Enslaved
Enslaved was formed in 1992 in Haugesund, Norway, with an earlier
incarnation of the band featuring none other than Hein Frode Hansen,
who left to form
Theatre Of Tragedy.
Eventually they attracted the attention of Euronymous
(of
Mayhem)
who signed the band to his Deathlike Silence label.
That label was set to release the debut album,
Vikingligr Veldi,
but the chaos that ensued following Euronymous' death prevented
that, and Voices Of Wonder eventually released that album, with
the band later signing to Osmose, the band staying on that
label for several years before a recent switch to Tabu.
Though the band prefers the label "Viking Metal", Enslaved is
very much a black metal band in musical style, if not in spirit.
Enslaved is somewhat of a paradox -- a listen to any of their
earlier albums (such as personal favorite
Frost) reveals all the
classic trademarks of early black metal -- the vocal stylings, the
insane blast beats, that distinctive black metal guitar style --
and yet Enslaved somehow makes it original and distinctive enough
so that only Enslaved could perform it.
Part of this might be due to the guitar work, as it has that faintly
dischordant style that occasionally reminds one of Denis D'Amour of
Voivod
(indeed, several sections of the
Mardraum album are of
the "what if Voivod played black metal" variety), and part of it
might simply be that Enslaved is less derivative and more
innovative than their contemporaries.
The newer albums such as
Mardraum
and
Monumension show
a true expansion of their sound,
incorporating new and varied influences into the mix without
detracting from their past.
Discography
(EP) Hordanes Land (split w/ Emperor)
1993
Candlelight
 |
- I am the black wizards (Emperor)
- Wrath of the tyrant (Emperor)
- Night of the graveless souls (Emperor)
- Cosmic keys to my creation & times (Emperor)
- Slaget I kogen bortenfor
- -Epilog
- Slaget
- Allfaor Ooinn
- Balfar
- Andi fara
- Prologr
|
- Grutle Kjellson
- Ivar Bjørnson
- Trym Torson
|
Vikingligr Veldi
1994
Deathlike Silence
 |
- Lifandi Lib Undir Hamri
- Vetrarnótt
- Miðgarðs Eldar
- Heimdallr
- Norvegr
|
- Grutle Kjellson
- Ivar Bjørnson
- Trym Torson
|
Reviews: Metal Observer
Frost
1994
Osmose
 |
- Frost
- Loke
- Fenris
- Svarte vidder
- Yggdrasil
- Jotunblod
- Gylfaginning
- Wotan
- Isöders dronning
|
- Grutle Kjellson
- Ivar Bjørnson
- Trym Torson
|
1994 BNR Top Ten album
Reviews: Metal Observer
Eld
1997
Osmose
 |
- 793 (Slaget om lindisfarne)
- Hordalendingen
- Alfablot
- Kvasirs blod
- For lenge siden
- Glemt
- Eld
|
- Grutle Kjellson
- Ivar Bjørnson
- Harald Helgeson
|
Reviews: Chronicles Of Chaos
Metal Observer
Blodhemn
1998
Osmose
 |
- Intro "Audhumla; Birth of the worlds"
- I lenker til Ragnarok (In chains until Ragnarok)
- Urtical gods
- Ansuz astral
- Nidengaslakt
- Eit auga til Mimir (An eye for Mimir)
- Blodhemn (Vengeance in blood)
- Brisinghamen
- Suttungs Mjød (Suttungs mead)
|
- Grutle Kjellson
- Ivar Bjørnson
- Roy Kronheim
- Dirge Rep
|
Reviews: Chronicles Of Chaos
Metal Observer
Mardraum - Beyond The Within
2000
Osmose
 |
- Større enn tid - Tyngre enn natt
- Daudningekvida
- Entrance - Escape
- Ormgard
- Æges draum
- Mardraum
- Det endelege riket
- Ormgard II - Kvalt i kysk høgsong
- Krigaren eg ikkje kjende
- Stjerneheimen
- Frøyas smykke
|
- Grutle Kjellson
- Ivar Bjørnson
- Roy Kronheim
- Dirge Rep
|
Monumension
2001
Osmose
 |
- Convoys To Nothingness
- The Vocices
- Vision: Sphere Of The Elements - A Monument Part II
- Hollow Inside
- The Cromlech Gate
- Enemy I
- Smirk
- The Sleep: Floating Diversity - A Monument Part III
- Outro: Self - Zero
|
- Grutle Kjellson
- Ivar Bjørnson
- Roy Kronheim
- Dirge Rep
|
Reviews: Chronicles Of Chaos
Metal Observer
Below The Lights
2003
 |
- The Crossing
- Havenless
- A Darker Place
- Queen Of Night
- A Dead Stare
- As Fire Swept Clean The Earth
- Ridicule Swarm
|
- Grutle Kjellson
- Ivar Bjørnson
- Arve Isdal
- Dirge Rep
|
2003 BNR Top Ten album
Reviews: Chronicles Of Chaos
Lords Of Metal
Metal Observer
Live Retaliation
2003
Isa
2004
Tabu
 |
- Intro: Green Reflection
- Lunar Force
- Isa
- Ascension
- Bounded By Allegiance
- Violet Dawning
- Return To Yggdrasill
- Secrets Of The Flesh
- Neogenesis
- Outro: Communion
|
- Grutle Kjellson
- Ivar Bjørnson
- Arve Isdal
- Herbrand Larsen
- Cato Bekkevold
|
2004 BNR Top Ten album
Reviews: Blabbermouth
Chronicles Of Chaos
Sea Of Tranquility
Lords Of Metal
Metal Observer
Return To Yggdrasill
2005
Tabu
Ruun
2006
Tabu
 |
- Entroper
- Path To Vanir
- Fusion Of Sense And Earth
- Ruun
- Tides Of Chaos
- Essence
- Api-vat
- Heir To The Cosmic Seed
|
- Grutle Kjellson
- Ivar Bjørnson
- Arve Isdal
- Herbrand Larsen
- Cato Bekkevold
|
Reviews: Blabbermouth
Chronicles Of Chaos
Sea Of Tranquility
Lords Of Metal
Metal Observer
Vertebrae
2008
Indie
 |
- Clouds
- To the Coast
- Ground
- Vertebrae
- New Dawn
- Relections
- Center
- The Watcher
|
- Grutle Kjellson
- Ivar Bjørnson
- Arve Isdal
- Herbrand Larsen
- Cato Bekkevold
|
2008 BNR Top Ten album
Reviews: Blabbermouth
Chronicles Of Chaos
Sea Of Tranquility
Lords Of Metal
Metal Underground
Metal Observer
Axioma Ethica Odini
2010
Indie
 |
- Ethica Odini
- Raidho
- Waruun
- The Beacon
- Axioma
- Giants
- Singular
- Night Sight
- Lightening
|
- Grutle Kjellson
- Ivar Bjørnson
- Arve Isdal
- Herbrand Larsen
- Cato Bekkevold
|
2010 BNR Top Ten album
Reviews: Chronicles Of Chaos
Sea Of Tranquility
Lords Of Metal
Metal Underground
Metal Observer
Angry Metal Guy
(EP) The Sleeping Gods
2011
Scion A/V
 |
|
- Grutle Kjellson
- Ivar Bjørnson
- Arve Isdal
- Herbrand Larsen
- Cato Bekkevold
|
Riitiir
2012
Nuclear Blast
 |
- Thoughts Like Hammers
- Death In The Eyes Of Dawn
- Veilburner
- Roots Of The Mountain
- Riitiir
- Materal
- Storm Of Memories
- Forsaken
|
|
