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.
Lifandi liv undir hamri
Enslaved Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The Deepest woods and darkest scrubs
Flords and mountains are our landmarks
in a life beneeath the Hammer
A long and narrow kingdom
Ruled by trinity
From stormy mountain tops covered with snow
We ride along the paths of Midgard
Fog from the soil rises at our feets
To the west the shore can be seen,
where the first sat foot ashore
Where they raised sail towards north
The lyrics of Enslaved's Lifandi liv undir hamri paint a vivid picture of a rugged, windswept landscape that is both desolate and breathtaking in its beauty. Against this dramatic backdrop, the trinity rules over a long and narrow kingdom, perched atop stormy mountain tops that are covered with snow. As riders travel along the paths of Midgard, the mist from the soil rises up to swirl around their feet, and to the west lies the shore where the early Norse explorers set sail towards the north.
The imagery in these lyrics is both powerful and evocative, capturing the sense of adventure and wonder that must have infused the lives of the early Nordic peoples as they explored and settled these harsh northern lands. The mention of the Hammer is significant because it is an emblem of Thor, the god of thunder and lightning, who was worshipped by the Scandinavians as a protector and benevolent deity. The trinity that rules over the kingdom may refer not just to the gods, but also to the three main branches of Scandinavian society: the warriors, the priests, and the farmers.
Throughout the song, the lyrics contrast the beauty and sublimity of the natural world with the harshness and brutality of life in the Nordic lands. The riders who travel along the paths of Midgard are forced to contend with rugged mountain passes, dense forests, and stormy seas, even as they are inspired by the wild and untamed landscapes that surround them.
Line by Line Meaning
Windswept landscape, desolated mountain plateaus
We see a barren, harsh world with no signs of life, where nature is fierce and unforgiving.
The Deepest woods and darkest scrubs
There are dense woods with little light, a place where one can easily get lost and perish.
Flords and mountains are our landmarks
Our surroundings are vast and distinctive, with towering peaks and deep fjords that help us navigate.
in a life beneeath the Hammer
We are living in a place controlled and dominated by the Hammer, a force that shapes our existence.
A long and narrow kingdom
Our world is a realm that stretches far and is limited in its breadth.
Ruled by trinity
Our society is governed by three entities or leaders, defining the power structure.
From stormy mountain tops covered with snow
We witness the grandeur and extreme conditions of our world, with snow-covered peaks and fierce, raging storms atop them.
We behold the kingdom of the Hammer
We witness the power structure and influence of the Hammer on our world, shaping our fate.
We ride along the paths of Midgard
We move through the world, following the winding and treacherous ways of Midgard.
Fog from the soil rises at our feets
As we traverse the land, we witness the misty ground and the chill that emanates from it.
To the west the shore can be seen,
On the western side of our land, we see the vast and endless ocean shining in the distance.
where the first sat foot ashore
This place marks the beginning of our history, where people first stepped onto our land.
Where they raised sail towards north
From this same place, people set out on journeys of conquest and exploration towards the north.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: IVAR S. PEERSEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind