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 Sleeping Gods
Enslaved Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Vekk dei opp fra skoddeheimen
Lat dei kvessa sine spjut
Lat dei syngja, lat dei dansa
Frykt aldri deira vreide
Frykt heller di eiga sorg
Høyr dei kvedar gamle vers
Høyr dei kvedar fram din song
Sja dei riva ner di borg
Grip din atgeir og ditt skjold
Grip ein niding hardt om hjerta
Kjenn kor elden rejser seg
Kjenn kor flaumen vekkjer deg
Det dei skreiv me heidra ma
Det dei bygde grava fram
Frendafolk, sja dei i augo!
Frendafolk, tving dei i kne!
Me skal vaska gamle runer
Me skal rissa dei pa ny
Vekk dei frende, inn i tid
Vekk dei: lei dei ut pa vollen
Lat dei kasta sine spjut
Lat oss fylgja med i dansen
Frykt ikkje den kalde vinden
Frykt ikkje din eigen drott
Høyr dei dikta sigerskvadet
Høyr nar spjutet treff sitt mal
Sja dei fargar vollen raud
Sja bekken, nar den no renn tom
Grip om det dei til oss gav
Grip om det som gav deg liv
Kjenn eldens tunge gje deg hap
Kjenn kor brunnen fyllest opp
Det me skreiv, du heidra ma
Det me bygde, let det sta!
Frendafolk, me fer no fram!
Frandafolk, me fylgjer vinden!
Me skal reisa stein igjen
Me skal Byggja nye hov
Frendafolk, sja dei i augo!
Frendafolk, tving dei i kne!
Me skal vaska gamle runer
Me skal rissa dei pa ny
The lyrics of "The Sleeping Gods" by Enslaved evoke a strong sense of Nordic pagan pride and encourage listeners to embrace their heritage and culture. The song urges the awakening of ancestral spirituality and the strength that comes with it. The verses are a call to arms for the people to rise up and take back their land and their beliefs. The chorus is a powerful plea for action: "Frendafolk, sja dei i augo! Frendafolk, tving dei i kne!" which translates to "folk of Frenda, look them in the eye! Folk of Frenda, force them to their knees!"
The song also speaks to the power of the past as a tool for the future. The lyrics implore the listener to honor the old ways, to listen to the stories of elders, and to pass down the knowledge and traditions of their people to future generations. The closing lines of the song declare: "Det me skreiv, du heidra ma / Det me bygde, let det sta!" which translates to "what we wrote, you must honor / what we built, let it stand!" This reinforces the idea of the importance of preserving their heritage by acknowledging and respecting the past.
Overall, Enslaved's "The Sleeping Gods" is a passionate anthem for those who seek to reconnect with their cultural roots and embrace the power of their ancestral history.
Line by Line Meaning
Vekk dei frende: Slepp dei fram
Awaken those who are asleep, let them come forth
Vekk dei opp fra skoddeheimen
Bring them out of their misty world
Lat dei kvessa sine spjut
Let them sharpen their spears
Lat dei syngja, lat dei dansa
Let them sing, let them dance
Frykt aldri deira vreide
Never fear their anger
Frykt heller di eiga sorg
Instead, fear your own sorrow
Høyr dei kvedar gamle vers
Listen as they recite old verses
Høyr dei kvedar fram din song
Listen as they sing your song
Sja dei byggja gudeheimen
Watch them build a temple
Sja dei riva ner di borg
Watch them tear down your fortress
Grip din atgeir og ditt skjold
Take hold of your spear and your shield
Grip ein niding hardt om hjerta
Hold on tight to your traitorous heart
Kjenn kor elden rejser seg
Feel how the fire rises
Kjenn kor flaumen vekkjer deg
Feel how the current awakens you
Det dei skreiv me heidra ma
We must honor what they have written
Det dei bygde grava fram
We must build upon what they have built
Frendafolk, sja dei i augo!
Fellow people, look them in the eye!
Frendafolk, tving dei i kne!
Fellow people, force them to their knees!
Me skal vaska gamle runer
We will wash the old runes
Me skal rissa dei pa ny
We will carve them anew
Vekk dei frende, inn i tid
Awaken those who are asleep, into the present
Vekk dei: lei dei ut pa vollen
Awaken them, lead them out to the meadow
Lat oss fylgja med i dansen
Let us join in the dance
Frykt ikkje den kalde vinden
Do not fear the cold wind
Frykt ikkje din eigen drott
Do not fear your own lord
Høyr dei dikta sigerskvadet
Listen to them recite the victory poem
Høyr nar spjutet treff sitt mal
Listen when the spear strikes its target
Sja dei fargar vollen raud
See them turn the meadow red
Sja bekken, nar den no renn tom
See the stream when it runs dry
Grip om det dei til oss gav
Hold onto what they have given us
Grip om det som gav deg liv
Hold onto what has given you life
Kjenn eldens tunge gje deg hap
Feel the fire's heavy weight give you hope
Kjenn kor brunnen fyllest opp
Feel how the well fills up
Det me skreiv, du heidra ma
What we have written, you must honor
Det me bygde, let det sta!
What we have built, let it stand!
Frendafolk, me fer no fram!
Fellow people, we move forward!
Frandafolk, me fylgjer vinden!
Fellow people, we follow the wind!
Me skal reisa stein igjen
We will raise stones once more
Me skal Byggja nye hov
We will build new temples
Contributed by Arianna V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Gianluca Tarchi
Hats off to the Masters.. as always
GGEZUS
Huge Enslaved fan - never listened to this album...
it's time to make things right!
Lex Lutor
Who the hell dislike this masterpiece?
Jose Roberto RV
Sus dos primeros temas son más grandes que la vida.
Enter Balak
Such an underrated little release
༒༺METAL VENEZOLANO༻༒
🤘 💀 🤘
Sebastián Rosado Navarro
What kind of norwegian is the one in "The Sleeping Gods"?
Alick Andreades
An exhausted one.
МаслЫрий Кинч
Масло? Чи не? Чи да,Чи не???
Refuse Resist
МаслЫрий Кинч, я сам говорю на суржике, но даже я не понял что ты имел ввиду под словом Масло