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.
Kvasirs Blod
Enslaved Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Between the holy races, the Vanirs and the Aces
When peace came, the deities united
From a bowl filled with spit rose Kvasir
"Wise he becomes, he drinks the holy mead
The blood of Kvasir, but not he who drinks
From the spilled mead that dripped
Kvasir the father of poets by dwarf hands he died
From the blood of Kvasir they made the mead of poets,
The holy drink
Fjalar and Galar once murdered Gilling the Giant,
The father of Suttung
Enraged, Suttung demanded justice to be fullfilled
The blood of Kvasir became the mead of Suttung
Grimne flew out from Valhalla
In the shape of the falcon
To the home of Giants and to Nitberg
Bauge was decived, and Gunnlod betrayed
Out from Nitberg the falcon flew
Finally Kvasir should return to Aasgard
But when the mead disappeared Suttung became furious
Out, in the shape of the eagle he followed
Sadly, Grimne had to spill from his valuable treasure
Which led to the making of the false poets
The falcon flew home to his domains
And Suttung flew into the flames of Tjalve
The lyrics to Enslaved's song Kvasirs Blod tell the tale of an ancient war between holy races, the Vanirs and the Aces, which ends in peace as the deities unite. From a bowl filled with spit, rose Kvasir, the father of poets, who obtained wisdom by drinking the holy mead, made from his blood. However, not everyone who drinks the mead gains this wisdom, for only those who drink from the mead that did not spill from the falcon, who was carrying it, achieve enlightenment.
The story takes a darker turn when Fjalar and Galar murder Gilling the Giant, who was the father of Suttung. This act enrages Suttung, who demands justice to be served. The blood of Kvasir is then used to make the mead of Suttung, which becomes legendary. Grimne takes on the form of a falcon and flies to the home of Giants and Nitberg, where he deceives Bauge and betrays Gunnlod, causing Kvasir to return to Aasgard. However, when the mead disappears, Suttung becomes furious, and Grimne has to spill from his treasure, which leads to the creation of fake poets. Suttung follows Grimne, who is now flying in the form of an eagle, and sadly, Suttung meets his end in the flames of Tjalve.
Line by Line Meaning
A war ruled in ancient times
In ancient times, there was a war between the holy races, the Vanirs and the Aces.
Between the holy races, the Vanirs and the Aces
The holy races, the Vanirs and the Aces, fought against each other during the war.
When peace came, the deities united
After the war ended, the deities united and made peace.
From a bowl filled with spit rose Kvasir
Kvasir was created from a bowl filled with spit.
"Wise he becomes, he drinks the holy mead
If someone drinks the sacred mead, they will become wise.
The blood of Kvasir, but not he who drinks
However, if someone drinks from the spilled mead that dripped from the falcon, they will not become wise.
From the blood of Kvasir they made the mead of poets,
The mead of poets was made from the blood of Kvasir.
Fjalar and Galar once murdered Gilling the Giant,
Fjalar and Galar had murdered Gilling, a giant.
The father of Suttung
Gilling was the father of Suttung.
Enraged, Suttung demanded justice to be fullfilled
Suttung was angry about the murder and demanded justice be fulfilled.
The blood of Kvasir became the mead of Suttung
Suttung got mead made from the blood of Kvasir as justice.
Grimne flew out from Valhalla
Grimne (Odin) flew out from Valhalla.
In the shape of the falcon
He was in the shape of a falcon.
To the home of Giants and to Nitberg
He flew to the home of giants and to Nitberg.
Bauge was decived, and Gunnlod betrayed
Bauge was deceived, and Gunnlod betrayed their trust.
Out from Nitberg the falcon flew
The falcon flew out of Nitberg.
Finally Kvasir should return to Aasgard
Finally, Kvasir would return to Aasgard.
But when the mead disappeared Suttung became furious
Suttung became furious when the mead disappeared.
Out, in the shape of the eagle he followed
He followed Suttung in the shape of an eagle.
Sadly, Grimne had to spill from his valuable treasure
Unfortunately, Grimne had to spill some of the valuable mead.
Which led to the making of the false poets
This led to the creation of false poets.
The falcon flew home to his domains
The falcon flew back to his home.
And Suttung flew into the flames of Tjalve
Suttung flew into the flames of Tjalve.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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