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.
Riitiir
Enslaved Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ride the chariot, the wheel of life
Underneath the eyes we pray
Seven horses running in circles until the end of days
Above the wonders of man, sailing the cosmic seas
Risen from the darkness to rule the ancient world
Never to return, the eyes will forever shine on
Omniscient, glorious, the all seeing eye
Malign, burning grace
All rise! The seeds you will bring
Sons of man, bow in awe
Omnipotent, Lumina Titan
In the havens you greeted us
Late is the hour you submerge
Endless travel towards the dawn
Hail the flames inside you, cosmic flowers in bloom
Hail the spears impaling, the servants of doom
Given are the truths, together we shall search
Unveiling the riddles, hidden beneath the stones
Left is an ancient entity
Ready to sacrifice, what we may (have) achieved
Ending a journey with no end
Defying the ones drowned in salvation
Letting the forces roam free
A circle fulfilled
The lyrics to Enslaved's song "Riitiir" appear to be about the cycle of life and death, and the human desire to understand and connect with something greater than ourselves. The "chariot" and "wheel of life" references suggest the idea of a cyclical nature to existence, while the "all-seeing eye" and "cosmic seas" speak to a mystical, universal force that transcends human understanding. There is a sense of reverence and awe in the lyrics as well, as the singer implores others to "bow in awe" at the power and majesty of this force.
The use of religious and mythic imagery further underscores this sense of awe and wonder. The idea of "omniscience" and "omnipotence" suggest a divine or godlike quality to the force being celebrated, while the reference to "cosmic flowers in bloom" and "spears impaling the servants of doom" suggests a struggle between light and dark, good and evil.
Overall, the lyrics to "Riitiir" invite the listener to contemplate the mysteries of existence and to embrace the unknown with a sense of wonder rather than fear.
Line by Line Meaning
Your arms, life and death
Your willpower encompasses both life and death
Ride the chariot, the wheel of life
Embrace the cycle of birth and rebirth
Underneath the eyes we pray
Seeking divine guidance from powers above
Seven horses running in circles until the end of days
Symbolizing the cyclical nature of existence
Above the wonders of man, sailing the cosmic seas
Moving beyond the limits of human knowledge and experience
Risen from the darkness to rule the ancient world
Ascending from obscurity to dominance in the past
Never to return, the eyes will forever shine on
The influence will remain even after departure
Omniscient, glorious, the all seeing eye
All-knowing and magnificent, representing a deity
Malign, burning grace
Divine but sinister in nature
All rise! The seeds you will bring
Spread the teachings and knowledge of the divine
Sons of man, bow in awe
Humans should show reverence and respect
Omnipotent, Lumina Titan
All-powerful and radiant in nature
In the havens you greeted us
Welcoming into the afterlife or celestial realm
Late is the hour you submerge
The divine influence becomes less visible with time
Endless travel towards the dawn
Journeying towards enlightenment and new beginnings
Hail the flames inside you, cosmic flowers in bloom
Celebrate the inner energy and growth of the universe
Hail the spears impaling, the servants of doom
Applaud those who triumph over evil and destruction
Given are the truths, together we shall search
Knowledge is available, but must be pursued collectively
Unveiling the riddles, hidden beneath the stones
Discovering the esoteric and mysterious truths
Left is an ancient entity
A lingering, powerful force exists from ages past
Ready to sacrifice, what we may (have) achieved
The power is willing to give up what has been accomplished
Ending a journey with no end
Closing a never-ending cycle or process
Defying the ones drowned in salvation
Resisting those who are wholly devoted to a single belief
Letting the forces roam free
Allowing the natural order to proceed without hindrance
A circle fulfilled
A complete, cyclical journey has ended
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
P B
This masterpiece is like wine, the more time passes, the more perfect it becomes.
Carlos
Extrañaba este discaso!, una joyita imperdible
Luis Gore Gonzalez
Excelente álbum
onitnelav millenovecentosessantasette
Grande band, album stupendo
Aza Thoth
This album flew under my radar for a long time. Recently I've listened to it a bunch of times and it's really grown on me. This album shows Enslaved firing on all cylinders. One of their strongest recent releases. Top notch songwriting even for the mighty Enslaved.
Mr Veritas
This album is very good!
МаслЫрий Кинч
Масло масло масло масло
Miguel Angel Oyarzún Atenas
Buenísimo de prencipio a fin 🤟🏻🤟🏻🇨🇱
Jay Stars666
Bardzo dobry album!
stabyourcat
Underrated record.