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.
Hiindsiight
Enslaved Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Within the bone-dome
Went to ask who ’twas
From the ether-mouth
Was told 'twas myself
In shape of Mannaz
And that it was not quiet
But came through in waves
By the eye-third
From the below
When the above broke
Go stand by the edge
The mouth spoke out
And separate the words
From the noise-stream
So many words I saw
From earth and the other-world
Of the sun, of the Sea
Of the Blood and Seed
Hindsight into the present
The twos of time in harmony
The bear dreaming while
Hunting prey-flesh while dreaming
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Feathers of Eolh
Enslaved
Havenless
Enslaved
My Love Mine All Mine
Mitski
The sacred knot is tied
The mind-knot will hold
The shadow bound for ever more
Beast and beast, fish and fish
I waded out into the stream
From both sides
The water was space
We were time
We are time
We became again
We are once more
We will be again
The lyrics to Enslaved's song "Hiindsiight" delve into a deep exploration of self-discovery and transcendence. The opening stanza describes a surreal encounter where the singer sees a man-shape within a bone-dome, which serves as a metaphor for encountering oneself in a different form. This encounter leads to a revelation that this man-shape is actually the persona of Mannaz, a rune representing human consciousness and self-awareness. The idea that this revelation did not come quietly but rather in waves suggests a transformative and intense experience, one that can only be understood through a deeper spiritual perception, symbolized by the "eye-third" representing inner vision and wisdom gained from below when the above breaks.
The next stanza introduces a directive to "stand by the edge" and separate words from the noise-stream, hinting at the need for discernment and clarity in understanding the messages and insights being received. The imagery of seeing numerous words from both the earthly realm and the otherworldly planes, such as the sun, the Sea, the Blood, and the Seed, suggests a wide array of knowledge and wisdom being transmitted, possibly through a state of heightened consciousness or altered perception.
The concept of hindsight into the present is then introduced, indicating a fusion of past experiences and future possibilities converging in the current moment. This theme of temporal harmony is depicted through the juxtaposition of the bear dreaming while hunting prey-flesh, symbolizing a balance between instinctual drives and visionary pursuits. The references to other songs and artists like Feathers of Eolh and Havenless by Enslaved, as well as "My Love Mine All Mine" by Mitski, hint at a blending of influences and inspirations that contribute to the overarching narrative of self-awareness and connectivity with the cosmos.
The final stanza brings the journey full circle as the singer wades into a stream where water becomes space and they transcend the limitations of time. This symbolic merging of opposites – both sides, space and time – signifies a profound transformation where the individual transcends temporal constraints and reconnects with a timeless, eternal essence. The repetition of "We are time, we became again, we are once more, we will be again" suggests a cyclical nature of existence, where the self evolves and renews in an eternal cycle of growth and rebirth. The lyrics of "Hiindsiight" ultimately portray a profound narrative of self-realization, temporal transcendence, and interconnectedness with the universe.
Line by Line Meaning
I saw a man-shape
I caught a glimpse of a human-like figure
Within the bone-dome
Inside the skull
Went to ask who ’twas
I tried to identify the figure
From the ether-mouth
Through a spiritual channel
Was told 'twas myself
I was informed that it was my own image
In shape of Mannaz
Manifested as the symbol of mankind
And that it was not quiet
And it was not subtle
But came through in waves
But appeared in distinct patterns
These waves can only be seen
These patterns are only visible
By the eye-third
Through a deeper perspective
From the below
From a lower level of consciousness
When the above broke
When the external world was disrupted
Go stand by the edge
Approach the threshold
The mouth spoke out
The spiritual channel communicated
And separate the words
And distinguish the true messages
From the noise-stream
From the distracting chaos
So many words I saw
Numerous messages revealed to me
From earth and the other-world
From the physical realm and beyond
Of the sun, of the Sea
From sources of light and depth
Of the Blood and Seed
From lineage and creation
Hindsight into the present
Understanding gained from reflection in the moment
The twos of time in harmony
The past and future aligned
The bear dreaming while
The bear in a state of subconscious
Hunting prey-flesh while dreaming
Acting instinctively while asleep
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Feathers of Eolh
Symbolic feathers of protection
Havenless
Without a safe haven
My Love Mine All Mine
Possessive love
The sacred knot is tied
A divine connection is established
The mind-knot will hold
The mental bond remains strong
The shadow bound for ever more
The darkness constrained indefinitely
Beast and beast, fish and fish
Each creature in its own realm
I waded out into the stream
I ventured into the flow of consciousness
From both sides
From different perspectives
The water was space
The fluidity represented the infinite
We were time
Humanity is defined by time
We are time
We are shaped by temporal existence
We became again
We transformed once more
We are once more
We exist in a cyclical pattern
We will be again
We are destined to repeat
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Einar Selvik, Ivar Peersen, Iver Sandoy, Kjetil Grutle
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind