PlanetMosh Keeping it Metal
Enslaved has released a new single and video from Heimdal, their 16th studio album due out on March 3rd 2023. ‘Forest Dweller’ launches with progressive splendour, guiding the listener into a churning, psychedelic journey through archaic Norse folklore. One might ask what lessons we can divine from our celestial ancestors. We might never understand their true intentions, but their echo will live on regardless.
Enslaved’sGrutle Kjellson commented,
“To me ‘Forest Dweller’ was the most immediate song on the album, at least in its earliest form as an instrumental demo. I spent quite some time getting into some of the other songs of the album, but this one seemed somehow logical, well logical by Enslaved standards that is. I had an idea for a lyric, and Ivar’s amazing and diverse riffs on this one made it easy to pan out the scripture. I made a rough plan on what to sing over it, and we actually ended up using some parts of those recordings on the album!
The song sort of showcases our representative samples of inspiration: Led Zep, Genesis, Destruction, Iron Maiden and David Bowie, to mention a schizophrenic tapestry of influences. It mirrors in the lyrics as well, which deals about both darkness and light in connection to the nature of Heimdal.”
Awaiting my deserved death yell
Long forgotten, no one whispers my name
In the mountains and forests, I’ll dwell
| Heimdal, is both a departure and a communion with roots forged over three decades ago in the turbulent birth throes of Norway’s black metal scene. The record is named after Heimdal,arguably the most mysterious entity in Nordic mythology. The record features the psychedelic track ‘Caravans To The Outer Worlds’ from last year’s EP of the same name. Albumbonus versions contain an extra track, ‘Gangandi’, alongside a Blu-Ray copy of 2021’sstunning Otherworldly Big Band Experience streamed event – the bands oldest project to date, featuring fellow Norwegian prog band Shaman Elephant. The kaleidoscopic stage show features a stellar setlist, covering Enslaved‘s career, both past and present. |
You can pre-order Heimdal here: https://enslaved.bfan.link/heimdal.ema
Listen to ‘Forest Dweller‘ here: https://enslaved.bfan.link/forest-dweller.ema
| Heimdal tracklisting 01. Behind The Mirror 02. Congelia 03. Forest Dweller 04. Kingdom 05. The Eternal Sea 06. Caravans To The Outer Worlds 07. Gangandi (Bonus Track)* 08. Heimdal Caravans to the Outer Worlds (Live from The Otherworldly Big Band Experience) Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/sh7l0I3l2Fg Heimdal was produced by Enslaved‘s own Ivar Bjørnson, Iver Sandøy and Grutle Kjellson. Mixing was handled by Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studios, and the final treatment was mastered by Tony Lindgren. The concept and lyrics for Heimdal were, as always, developed by Ivar Bjørnson and Grutle Kjellson in tandem. The album was recorded primarily at Solslottet Studios in Bergen, which is owned by Iver Sandøy. Solslottet is a satellite of the well-known Duper Studios, where the drums were recorded and engineered by Iver himself, with assistance from Vegard Lemme. The main guitars, bass, pianos, organs, and vocals were also recorded at Solslottet. Arve ‘Ice Dale’ Isdal recorded his guitar leads at his own Earshot & Conclave Studios. The final touches and a few experimental ideas were added at the Overlook Hotel using Solslottet’s mobile studio rig. All music for Heimdal was written and demoed at Ivar Bjørnson’s own Crow’s Nest studio. |
| ENSLAVED – ALBUM LAUNCH EVENT HEIMHUG 03 March NO, Bergen – USF Verftet Head to enslaved.no/Heimhug for more information. ENSLAVED + INSOMNIUM NORTH AMERICAN CO-HEADLINE TOUR 2023 w/ Black Anvil 05 April New York, NY – Irving Plaza 06 April Boston, MA – Big Night Live 07 April Montreal, QC – Corona Theatre 08 April Toronto, ON – The Opera House 10 April Detroit, MI – Saint Andrew’s Hall 11 April Chicago, IL – House Of Blues 12 April Minneapolis, MN – Varsity Theater 14 April Denver, CO – The Gothic Theatre 15 April Salt Lake City, UT – The Complex 17 April Seattle, WA – The Crocodile 18 April Vancouver, BC – The Rickshaw 19 April Portland, OR – Hawthorne Theatre 21 April Berkeley, CA – The UC Theatre Taube Family Music Hall 22 April Los Angeles, CA – The Fonda Theatre 23 April Phoenix, AZ – Nile Theater 25 April Austin, TX – Come And Take It Live 26 April Dallas, TX – The Echo Lounge & Music Hall 28 April Atlanta, GA – Variety Playhouse 29 April Raleigh, NC – Lincoln Theatre 30 April Baltimore, MD – Baltimore Soundstage VIP tickets for NA shows available here: enslaved.soundrink.com ENSLAVED – 2023 FESTIVAL SHOWS 04 Feb DK, Fredericia – Winter Metal Magic 13 May UK, London – Incineration Festival 05 Aug NO, Bergen – Beyond The Gates 10 Aug CZ, Jaroměř – Brutal Assault 12 Aug DE, Thüringen – Party.San 10-11 Nov MX, Monterrey – Mexico Metal Fest Never faltering, Norway’s iconic Enslaved continue to exist as one of the most original and dependable components in our scene’s indestructible backbone. Possessing the reputation as one of the most riveting live acts around, they never fail to offer us the talent of the highest calibre, always doing justice to their signature black/progressive sound. Enslaved was formed in 1991 by Ivar Bjørnson and Grutle Kjellson, releasing their first demo Yggdrasill in the summer of 1992, their legendary mini-albumHordanes Land coming out in 1993, and with their debut full-lengthVikingligr Veldiarriving in the spring of 1994. Enslaved in 2022 area band is in stellar form – a band at its most existentialist and self-conscious, proud Bergeners bearing the torch of their hometown’s extraordinary musical history. Their most recent material shows Enslaved at their most unleashed and thought-through – a lethal combination unfurling a potential that’s easily rekindling the furore of their early works while dancing gracefully through their most ambitious, haunting and most musical tunes yet. A contradiction? Life itself is a contradiction. And yet we all live to prove it wrong. Enslaved are: Ivar Bjørnson | guitars Grutle Kjellson | vocals Arve ‘Ice Dale’ Isdal | guitar Håkon Vinje | keyboards, clean vocals Iver Sandøy | drums |
Links – https://www.facebook.com/enslaved – https://www.facebook.com/enslaved – http://enslaved.no/
