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.
Waruun
Enslaved Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
From ancient sands - constructs
They're reaching everywhere and nowhere
As they're trampling on the archetypes
The listener warns
Tension... Pain... Fear... Violence
Ageless reason
Tension paints logic's hunts
Pain dances... (with justice)
Lies for the liar served without remorse
Like the gifts bring gifts
Altering view
Constant truth - drained of spirit
By own will
"Ref..":
Waruun
Waruun - Drawn in the dust of morning
Waruun - The violence of the soul
Suicides upon the altars
Of evasion
Feared dissonance kept away - nails on stone
As darkness descents
Can't find our way out of here
Yet... It was built by you
Words on the trap-door
"Ref..":
Waruun
Waruun - Drawn in the dust of morning
Waruun - The violence of the soul
Tension... Pain... Fear... Violence
How could freedom become the cage-maker?
What spoke to the mind-slayer?
The song Waruun by Enslaved is a powerful and thought-provoking piece that touches on themes of violence, fear, and dissonance. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a world where ancient constructs rise from the sands and trample on established archetypes. The listener is warned of the tension, pain, fear, and violence that is a part of this world. The limit of ageless reason is reached as logic's hunts become painted with pain, and justice dances with it. Lies are served without remorse like gifts bring gifts, and the view is altered. The constant truth is drained of its spirit by our own will.
The chorus of the song repeats the word "Waruun" as a call to arms against the violence of the soul. Suicides are committed on the altars of evasion and feared dissonance is kept away like nails on stone. As the darkness descends, the characters in the song struggle to find their way out of a world that was built by them. The question is asked, "how could freedom become the cage-maker?" and "what spoke to the mind-slayer?" These lines explore the idea that we can often become trapped by our own freedom and the consequences of our actions.
Overall, Waruun is a captivating and powerful song that explores complex themes through vivid imagery and powerful metaphors.
Line by Line Meaning
See them as they rise
Observe how the constructs emerge from the ancient sands
From ancient sands - constructs
The constructs originate from the ancient sands
They're reaching everywhere and nowhere
The constructs advance in all directions but go nowhere
As they're trampling on the archetypes
They crush traditional beliefs and practices
The listener warns
The observer becomes cautious
Tension... Pain... Fear... Violence
The escalating conflict brings feelings of tension, pain, fear, and violence
It reaches the limit set by
It's about to surpass the boundary established by
Ageless reason
The timeless rationality
Tension paints logic's hunts
The mounting stress affects the pursuit of rationality
Pain dances... (with justice)
Suffering intertwines with fairness
Lies for the liar served without remorse
The deceitful are freely given their falsehood without regret
Like the gifts bring gifts
Kind gestures lead to reciprocity
Altering view
Changing the perspective
Constant truth - drained of spirit
The fundamental truth has lost its essence
By own will
By personal volition
"Ref..":
Referring to the refrain
Waruun
The term 'waruun'
Waruun - Drawn in the dust of morning
The word 'waruun' written in morning dust
Waruun - The violence of the soul
The meaning of 'waruun' is the aggression of the spirit
Suicides upon the altars
People taking their lives on the religious shrines
Of evasion
As a form of escape
Feared dissonance kept away - nails on stone
The horror of the disagreeable, kept apart - as if pinned to the rock with nails
As darkness descents
Simultaneously as darkness falls
Can't find our way out of here
Unable to find an exit
Yet... It was built by you
However, it was your own creation
Words on the trap-door
Inscription on the entrance to the deadly trap
How could freedom become the cage-maker?
How could liberty transform into captivity?
What spoke to the mind-slayer?
What influenced the murderer's thoughts?
Contributed by Ethan H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Exit Ghost
Damn, it 's been a while since I heard this album. I started getting into Metal at the age of probably 8 because of my older brother. Always thankful for that. Anyhow, at 14 I got more into Hardcore and Punkrock. Then at 16 or 17 I really opened up and discovered so much beauty in so many different Genres. But somehow I stopped listening to Metal. When this record came out, think I was about 25, it was one of those records that brought me back and let me appreciate Metal Music all over again. Thanks Brother and thank you Enslaved. 🙏❤
JareD
Absolute magic
Mr Veritas
Euphoric...
John Gavin
@Mr Veritas it's one of their best songs for sure man
Matteo Fossati
2:11 epic ride