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 crossing
Enslaved Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No longer see
Nothing remains, burning anxiety
Darkness came forth
Gave birth to me
Certain death is all I see
I see you weep
I've seen kingdoms rise and fall
I've seen all that's supposed to be
Earthbound forces, united with sorrow
The path was given in ancient times
Embraced by hunger, forgotten by will
The wisdom is hold up still
Break the chains, come forth to see
Cross the abyss not meant to be
Cross the river, find the key
Kill the queen of anxiety
The lyrics above are from Enslaved's song "The Crossing". The song seems to be about a person who has stopped struggling and resisting, seems to have given up on life and has given in to the darkness that has consumed them. The darkness is personified as a mother who has given birth to the person and all that surrounds them is certain death. The person is aware of the suffering of others but is unable to do anything about it. They have seen empires rise and fall, and they have seen everything that is supposed to be.
The path of sorrow was given to the person in ancient times, they have embraced their hunger and lost their will. The wisdom that is still held up is the knowledge that the person needs to break free from the chains that hold them down. They need to cross the abyss, a feat that is not supposed to be accomplished, cross the river, find the key and kill the queen of anxiety. The queen of anxiety might be a metaphor for the source of the person's pain and suffering.
Overall, the song is a powerful message about the state of mind of someone who is consumed by pain and suffering. It is a call to break the chains of anxiety and find the key to freedom.
Line by Line Meaning
I no longer struggle
I am no longer fighting against something
No longer see
I am no longer able to perceive things
Nothing remains, burning anxiety
There is no longer anything left, only a feeling of intense worry
Darkness came forth
Everything became shrouded in darkness
Gave birth to me
I was born into this new, dark reality
Certain death is all I see
All I can see is death and destruction
I see you weep
I can see that you are crying
I see you suffer
I can see that you are in pain
I've seen kingdoms rise and fall
I have witnessed the birth and destruction of entire civilizations
I've seen all that's supposed to be
I have seen everything that is supposed to exist
Earthbound forces, united with sorrow
The earthly powers are joined together in pain
The path was given in ancient times
The road to this suffering was created many years ago
Embraced by hunger, forgotten by will
Consumed by a desperate need, our own desires are lost to us
The wisdom is hold up still
There is still ancient knowledge that can guide us
Break the chains, come forth to see
Free yourself from the bonds that hold you
Cross the abyss not meant to be
Pass through the void, where few are meant to go
Cross the river, find the key
Cross the river of death to find the answer
Kill the queen of anxiety
Destroy the ruler of fear and apprehension
Lyrics © THE ROYALTY NETWORK INC.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nebraskan Heathen
Love this band , their evolution has been one of the greatest in metal history .
Frank Camiola
So true! Opeth for me too.
Ænigma Xeno
I think they probably have the best evolution. Whilst Monumension is my favourite, and not exactly new, overall I feel like they're capable of writing their best album still. The black metal Death (band).
ItsAHonker!
Ken oath
Benjamin Kip
....Their evolution has been the greatest in mankind's existence
stonerdemon
After watching bands like this, can anyone doubt that heavy metal the most versatile music genre ever? Is there any other genre capable of generating so many subgenres? I'm so happy I was educated in heavy metal by my older brothers.
Frank Camiola
Prog is incredibly diverse too.
Ænigma Xeno
Truth. This is why I feel offended by fools who say its 'just metal' and deny the arts and crafts of sub genres
Caiden Khari
@Gary Luis definitely, I have been watching on flixzone for since november myself =)
Bobby Turner
@Gary Luis Yup, I've been watching on Flixzone for years myself :)