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.
Jotunblod
Enslaved Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Darkness without end before the morning of time
The cold empire's eleven rivers frozen
Frost mist spreads itself wide out
The gust from Nivlhel in the north fills the mighty gap
Licking tongues of fire from the south
Boiling, bubbling venom
Jotunblood
Your mind's own evil inner:
Jotunblood
Screams from Hvergelmes source
United with nauseating drops of venom
The first, the father of all families
Created by the two elements
With himself he breeded
Our proud ancestors
Our primitive force's deep roots
With energy from the cattle's four rivers
A knife through the dark
A shrill scream
A pale face foams
He wanders proudly over Ymer's bones
All life has it's origin in a source of
Jotunblood
Your mind's own evil inner:
Jotunblood
If one seeks all Midgard's knowledge
If the wise woman swings her staff
One can not avoid one's origin
The chaos of the primitive force:
Jotunblood
"Jotunblod" is a song by Norwegian black metal band Enslaved. The lyrics talk about the beginning of time, the creation of the universe from the clash of two elemental forces, and the birth of the first family, whose blood runs through our veins, and how this primitive force still resides within us.
The lyrics describe the depths of the abyss, Ginnungagap, as a bottomless void of darkness that existed before the dawn of time. The eleven frozen rivers of the cold empire are referenced, as well as the gust from Nivlhel in the north, and the licking tongues of fire from the south. All life, the lyrics suggest, has its origin in Jotunblood, the blood of the giants, whose screams from the source of Hvergelmir were united with nauseating drops of venom. The first family that was created by the two elemental forces bred with itself, giving rise to our proud ancestors, whose primitive force's deep roots still flow through us, with energy from the cattle's four rivers.
The song speaks of a knife through the dark, a shrill scream, and a pale face foaming, as someone wanders over Ymer's bones, which symbolize the earth. The lyrics suggest that one cannot avoid their origin and that the chaos of the primitive force, Jotunblood, resides within us, waiting to consume us.
Line by Line Meaning
Bottomless abyss, ginnungagap
A never-ending chasm that existed before the beginning of time.
Darkness without end before the morning of time
Nothingness and emptiness that prevailed before creation.
The cold empire's eleven rivers frozen
The rivers of the cold empire that are frozen solid.
Frost mist spreads itself wide out
Mist that spreads all over, frozen by frost.
The gust from Nivlhel in the north fills the mighty gap
A strong wind that comes from the north fills the great gap.
Licking tongues of fire from the south
Flames that come from the south.
Boiling, bubbling venom
Venom that boils and foams.
All life has it's origin in a source of Jotunblood
All living things have a source of origin that is connected to Jotunblood.
Your mind's own evil inner: Jotunblood
Your inner evil that is associated with Jotunblood.
Screams from Hvergelmes source
Loud cries that originate from Hvergelme's source.
United with nauseating drops of venom
Combined with sickening drops of poisonous liquid.
The first, the father of all families
The first and the original ancestor of all families.
Created by the two elements
Created by the combination of two basic elements.
With himself he breeded our proud ancestors
He reproduced by himself to give birth to our proud ancestors.
Our primitive force's deep roots
Our primal force has deep roots that go far back in time.
With energy from the cattle's four rivers
With energy drawn from the four rivers of cattle.
A knife through the dark
A sharp edged weapon used in the darkness.
A shrill scream
A piercing and high-pitched scream.
A pale face foams
A face that turns white and froths at the mouth.
He wanders proudly over Ymer's bones
He walks with pride over the bones of Ymer.
If one seeks all Midgard's knowledge
If one desires to gain knowledge of all things in existence.
If the wise woman swings her staff
If a wise woman waves her staff.
One can not avoid one's origin
It is impossible to escape one's roots.
The chaos of the primitive force: Jotunblood
The chaotic power of the primal force that is associated with Jotunblood.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Ivar Peersen, Kjetil Grutle
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
palm tr33
Lyrics
Bottomless abyss, ginnungagap
Darkness without end before the morning of time
The cold empire's eleven rivers frozen
Frost mist spreads itself wide out
The gust from Nivlhel in the north fills the mighty gap
Licking tongues of fire from the south
Boiling, bubbling venom
All life has it's origin in a source of
Jotunblood
Your mind's own evil inner:
Jotunblood
Screams from Hvergelmes source
United with nauseating drops of venom
The first, the father of all families
Created by the two elements
With himself he breeded
Our proud ancestors
Our primitive force's deep roots
With energy from the cattle's four rivers
A knife through the dark
A shrill scream
A pale face foams
He wanders proudly over Ymer's bones
All life has it's origin in a source of
Jotunblood
Your mind's own evil inner:
Jotunblood
If one seeks all Midgard's knowledge
If the wise woman swings her staff
One can not avoid one's origin
The chaos of the primitive force:
Jotunblood
Nataly
exclente !!! pure fucking sentimiento pagano!
Hrimthur666
Pure epic greatness!
TheArchDemon
i own this album and love it
Christopher Day
I've got this on cassette..... lol
Cymbal-Rapist
The true Enslaved
Killer Wolf
Killer dawg
Carlos Oliveira
2:36 ''UAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA''
sliptara
Heh.
Jorge Pilquian Recabal
huu huu huu huu