Enslaved - E

[Valen]

I know some folks here might feel this thread is little out of place, but I genuinely enjoy Enslaved's music in a prog sense as much as in a metal sense, and I do feel that they work hard to progress their sound with each new album.

I was lucky enough to be in Oslo when they premiered their new album - E - at a pre-release gig, and was able to pick up a copy of the album that night before it arrived on shop shelves. It was my first encounter with the band live, but I really enjoyed the set, and the new songs sounded particularly epic and proggy, which should go down well with the Opeth crowd when the two acts tour the UK next month.

The new album breaks new ground for Enslaved, as the music has all the hallmarks of being influenced by the Skuggsja project collaboration with Einar Selvik of Wardruna, while still being determinedly metal and faithful to Enslaved's established sound.

If you'd like to read more on my review of the new album, you can find it on my blog here:
https://momentstransition.wordpress....slaved-e-2017/

Skol!

[Liquid Tension]

I have to admit I like this disc better than I thought I would...

Would've been cool to see them live!!

[100423]

I'm a big fan of Enslaved and I am really digging this album.
Thanks for the well written review, John!

Would've been cool to see them live!!

Yeah, I haven't seen them live yet, bet would really love to.

[abhorsen]

Excellent review! Enslaved are a great band and have been for such a long time. Pretty consistent quality to their writing and playing. This year's album is my favorite since Ruun in 2006.

[battema]

I saw Enslaved a few years ago, can't recall who they were on tour with but I did enjoy the show.

Great review Will have to look at grabbing the new one at some point here...

[100423]

North American tour just announced. Lawrence, KS? Yes please!
With Wolves in the Throne Room too. I'm happy about that as I had to miss them earlier this year.

[battema]

Protip: if you don't love sage, sit out the WITTR set

That said...it might be nice to see Myrkur. Maybe I can make the Philly date...

[Valen]

North American tour just announced. Lawrence, KS? Yes please!
With Wolves in the Throne Room too. I'm happy about that as I had to miss them earlier this year.

That's a great bill! Wolves have been on my playlist almost as much as Enslaved - Thrice Woven is a fine album.

[100423]

That's a great bill! Wolves have been on my playlist almost as much as Enslaved - Thrice Woven is a fine album.

Listening to Khemmis right now. Looks to be a really good night of metal.

https://khemmis.bandcamp.com/album/hunted

[100423]

Tickets are only $20 for 4 great bands. Tickets purchased!
NP: Myrkur - Mareidt

[chalkpie]

What are good Enslaved albums to check out? Not sure I'll dig them but wtf right?

[The Czar]

What are good Enslaved albums to check out? Not sure I'll dig them but wtf right?

Below the lights is my favorite.

[The Czar]

Chalkpie...
Studio albums
These are my three favorite older albums.
Before Mardraum, they are good, but I think they will turn you off.
They are more proggy and black pagan(or viking tinged metal) on these albums but the production in a bit more muddy.
Mardraum – Beyond the Within (2000)
Monumension (2001)
Below the Lights (2003)

From Isa on, the production is amazing, but a lot less creative...until the "E" album...they got exciting again. Imo
Isa (2004)
Ruun (2006)
Vertebrae (2008)
Axioma Ethica Odini (2010)
RIITIIR (2012)
In Times (2015)
E (2017)

Hope that gives you a good idea where yo start?

[The Czar]

I know some folks here might feel this thread is little out of place, but I genuinely enjoy Enslaved's music in a prog sense as much as in a metal sense, and I do feel that they work hard to progress their sound with each new album.

I was lucky enough to be in Oslo when they premiered their new album - E - at a pre-release gig, and was able to pick up a copy of the album that night before it arrived on shop shelves. It was my first encounter with the band live, but I really enjoyed the set, and the new songs sounded particularly epic and proggy, which should go down well with the Opeth crowd when the two acts tour the UK next month.

The new album breaks new ground for Enslaved, as the music has all the hallmarks of being influenced by the Skuggsja project collaboration with Einar Selvik of Wardruna, while still being determinedly metal and faithful to Enslaved's established sound.

If you'd like to read more on my review of the new album, you can find it on my blog here:
https://momentstransition.wordpress....slaved-e-2017/

Skol!

I've seen them twice. I really like them, but I think the harsh vocals will turn a lot of PE people off.
I kinda wish Grutle would sing clean or do more death growls instead of the black metal vocals. They are getting stale

[chalkpie]

Hope that gives you a good idea where yo start?

Cheers - looks like I'll give 'E' a spin and see where it lands. I'm not afraid of black metal vocals - I actually dig all types of metal growls, screams, howls, etc

[The Czar]

Cheers - looks like I'll give 'E' a spin and see where it lands. I'm not afraid of black metal vocals - I actually dig all types of metal growls, screams, howls, etc

In that case, then start with these three...
Mardraum – Beyond the Within (2000)
Monumension (2001)
Below the Lights (2003)

And here is a great indication of their sound during that period.
https://youtu.be/LNLUIc57lQQ

[spacefreak]

My preferred ones are:

Hordanes Land
Vikingligr Veldi
Frost ----> their best and a black metal masterpiece!
Eld
Blodhemn

Then they went downhill by adding proggy prog elements...

[The Czar]

My preferred ones are:

Hordanes Land
Vikingligr Veldi
Frost ----> their best and a black metal masterpiece!
Eld
Blodhemn

Then they went downhill by adding proggy prog elements...

My first album by them was Below the Lights. I have always been a fan of black metal when it pushes the envelope rather than traditional BM...not that Enslaved were ever "traditional"

[The Czar]

Cheers - looks like I'll give 'E' a spin and see where it lands. I'm not afraid of black metal vocals - I actually dig all types of metal growls, screams, howls, etc

So, what did you like so far?

[100423]

My preferred ones are:

Hordanes Land
Vikingligr Veldi
Frost ----> their best and a black metal masterpiece!
Eld
Blodhemn

Then they went downhill by adding proggy prog elements...

I disgree that it was all downhill, I really love a lot of their newer albums, especially Axioma Ethica Odini and 'E' . I do agree that Frost is a top Black Metal album for me, though.

[abhorsen]

My preferred ones are:

Hordanes Land
Vikingligr Veldi
Frost ----> their best and a black metal masterpiece!
Eld
Blodhemn

Then they went downhill by adding proggy prog elements...

Agree on Frost. Such a classic. To the OP, I dig all Enslaved releases although the ones leading up to Ruun are my favorite. Ruun is the moment for me when the band started to expand their songwriting into more progressive realms.

[The Czar]

I need to add them to my work playlist...luckily I work alone

[chalkpie]

So, what did you like so far?

I like Axioma a bunch so far....cool shat. Checked out Riittirr too.

[The Czar]

I like Axioma a bunch so far....cool shat. Checked out Riittirr too.

Hahaha, I've never had someone reply over a year after. Well, now I can ask, what do you think of the new album?
Talk to you next year. Hahahaha

[chalkpie]

Hahaha, I've never had someone reply over a year after. Well, now I can ask, what do you think of the new album?
Talk to you next year. Hahahaha

Who knows, maybe before next year?

Good stuff, I've really enjoyed sampling their material from around 2003 onward, plus Frost. This band is Opeth-esque in the fact that they are pretty eclectic and have a very wide range of stuff. I dig it, and the new one is excellent. There is a documentary series on YT with English subtitles that I want to check out.