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.
Suttungs mjød
Enslaved Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Er no attende komen
Der få ting eg teiande fekk
Med mange ord
Eg mykje til gagn
Vann meg i Suttungs salar
Gunnlòd meg gav på gullstolen
Vesal løn let eg ho få
Ho gav meg trygt si tru
Ho gav meg heile sin hug
Rata Tonni rudde meg veg
Gardt grjot ho gnog
Over og under var jotunvegar
Då gjekk det på livet laust
Det vene eg vann eg vel hev
Lite den vise vantar
Med di Odrere no opp er komen
Midt i Midgards fjeim
Uvisst å vita om eg endå var
Komen or Jotungarden ut om ikkje
Gunnlòd det gode kvendet hadde
Vorti min sële ven
Andre dagen av gjekk rimtussa
Til å spørje råd av råd av Hår
I Håvahalli etter Bolverk dei spurde
Om han var berga hjå gudom
Eller Suttung hadde slegi han ned
Ein eid då svor
Odin på ringen
Kven kan hans trygdemål tru
Suttung han sveik for (skalde)
Drykken
Og Gunnlòd sårt han grøtte
The lyrics to Enslaved's song "Suttungs mjød" tell the story of a protagonist who discovers a giant (jotungubben) and becomes reacquainted with the things he has been silent about. He gains knowledge and wisdom through many words and experiences, ultimately finding himself in Suttung's halls. Gunnlòd, a female character, offers him the expensive mead and he rewards her with a kiss. She shares her trust with him and gives him her whole devotion.
Rata Tonni guides him on a treacherous path, as jotunvegar (giant's roads) seem to be both above and below. The singer risks his life to achieve what he desires. The beauty and power that he gains is something the wise ones never lack, and now that Odrere (Odin) has emerged in the midst of Midgard's chaos, it is uncertain if the singer has truly escaped Jotungarden.
On the second day, the singer seeks advice from Hår (an entity similar to a deity) in Håvahalli. They ask about Bolverk, trying to ascertain if he was saved by the gods or if Suttung has defeated him. Odin then swears an oath on the ring, challenging the trustworthiness of his own words. Suttung deceived him in order to secure the mead, and Odin deeply regrets his actions.
Overall, "Suttungs mjød" portrays a narrative of seeking knowledge and power, encountering treacherous obstacles along the way, and the consequences of deception and betrayal.
Line by Line Meaning
Jotungubben eg fann
I discovered the Jotun, an ancient creature of immense power
Er no attende komen
Who has now returned from the depths of history
Der få ting eg teiande fekk
There were few things I acquired by staying silent
Med mange ord
Using many words and cunning
Eg mykje til gagn
I gained much advantage
Vann meg i Suttungs salar
I managed to infiltrate Suttung's halls
Gunnlòd meg gav på gullstolen
Gunnlod granted me a seat of honor on her golden throne
Drykk av den dyre mjød
Allowing me to taste the precious mead
Vesal løn let eg ho få
In return, I granted her a small reward
Ho gav meg trygt si tru
She gave me her unwavering trust
Ho gav meg heile sin hug
And shared her whole heart with me
Rata Tonni rudde meg veg
Brave Thor cleared the path for me
Gardt grjot ho gnog
Carving through rocks and obstacles
Over og under var jotunvegar
Navigating the treacherous paths of giants in every direction
Då gjekk det på livet laust
Knowing that my life was at stake
Det vene eg vann eg vel hev
The beauty I gained, I am proud and satisfied with
Lite den vise vantar
The wise one lacks very little
Med di Odrere no opp er komen
Now that I have ascended with the inspiration of the gods
Midt i Midgards fjeim
In the midst of the dangers of Midgard
Uvisst å vita om eg endå var
Uncertain if I was still
Komen or Jotungarden ut om ikkje
Part of the Jotun's realm or not
Gunnlòd det gode kvendet hadde
If it wasn't for Gunnlod's noble deed
Vorti min sële ven
My soul would not have found peace
Andre dagen av gjekk rimtussa
On the second day, the frost giant wandered
Til å spørje råd av råd av Hår
Seeking counsel from the wise Hår
I Håvahalli etter Bolverk dei spurde
In the Håvahall, they questioned Bolverk
Om han var berga hjå gudom
If he was saved by the gods
Eller Suttung hadde slegi han ned
Or if Suttung had struck him down
Ein eid då svor
Making an oath
Odin på ringen
Odin, with his ring of power
Kven kan hans trygdemål tru
Whose promises of protection can be trusted?
Suttung han sveik for (skalde)
Suttung was deceived by the skilled poets
Drykken
And they took his precious mead
Og Gunnlòd sårt han grøtte
Leaving Gunnlod in sorrow and regret
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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