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Enslaved

Enslaved are masters of Norwegian black/Viking metal who have, since the early 1990s, consistently employed a forward-thinking approach without sacrificing their extreme roots. Emerging at the dawn of the genre's second wave, their sound is marked by constant change, complex compositions, and myriad instrument choices; they rejected the term "black metal" as limiting. 1997's Eld wed warm production to clean vocals and epic compositions. 2003's Below the Lights explored emotional and psychological states by employing many instruments. 2015's In Times peaked at number four on the Heatseekers chart. 2017's E was architected from the metaphorical bones of 2008's Vertebrae, but employed new strategies in instrumentation and texture; it won Norway's Spellemannprisen. 2023's Heimdal charted in four countries and peaked at number six on the U.K. album charts. In 1991, Enslaved was founded by guitarist/keyboardist Ivar Bjørnson and vocalist/bassist Grutle Kjellson. They were 13 and 14 years old, respectively. Their name was inspired by the Immortal song "Enslaved in Rot," and their initial demo, Nema, was issued on cassette shortly after their formation. A year later, they released the demo Ygdrasill, their first effort to get attention from the metal press. It drew the interest of Candlelight, which signed the band for the acclaimed one-off Hordanes Land EP in 1993 showcasing the band's progressive ideas in the 13-plus-minute tune "Slaget i Skogen Bortenfor (Epilog/Slaget)." Though 1994's Vikingligr Veldi still walked in the shadow of black metal's lineage, 1995's Frost became an early standard bearer for the outfit's evolving sound. 1997's Eld was the last approximation of Enslaved as a standard power trio. Its 16-minute "793 (Slaget om Lindisfarne)," with clean vocals and production, highlighted their progressive traits and Viking-themed topical preoccupations. It confused some fans but was ecstatically received by critics. While 1999's Blodhemn was the band's first as a quintet, the following year's Mardraum (as a quartet), and 2001's Monumension reflected a continued evolution in sound that ambitiously embraced prog and Viking metal. With 2003's Below the Lights, the band trimmed down to a drummerless trio, with guitarist Arve Isda (Ice Dale). 2004's acclaimed Isa added keyboardist Herbrand Larsen and drummer Cato Bekkevold in a lineup that lasted a decade. This is the group that cut the celebrated outings Ruun (2006), Vertebrae (2008), and Axioma Ethica Odini (2010). After ten years of shifting label and distribution deals, Enslaved signed to Nuclear Blast for 2012's RIITIIR. In Times, issued globally in 2015, was co-produced by the band and future drummer Iver Sandøy, and mixed by Jens Bogren. It was their first album to land the band on the U.S. charts -- at number five -- including Top Hard Rock Albums (number eight) and Heatseekers Albums (number four). For their efforts, they took home the Metal Album of the Year Spellemannprisen, the Norwegian version of the Grammys. A year later, the band issued The Sleeping Gods: Thorn, a compilation of rare and experimental tracks that were released in 2011 as separate EPs. This was also the year that Larsen, often credited for the depth and dimension in Enslaved's more progressive sound, decided to leave the band. He was replaced by Håkon Vinje of Seven Impale. In 2017, Enslaved released Roadburn Live, their first concert album as well as the acclaimed, best-selling E, that netted the band another Spellemannprisen for Metal Album of the Year. Sandøy replaced drummer Cato Bekkevold in 2018, in time for the band to tour, re-sign with Nuclear Blast, and re-enter the studio. In January of 2020, Enslaved announced the release of Utgard, a new studio outing. Due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, they postponed its release date until October. Upon release, it won accolades as the band's most progressive outing yet and charted in five countries. Following a world tour in 2021 and 2022, Enslaved reentered the studio and emerged with 2023's Heimdal. Co-produced by Sandøy, guitarist Ivar Bjørnson, and vocalist/bassist Grutle Kjellson, it was mixed by Jens Bogren. The album was titled for the Norse mythological figure who is watchman of the gods and the guardian of Bifrost, the rainbow bridge that connects Asgard to Midgard. In addition to charting in Scotland, Germany, and Switzerland, Heimdal placed on three U.K. charts; it peaked at number six on the metal albums list and ten on independent albums.
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