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.
Night-Sight
Enslaved Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Seeing all I need see
Nothing is hidden here
Deep into the woods
Casting
Letters that speak of...
All
Is naught
No-one but me
Knows of this place
Sanctuary
Where I construct
Dream while there is no strife
Anguish pulls no weight
One can see and the other is blind
Through the same pair of eyes
We have lost sight
Of the night-side of the self
Hunted by the fear
Of reunion
Night-sight is bliss
For he who dares look into
A world where you embrace the opposite
Where you are whole
There is no lasting joy
In numbness and dogma
Too much is too little in knowledge
Driven by mystery
We have lost sight
Of the night-side of the self
Hunted by the fear
Of reunion
Night-sight is bliss
For he who dares look into
A world where you embrace the opposite
Where you are whole
The song "Night-Sight" by Enslaved is an exploration of the self and the search for a sanctuary where one can construct their dreams. The lyrics set the tone of introspection and seeing beyond the veil, where the singer sees all they need to see, unhindered by darkness or deception, deep into the woods. The use of metaphorical language to describe the woods and the veil indicates that the singer is searching for a space that is hidden from the norms of society where the self can fully explore and be whole.
The lyrics continue with a message about the importance of looking beyond the surface of life and embracing the darker side of the self, which is often neglected or ignored due to the fear of the unknown. The "Night-Sight" that the singer refers to is the ability to embrace the opposite and find wholeness in the world where mystery drives one's knowledge. The chorus mirrors the verse by repeating that society has lost sight of the night-side of the self, and people are hunted by the fear of reunion, giving importance to how people tend to lose themselves in the noise of society and forget about their true identity.
One interesting fact about the song is that it is the opening track of the album "Isa," which was released on November 8, 2004 - this album marked a significant shift towards progressive, experimental sound—and marked the start of Enslaved's evolution towards a completely new musical direction. The album was universally acclaimed and became one of the most critically acclaimed albums in the band's history, receiving a 94/100 score on Metacritic. Enslaved has always been known for their poetic and mysterious lyrics, and this song is a prime example of the band's ability to create evocative poetry.
Another interesting fact about the song is that the term "night-sight" is a rare word meaning "the ability to see in the dark." It is a metaphorical use of the word by Enslaved, indicating that a person's ability to explore the darker side of their psyche is just as critical as having the ability to see in the dark. Enslaved is one of the best-known Scandinavian black metal bands, and this song is a perfect example of how their music has evolved from black metal to a more progressive and experimental style. This song is often cited as one of the band's most experimental pieces, with its unusual structure and progressive elements.
The chords to the song are as follows:
Verse: Am-C-Am-G
Chorus: C-Am-F-G
Overall, "Night-Sight" is a complex and introspective song that urges listeners to explore the dark side of their psyche and find wholeness in the world of mystery. The band's poetic lyrics carry a profound sense of searching for something new, different, and more profound than anything society can offer. It is no surprise that Enslaved has garnered such a loyal following since they first emerged in the metal scene in the early ’90s, and "Night-Sight" is a perfect example of why their music still resonates with audiences all over the world today.
Line by Line Meaning
I can see through the veil
I am able to see beyond what's presented to me
Seeing all I need see
I see everything that matters
Nothing is hidden here
There are no secrets
Deep into the woods
Far into a place where few dare to venture
Casting
Writing
Letters that speak of...
Words that embody...
All
Everything
Is all
Everything is everything
Is naught
Nothing is meaningless
No-one but me
Only I
Knows of this place
Is aware of my haven
Sanctuary
My safe refuge
Where I construct
Where I create
Dream while there is no strife
Imagining in times without conflict
Anguish pulls no weight
Sorrow has no bearing
One can see and the other is blind
One sees what others cannot
Through the same pair of eyes
Using the same perspective
We have lost sight
We are no longer aware
Of the night-side of the self
Of the part of ourselves that resides in darkness
Hunted by the fear
Chased by the dread
Of reunion
Of coming together with our other self
Night-sight is bliss
The ability to see in the dark is a source of great joy
For he who dares look into
For those brave enough to explore
A world where you embrace the opposite
A reality where we embrace the opposite of our nature
Where you are whole
Where we become complete
There is no lasting joy
Happiness is not sustainable
In numbness and dogma
In dullness and rigid beliefs
Too much is too little in knowledge
We'll never know everything
Driven by mystery
Inspired by the unknown
Writer(s): Kjetil Grutle, Herbrand Larsen, Ivar S. Peersen, Iver Sandoy
Contributed by Jonathan H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Борис Радев
Night Sight is bliss.
Wilson Llivicura
Great song 🎶 a from a extraordinary band!!!🖤
Reeder
I can see through the veil
Seeing all I need see
Nothing is hidden here
Deep into the woods
Casting
Letters that speak of...
All
Is all
Is naught
No-one but me
Knows of this place
Sanctuary
Where I construct
Dream while there is no strife
Anguish pulls no weight
One can see and the other is blind
Through the same pair of eyes
We have lost sight
Of the night-side of the self
Hunted by the fear
Of reunion
Night-sight is bliss
For he who dares look into
A world where you embrace the opposite
Where you are whole
There is no lasting joy
In numbness and dogma
Too much is too little in knowledge
Driven by mystery
We have lost sight
Of the night-side of the self
Hunted by the fear
Of reunion
Night-sight is bliss
For he who dares look into
A world where you embrace the opposite
Where you are whole
Shadow of the Night
Enslaved are so fucking underated it hurts
Wayfinder Warrior Coaching
same thought just now man...they're absurdly channeling goodness from other realms....