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.
Nidingaslakt
Enslaved Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Horna gjallar, vinden bles
Trommer dundrar, vinded bles
Med spjut og boge meter til strid
Me g¥r i bresjen brèdre gjennom blod.
Med von om «re i galskapens namn
Me vert aldri slegn sjèl om me fell
Me reiser ei til Folkvang til,
vanedronnings famn, v¥re fedre skal
me mèta om me fell i dag.
Me flytar ei fr¥ var lagnad sjèlv
om vinden ikkje bles v¥r vei.
Til valfaders hall brèdre.
Med heva spjut i Odins namn.
Me skal heva krus i Odins namn
Nidingar skal falla for v¥re fètter.
Dei treng ikkje be om sollyse dagar.
Ingen hugsat ein tr«ll uten herre
Slegne vert dei n¥r dei fell.
Me hevar v¥pen for v¥r tru
Me slaktar marken for v¥r tru
Ingen n¥de me viser
for dei som snudde ryggen til.
Dèy skal dei som freista
¥ mura brunnen inn.
ei som for med lègn og svik
Gje oss styrke, gje oss mot
Me skal sigra, brèdre gjennom blod.
[Musikk: R. Kronheim]
[English translation: NIDINGASLAKT]
[Lyrics: Grutle Kjellson]
Horns are resounding, the winds are howling
Drums are pounding, the winds are howling
With spear and bow we go into battle
We are making a stand, brothers in blood
With hope for honour in the name of madness
We will never be defeated, even if we fall
We are not going to Folkvang,
Into the arms of the Vanir Queen,
We shall our fathers if we fall today
We will not flee from our destiny,
even though the winds aren't blowing our way
Brothers, to Valfaders hall
With spear raised in the name of Oden
We shall raise mugs in the name of Oden
Cowards shall fall at our feet
They do not have to pray for sun filled days
No one remembers a slave without a master
Defeated they are when they fall
We raise weapons for our faith
We slaughter the fields for our faith
We have no mercy for those
Who turned their backs
Those who attemmp to close the well
Shall die
Those who lied and betrayed shall die
Give us strenght
We will prevail
Brothers in blood
[Music: R. Kronheim]
The lyrics to Enslaved's song Nidingaslakt are about going to battle with hope for honor in the name of madness. The horn is resounding and the wind is howling as the drums pound louder. The battle cry is to make a stand, brothers in blood. Even if they fall, they will never be defeated. The brothers believe that they will not go to Folkvang, which is the afterlife realm of the Vanir Queen, and meet their dead fathers if they fall that day. They have hope for honor that will keep them going even if the winds aren't blowing their way. They will go to Valfaders hall, where they shall raise their mugs in the name of Oden. Cowards shall fall at their feet. They will slaughter the fields and have no mercy for those who turned their backs on them. Those who try to close the well shall die, as well as those who lied and betrayed their cause. The brothers will be given the strength and courage to prevail through the music of R. Kronheim.
The song is a reflection of Norse mythology and the ethos of the Viking era where honor and individual strength were highly valued. The lyrics express a brutal and determined mindset of a warrior clan. Nidingaslakt is a powerful song full of passion and aggression, reflecting the Scandinavian identity, history and mythology. The song is an embodiment of the historical Viking era's warrior psychology, a blend of fearlessness and reckless abandon.
Line by Line Meaning
Horns are resounding, the winds are howling
The atmosphere around us is violent, echoing the call to battle
Drums are pounding, the winds are howling
The sound of the drums and howling winds instill a sense of urgency and determination
With spear and bow we go into battle
We arm ourselves with weapons and prepare for war
We are making a stand, brothers in blood
We fight for a common cause, united by our kinship and bond
With hope for honour in the name of madness
We hold onto the belief that our madness and bravery will bring us honor
We will never be defeated, even if we fall
Our impossible determination gives us strength, even in the face of defeat
We are not going to Folkvang,
We are not retreating to the afterlife, but will remain on earth and continue to fight
Into the arms of the Vanir Queen,
We reject the comfort and safety of the afterlife and continue to fight in the present
We shall our fathers if we fall today
We will join our fathers and ancestors in death if we are defeated
We will not flee from our destiny,
We will not run away from our fate or destiny
even though the winds aren't blowing our way
We will persevere, even in unfavorable circumstances
Brothers, to Valfaders hall
We will fight courageously and will meet in Valhalla if we fall
With spear raised in the name of Oden
We honor and invoke the power of Odin in battle
We shall raise mugs in the name of Oden
We will honor Odin by raising our beverages in celebration after victory
Cowards shall fall at our feet
Those who do not fight with bravery and honor will be defeated
They do not have to pray for sun filled days
Their destiny and fate is already determined; they have no control over it
No one remembers a slave without a master
Those without a leader or purpose will be forgotten and defeated
Defeated they are when they fall
Victory is impossible for those who lack determination and courage
We raise weapons for our faith
We use our weapons to defend and honor our beliefs
We slaughter the fields for our faith
We are willing to destroy what is in our way to achieve our goals
We have no mercy for those
We will show no mercy to those who oppose us
Who turned their backs
Those who have betrayed us or turned their loyalty away from us
Those who attemmp to close the well
Those who try to stop or hinder our progress and success
Shall die
We will defeat and kill those who oppose us
Those who lied and betrayed shall die
Those who have been deceitful or traitorous will be defeated and killed
Give us strenght
We call upon a higher power to give us the strength and courage to succeed in battle
We will prevail
We will triumph, even in the midst of danger and difficulty
Brothers in blood
We are united by our kinship and shared experiences
Contributed by Adeline F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.