated to transcribe into chords.
Line by Line Meaning
No distance, no time
The void of space and timelessness are one and the same.
Endless void, absence of life
There is no life in the emptiness of space.
Chaos dwells outside the womb
The universe is a chaotic place that was born from something greater.
Seduce, Invoke
To bring forth creation, one must lure it out of the void with the power of will.
Embrace, Give birth
Once creation has been coaxed into existence, it must be welcomed and nurtured into the world.
See through the flesh
Look beyond the physical and into the metaphysical realm of the universe.
See past the soul
True insight requires seeing beyond the boundaries of the individual self.
Feel the pulsating twilight
Sense the fluctuation of the cosmic energies that exist beyond our understanding.
Domain of unborn thoughts
There are ideas and concepts in existence that have yet to be realized or understood.
Go back, Unveil
To reach true enlightenment, one must shed away their preconceived notions and see the universe for what it truly is.
Approach the cosmic womb
To understand the universe, one must delve deep into its past and origins.
No smile without pain
The universe operates on a delicate balance between happiness and suffering.
No grief without laughter
Joy and sorrow are intertwined and are both necessary aspects of life.
Turn inwards, Realize
To understand the universe, one must first understand oneself and their place in it.
Witness the march of the Giants
Observe the natural forces and phenomena of the universe as they impact the world.
- Soil and seed
Life grows from the earth and is sustained by it.
Turn inwards, Gratify
Find satisfaction and fulfillment within oneself rather than seeking external validation or material gains.
Witness the storming of heaven
Observe the immense power and magnitude of the cosmos and its impact on the world.
- Endless rebirth
Life is a never-ending cycle of creation and destruction, with constant change and renewal.
Come nearer, Restless sin
Embrace one's desires and passions without fear or reservation.
Step into the core
To achieve true enlightenment, one must be willing to confront the deepest truths and mysteries of existence.
They will welcome your return
The universe will embrace those who seek to understand it and will offer them insight in return.
Further in
The path to enlightenment is an ongoing journey that requires constant exploration and self-discovery.
Ride the storm one can't escape
The forces of the universe are beyond our control, but we must learn to weather them and find meaning in the chaos.
Awake the Gods
Invoke the divine and connect with the greater power of the universe.
Contributed by Cameron A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Reeder
No distance, no time
Endless void, absence of life
Chaos dwells outside the womb
Seduce, Invoke
Embrace, Give birth
See through the flesh
See past the soul
Feel the pulsating twilight
Domain of unborn thoughts
Go back, Unveil
Approach the cosmic womb
No smile without pain
No grief without laughter
Ref.:
Turn inwards, Realize
Witness the march of the Giants
- Soil and seed
Turn inwards, Gratify
Witness the storming of heaven
- Endless rebirth
Come nearer, Restless sin
Step into the core
They will welcome your return
Further in
Ride the storm one can't escape
Awake the Gods
Awake the Gods
Ref.:
Turn inwards, Realize
Witness the march of the Giants
- Soil and seed
Turn inwards, Gratify
Witness the storming of heaven
- Endless rebirth
Ramiro Villalobos
11!!!!!!!
Justine MERAT
33 !
noiznoiznoiznoiz
99?
Jean-Bernard Fontanel
13
henry valravn
111