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.
The Beacon
Enslaved Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let the havoc be revenged
March!
Against the lords of perdition
Live!
Breathe!
Persecute the ones that left to persecute your soul
Crush the scepters of the kings and come and
Hail the vows of old!
Ref:
Hear them cry
Watch them fly
Let them bow to the altars of suppression
Till you'll feel them die
Hear them cry
Watch them fly
The power and the free will they deny
Beyond the mist
Far above
On the highest peak
The beacon is lit
On the highest peak
The beacon will burn
How did I get this far?
How did it come to this?
Was my blood spilt in vain?
Did I survive, did I break the chains?
Was I ever alive?
Struggle through the wounds
Struggle through the fears
Struggle through the truths
You stand alone
Come through!
Release me!
Ref:
Hear them cry
Watch them fly
Let them bow to the altars of suppression
Till you'll feel them die
Hear them cry
Watch them fly
The power and the free will they deny
Beyond the mist
Far above
On the highest peak
The beacon is lit
On the highest peak
The beacon will burn
I walked this far myself
My blood dripped from my knife
I awoke, and was alive
I did no longer weep
I saw my beacon, I ran to aid
The lyrics to Enslaved's "The Beacon" express a call to war against the lords of perdition and a desire for revenge. The song is a call to arms, an invitation to persecute those who have persecuted you, to crush the scepters of kings and to hail the vows of old. The verses are an invitation to live and breathe and to struggle through the wounds, fears, and truths that try to hold you down. The chorus is an affirmation of this struggle, an insistence that one hears the cries of those who suffer under suppression and watch as they fly, only to be denied their freedom and their will.
The lyrics of "The Beacon" seem to speak to the idea of perseverance and resistance in the face of adversity. The image of the beacon on the highest peak is a powerful one, suggesting that even in the midst of darkness and chaos, there is a light that can guide one through the haze. The final stanza speaks to a personal awakening, a moment of clarity when the singer of the song sees his own beacon and runs to aid.
Line by Line Meaning
To war!
Let's engage in battle to fight against oppression.
Let the havoc be revenged
Seek revenge for all the destruction that has occurred.
March!
Continue forward in the face of adversity.
Against the lords of perdition
Fight against the oppressors who are responsible for causing great pain and suffering.
Live!
Continue living despite hardships.
Breathe!
Stay alive and keep going despite difficulties.
Persecute the ones that left to persecute your soul
Punish those who have hurt you in the past, and who have caused great emotional harm.
Crush the scepters of the kings and come and
Destroy the symbols of power and oppression that have ruled over people.
Hail the vows of old!
Praise the principles of justice and equality that have been present throughout history.
Hear them cry
Notice the pain and suffering of those who are oppressed.
Watch them fly
Observe the freedom that oppressed individuals can experience once they gain their autonomy.
Let them bow to the altars of suppression
Watch as those who have oppressed others finally become subordinate.
Till you'll feel them die
Continue fighting until the oppressors are defeated once and for all.
The power and the free will they deny
Oppressors take away freedom and self-determination from those they subjugate.
Beyond the mist
In a place that is not easily seen or understood.
Far above
At a great height, possibly metaphorical.
On the highest peak
At the top of a mountain, symbolizing overcoming obstacles.
The beacon is lit
A symbol of hope and guidance at times of struggle or darkness.
The beacon will burn
It will act as a signal to help lost or struggling people.
How did I get this far?
Reflection on how far someone has come in their journey.
How did it come to this?
Reflection on how circumstances led to the current situation.
Was my blood spilt in vain?
Wondering if their sacrifices have actually made any difference.
Did I survive, did I break the chains?
Reflecting on whether they have overcome oppression and achieved freedom.
Was I ever alive?
Questioning whether their life had any meaning before their struggle against oppression.
Struggle through the wounds
Endure the physical and emotional pain caused by oppression.
Struggle through the fears
Overcome the fear of the unknown or the fear of further oppression.
Struggle through the truths
Acknowledge difficult truths, such as the injustices of oppression.
You stand alone
Despite the support that people of similar struggles can provide, ultimately everyone is responsible for their own freedom.
Come through!
Overcome the obstacles that are holding you back.
Release me!
Break free from the chains of oppression.
Contributed by Maria H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Charlu
2:47 always give me chills
Reuben Chadwick
One of their best