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Nine Circles ov… Enslaved Deep Cuts

ColinLeave a comment

If there’s one thing to know about my musical taste, it’s that Enslaved is my all-time favorite band. If Enslaved has one fan then I’m that one, if Enslaved has no fans I am dead, you get the idea. From the early days of lightning fast riffs and blast beats galore to the masterful blending of black and prog metal that has defined (but not constrained) them for over 20 years, and the multilayered ways in which Norse mythology and mysticism present themselves in their lyrics and album concepts, Enslaved encapsulate everything I love about heavy music. Ivar Bjørnson and Grutle Kjellson prove time and again that the band they founded as teens in 1991 will never compromise or tread the same paths twice, yet always remain consistent. With the release of their sixteenth full-length album Heimdal almost upon us, there’s no better time to revisit nine realms of the Enslaved saga.

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Album Review: Enslaved – “In Times”

Corey3 Comments

Enslaved In Times cover

Enslaved is simply one of those bands where you could fill hours discussing everything they’ve done over their incredibly diverse career. Since their more extreme black metal days of the early 1990s, they have solidified themselves in an extremely unique category of progressive viking metal, culminating in 2012’s Riitiir. While I was excited for the release of their new album, In Times, I was also curious with how the Norwegians would follow up what I consider to be one of the best albums to come out in the past decade—in any genre. And ultimately, the bottom line is this: Enslaved have given us yet another captivating listen.

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The Horns Up Top 10: Enslaved

Manny-O-WarLeave a comment

enslaved

With a new album dropping on March 10th, the time is ripe for a quick review of just how amazing Enslaved is. Haugesund, Norway’s finest have been plying their trade since 1991, and have been described as many, many different types of metal over the years. If you had to sum it up—and please do not do so by labeling them “viking metal”—they’re probably best described as “progressive-extreme-blackened-death-metal.” Or something like that.

Regardless, in their 24 years, they’ve released a whopping 12 LPs, three EPs, two splits (with Emperor and Satyricon, no less!) and two DVDs. That’s a monumental amount of work for a band of any genre, but even more significant is how they’ve evolved from an experimental band to a truly progressive and influential one. So without further ado, here’s a list of my personal Top 10 Enslaved songs: Continue reading →