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.
Reflection
Enslaved Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Breathing the air from the poisoned pit
Hovering through flames from the burning core
Searching for reason in the ashes of men
Obeying the laws of the kings without lands
Bowing in awe at the hypocrite's feet
Not hearing the cry of the infant
Poisoning the seed that was planted within
Ignoring the winter that closes in
Believing the tales from the forked tongue
Frozen to death without being born
Looking for reason in the bottomless abyss
Clinging to life in the reflection of the self
Breathing the air from the poisoned pit
Hovering through flames from the burning core
Searching for reason in the ashes of men
Obeying the laws of the kings without lands
Bowing in awe at the hypocrite's feet
Clinging to life
Frozen to death
Clinging to life in the reflection of the self
Frozen to death without being born
Absorbing the reek of rotting flesh
Marching in convoys to fields unknown
Clinging to life in the reflection of the self
Embracing the sun without casting shadows
Believing the tales from the forked tongue
Frozen to death without being born
The song "Reflection" by Norwegian black metal band Enslaved explores the themes of self-reflection and the search for reason in a world that seems to be falling apart. The lyrics describe an individual who is clinging to life, symbolically represented by their reflection in a pool of water. The air around them is poisoned, and they hover above flames of an unknown origin, perhaps representing the chaos and destruction in the outside world.
The singer is searching for reason amidst the ashes of men, perhaps after some kind of catastrophic event or societal collapse. They obey the laws of kings without lands and bow at the feet of hypocrites, ignoring the cries of the innocent. The seed of hope within them is poisoned, and winter is closing in. They are frozen to death without ever truly being born.
The song suggests that the character is trapped in a cycle of clinging to life in their own reflection, without truly living or finding meaning in the outside world. They absorb the reek of rotting flesh and march to unknown fields, perhaps symbolizing the futility of their existence. The song ends with the image of the singer frozen to death without ever truly being born.
Line by Line Meaning
Clinging to life in the reflection of the self
Desperately holding onto life while only seeing a reflection of oneself
Breathing the air from the poisoned pit
Inhaling toxic air from a polluted environment
Hovering through flames from the burning core
Navigating through dangerous situations with no way out
Searching for reason in the ashes of men
Looking for purpose in the remains of humanity's destruction
Obeying the laws of the kings without lands
Submitting to leaders who do not have a rightful claim to their territory
Bowing in awe at the hypocrite's feet
Respecting a person who does not live up to their own moral standards
Not hearing the cry of the infant
Ignoring the needs of the innocent and helpless
Poisoning the seed that was planted within
Destroying potential for growth and development
Ignoring the winter that closes in
Disregarding the signs of impending danger
Believing the tales from the forked tongue
Trusting a deceitful and malicious person
Frozen to death without being born
Unable to come to life due to external factors
Looking for reason in the bottomless abyss
Trying to find meaning in a hopeless and infinite void
Absorbing the reek of rotting flesh
Being around and exposed to death and decay
Marching in convoys to fields unknown
Moving towards unfamiliar and potentially dangerous destinations
Embracing the sun without casting shadows
Finding positivity and light without negativity or darkness
Contributed by Liam E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@miguelprats3753
A beautiful prog black masterpiece as the whole album. Man, Enslaved are the kings of this subgenre like Opeth and Gojira for prog death.
@achintya.venkatesh
Riveting is the word! Dynamic and emotional.
@Fatalordi
Beautiful.
@xRickRoodx
Best Enslaved song.