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.
Neogenesis
Enslaved Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Towards the shores of Neogenesis
Navigation by the fires of dead worlds
Towards the shores of Neogenesis
Distant self now cut through, approaching infinitely
Racing hearts throbbing deep beneath the painted bones
Lunar flight crashing into solar storms
Blinding unification - vertigo - ecstatic curtain fall
Set ablaze by inner arson, endlessly reborn
Winds, oh the winds that speak of your salt and blood
Break open the dam, flood the deserts
Shocking white pulsar radiant dreams drawn in night sky
Ice-glazed branches undead by rays from an impossible sun
Crystallized pathways towards runic chambers concealed within the microcosmos
Revert away from the predicament, flee across the abyss
Severing the fetal cords spawning fusions by the thousands
Through bent space created black channel - pagan relay
Sensations of flesh flickering
Praising death through bleeding eyes
Neogenesis
is a song about exploring the universe and discovering new worlds. The lyrics speak of navigating through dead worlds and towards the shores of neogenesis, the process of creating new life or new beginnings. The distant self that was once cut off is now approaching infinitely, indicating a newfound direction and purpose. The racing hearts throbbing beneath the painted bones suggest the excitement and the adrenaline rush of exploring the unknown.
The verses then delve into specific celestial bodies such as Mars, Venus, the Moon, and the Sun. The imagery of Mars opening doors to Venus and the lunar flight crashing into solar storms hints at the dangers and obstacles one may encounter while exploring the universe. However, the blinding unification and the ecstatic curtain fall suggest a sense of transcendence and enlightenment upon overcoming these challenges.
The second half of the song speaks of the experience of exploring a new world. The shocking white pulsar and the impossible sun represent the surreal and otherworldly nature of these discoveries. The references to runic chambers and the microcosmos convey the idea of uncovering ancient secrets and mysteries of the universe.
The lyrics conclude with a reference to pagan rituals and the praising of death through bleeding eyes, perhaps alluding to the transformative and spiritual nature of these discoveries.
Line by Line Meaning
Navigation by the fires of dead worlds
Journeying through the remains of destroyed planets
Towards the shores of Neogenesis
Heading towards a new birth or creation
Distant self now cut through, approaching infinitely
Feeling a detachment from one's former self and moving towards an endless future
Racing hearts throbbing deep beneath the painted bones
Strong and intense feelings pulsating through the body
Mars opens the hidden doors to Venus
The exploration of new territories and experiences
Lunar flight crashing into solar storms
Engaging in risky and dangerous endeavors
Blinding unification - vertigo - ecstatic curtain fall
A mind-blowing, overwhelming experience of merging with something greater
Set ablaze by inner arson, endlessly reborn
Being reinvigorated and revitalized through intense self-reflection
Winds, oh the winds that speak of your salt and blood
The natural elements that remind us of our humanity and mortality
Break open the dam, flood the deserts
Liberating oneself from constraints and unleashing potential
Shocking white pulsar radiant dreams drawn in night sky
Visionary experiences that inspire awe and wonder
Ice-glazed branches undead by rays from an impossible sun
An eerie and surreal landscape that defies rational understanding
Crystallized pathways towards runic chambers concealed within the microcosmos
Discovering hidden and mysterious aspects of existence within the smallest details
Revert away from the predicament, flee across the abyss
Escaping from a difficult or dangerous situation and crossing a threshold
Severing the fetal cords spawning fusions by the thousands
Cutting ties to enable new and diverse connections to form
Through bent space created black channel - pagan relay
Overcoming limitations and establishing unconventional pathways
Sensations of flesh flickering
Experiencing strange and unusual bodily sensations
Praising death through bleeding eyes
Embracing the inevitability of death and finding beauty in the process of decay
Neogenesis
A rebirth or new creation
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Ivar Peersen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind