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 Voice
Enslaved Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As they call out for submission and code
"To be less than one and drown equals pride" they say
These were the voices that destroyed us
Did I want for this loss to be sustained?
Through the clipping of wings found the secret paths
Stabbed in the back, gained strength in One-ness
Taken from me, I learned to preserve
These were the voices that sunk our ships
These are the voices - poisoned ears bleeding
Did I pray for the dead to be kept awake?
Did I gently place these thorns through the surface of my eyes?
Did I ask for this fathomless tragedy to go on forever?
Fail to comply - reborn in war
The answer being no
Did I?
The lyrics of Enslaved's song The Voices speak of the destructive impact of poisonous voices that encourage submission, code, and drowning in order to attain pride. The singer reflects on whether they wanted to sustain this loss and eventually found a way out by clipping wings and finding secret paths. The singer gained second sight from the blinding light of lies and became stronger through Oneness after being stabbed in the back. The singer laments that these same poisonous voices destroyed their ships and caused their ears to bleed.
The singer then questions whether they prayed for the dead to be kept awake or if they willingly subjected themselves to pain by putting thorns into their eyes. The singer asks if they wished for this tragedy to go on forever, answering their own question with the resounding "no." Finally, the singer poses the ultimate question: did they? Did they want for this loss to be sustained, did they comply, did they enable these poisonous voices to destroy them?
Overall, The Voices is a powerful reflection on the impact of destructive voices and the struggle towards self-preservation and strength.
Line by Line Meaning
I hear their poisonous words again
The singer is being reminded of hurtful and harmful language that they have heard before.
As they call out for submission and code
The voices in question are demanding obedience and conformity from those who listen to them.
"To be less than one and drown equals pride" they say
The voices are promoting the idea that losing oneself and giving in to the group is a form of strength and pride.
These were the voices that destroyed us
The artist attributes past harm and destruction to the influence of the voices.
Through the clipping of wings found the secret paths
The artist has faced obstacles and limitations, but has found creative and unexpected ways to move forward.
From the blinding light of lies obtained second sight
The singer has seen through falsehoods and gained new insight and understanding as a result.
Stabbed in the back, gained strength in One-ness
Despite having experienced betrayal or injury, the singer has drawn strength from a sense of unity or interconnectedness.
Taken from me, I learned to preserve
Through having something valuable or essential taken away, the artist has learned to protect and value what remains.
These were the voices that sunk our ships
The voices caused a disastrous outcome, likely metaphorical and possibly related to the earlier destruction mentioned.
These are the voices - poisoned ears bleeding
The voices are still present, and their influence continues to cause harm and pain.
Did I pray for the dead to be kept awake?
The singer may be pondering whether they knowingly or unknowingly wished for suffering to continue rather than allowing for rest or closure.
Did I gently place these thorns through the surface of my eyes?
The artist may be asking if they have actively harmed themselves by clinging to pain, rather than choosing to heal.
Did I ask for this fathomless tragedy to go on forever?
The singer may be questioning if they have unwittingly prolonged their own pain or if they are responsible for perpetuating a difficult situation.
Fail to comply - reborn in war
Refusal to follow the voices or conform to their demands can lead to conflict or struggle.
The answer being no
The singer may be indicating that they have not intentionally contributed to the continuation of pain, or that they do not have all the answers.
Did I?
The artist may be seeking greater understanding of their own actions or motivations, or may be admitting to a lack of clear answers or certainty.
Lyrics © Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SALVATORE P. ERNA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@balckisbeautiful925
As an african, these stories had such an impact on me the first time I heard them, the voices of actual slaves and the nightmare they wnt through. It stayed in my head almost a week and my heart was litteraly hurting in my chest. and I understood much more the challenges and the deep pain that african americans, carribeans and afro latinos express about slavery, but also an admiration. Their ancestors built from nothing, they were freed without skills and without money, no protection, in a hostile environment yet they managed to survive and make a living and the blacks in America and carribean are the living witnesses of that.
@CRAZYHORSE19682003
Does the fact that it was Africans who sold them into slavery in the first place impact you?
@tayanasolone1936
This is why you and them are going into slavery. You Africans definitely sold us to the white man as well
@joeletaxi821
Africans made them slaves and, you're right, it is heartbreaking.
@jacquelinethijsen272
@joeletaxi821 They wouldn't have bothered if there hadn't been a market for slaves. And the Africans didn't make all the regulations and customs and other evil things invented on the plantations. So kindly stop the whataboutism, it doesn't hold up to even a microsecond of actual thought.
@jacquelinethijsen272
Quite a few of those slaves did have skills since that made them more valuable for their masters. It's just that after the civil war when they had to monetize those skills, people weren't willing to give them a fair compensation if any.
@vansays2236
It's very upsetting hearing about people "owning" other people and how terribly slaves were treated. But it's so important to remember the victims.
@hailtothe_rooster1572
You don’t need chains today…. Today it’s color blind. All of us a enslaved
@3lilougps
The more sad story is
There are people right now living worst than this in Palestine
@greeneyelightskin746
@@3lilougpsboth are equally terrible, stop trying to make it a competition who suffered the worst