Checking in from Solslottet Studio in Bergen, members of Norwegian progressive extreme metallers ENSLAVED offer the last installment in their seven-part “Diary of Mad Men” series shedding insight into the band’s upcoming as-yet-untitled thirteenth studio album, set for an early 2015 release.

“… Then it was time for me to do some howling, cursing, screaming and singing again,” contributes ENSLAVED bassist & vocalist Grutle Kjellson. “We moved a few meters from Duper to co-producer Iver Sandøy’s own Solslottet Studios and rigged up what we usually do with a set of three microphones: A Shure SM 7B for growls and screams, a RFT CM-7151 (commonly known as “The Leipzig bottle”) for chants & whispering etc., and a Neumann UM-57 for clean vocals. We were fortunately lucky with the energy, atmosphere, and my vocal shape the first day, so we were able to lay down my vocal tracks for half of the songs the first day… that is, with the exception some dubbing I usually do on Herbrand [Larsen]’s vocals. It was also time to lay down some tracks with both the Moog Taurus pedals and with one of ENSLAVED treasures that has been with us since 1991 (!): Ivar [Bjørnson]’s Roland SH-1. A great day at work and an ever-growing confidence that this album will destroy everything we have done prior to this.”

Keyboard player & clean vocalist Herbrand Larsen adds: “This album will be rawer and more direct… more in your face!”

Main recordings for the new album are taking place at Duper and Solslottet Studios in Bergen, Norway with additional recordings done at Conclave & Earshot Studios (presided over by ENSLAVED members Larsen and Ice Dale) and Ivar Bjørnson’s Peersonal Sound Studios.

Additional experimentation and sonic exploration will be conducted deep in the woods of Valevåg south of Bergen where the band took a mobile studio to record the infamous ‘Thorn’ 7” single in 2012.

Album number thirteen is being produced by band members Ivar Bjørnson, Grutle Kjellson & Herbrand Larsen together with Iver Sandøy. Mixing will be done by Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studios in Örebro, Sweden.

Artwork will be illustrated by long-time collaborating artist and “sixth ENSLAVED member” Truls Espedal, who has painted all seven album covers since 2001’s “Monumension”.

2012’s studio release, “RIITIIR”, garnered ENSLAVED a seventh nomination for a Spellemann Award (the Norwegian equivalent of the American Grammy) in the category of “Best Metal Album.” They have won a Spellemann Award four consecutive times for the following four studio albums: “Axioma Ethica Odini”(2010), “Vertebrae” (2008), “Ruun” (2006), and “Isa” (2004).

ENSLAVED’s most current record “RIITIIR” can be purchased at the following link: http://smarturl.it/EnslavedCD

http://www.enslaved.no | http://www.facebook.com/enslaved | http://www.nuclearblast.de/enslaved

Norwegian progressive extreme metallers ENSLAVED offer their sixth installment in the seven-part “Diary of Mad Men” series shedding insight into the band’s upcoming as-yet-untitled thirteenth studio album, set for an early 2015 release via Nuclear Blast.

“It’s our last day in Duper Studios before we move across the hall into Solslottet Studios for the next Metal Olympics event: Grutle’s vocals!” states an enthusiastic Ivar Bjørnson, ENSLAVED’s guitarist & composer. “It has been a great week and the best possible start for this process that will end up in some kind of epic release early next year. Today I’ve been laying down some e-bow Fripp-worship, some atmospheric guitars so soaked in reverb and echo that the speakers are wet, some Mellotron keys, and even a line or two of the good old piano.”

“It’s more aggressive,” adds album co-producer Iver Sandøy about the new material, “balancing the progressive feel of the previous few albums with a more evident nod to the band’s darker history.”

Main recordings for the new album are taking place at Duper and Solslottet Studios in Bergen, Norway with additional recordings done at Conclave & Earshot Studios (presided over by ENSLAVED members Larsen and Ice Dale), and Ivar Bjørnson’s Peersonal Sound Studios.

Additional experimentation and sonic exploration will be conducted deep in the woods of Valevåg south of Bergen where the band took a mobile studio to record the infamous “Thorn” 7” single in 2012.

Album number thirteen is being produced by band members Ivar Bjørnson, Grutle Kjellson & Herbrand Larsen together with Iver Sandøy. Mixing will be done by Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studios in Örebro, Sweden.

Artwork will be illustrated by long-time collaborating artist and “sixth ENSLAVED member” Truls Espedal, who has painted all seven album covers since 2001’s Monumension.

2012’s studio release, RIITIIR, garnered ENSLAVED a seventh nomination for a Spellemann Award (the Norwegian equivalent of the American Grammy) in the category of “Best Metal Album.” They have won a Spellemann Award four consecutive times for the following four studio albums: Axioma Ethica Odini (2010), Vertebrae (2008), Ruun (2006), and Isa (2004).

RIITIIR debuted at #8 on the American Billboard Heatseekers (New Artists) chart in October 2012 and appeared on numerous “Best Albums of 2012” lists around the world. It can be purchased in CD & vinyl format from the album’s Landing Page, from the Nuclear Blast USA Webshop, and digitally from iTunes & AmazonMP3.

Visit ENSLAVED online:
Like – http://www.facebook.com/ENSLAVED
Follow – twitter.com/ENSLAVEDBAND
Watch – http://www.youtube.com/ENSLAVEDOFFICIAL

Checking in from Duper Studios in Bergen, members of Norwegian progressive extreme metallers ENSLAVED offer the fifth installment in the seven-part “Diary of Mad Men” series shedding insight into the band’s upcoming as-yet-untitled thirteenth studio album, set for an early 2015 release via Nuclear Blast.

“Sunday in Bergen means slight hangovers and double-parked Catholics (breaking a few laws to stop by and get forgiveness for last week’s broken laws is okay), but neither of these annoying phenomena can stop this show,” declares ENSLAVED guitarist & composer Ivar Bjørnson. “I and good old Icy Dale are super-happy with the guitar sound thus far. The Peavey 6505 + classic set-ups are the usual suspects, but it is the first time I am using my new custom built Futhark guitar… and it is making all the difference! It is simply crushing – like the guy with his head in the vice once said.”

ENSLAVED guitarist Arve “Ice Dale” Isdal adds: “Our new album will continue where RIITIIR left off. It is extreme, progressive, and brutal. To me it sounds darker and heavier than before. I am sure that when we lay down all our crazy shit on the album, it will blow your minds!”

Main recordings for the new album are taking place at Duper and Solslottet Studios in Bergen, Norway with additional recordings done at Conclave & Earshot Studios (presided over by ENSLAVED members Larsen and Ice Dale), and Ivar Bjørnson’s Peersonal Sound Studios.

Additional experimentation and sonic exploration will be conducted deep in the woods of Valevåg south of Bergen where the band took a mobile studio to record the infamous “Thorn” 7” single in 2012.

Album number thirteen is being produced by band members Ivar Bjørnson, Grutle Kjellson & Herbrand Larsen together with Iver Sandøy. Mixing will be done by Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studios in Örebro, Sweden.

Artwork will be illustrated by long-time collaborating artist and “sixth ENSLAVED member” Truls Espedal, who has painted all seven album covers since 2001’s Monumension.

2012’s studio release, RIITIIR, garnered ENSLAVED a seventh nomination for a Spellemann Award (the Norwegian equivalent of the American Grammy) in the category of “Best Metal Album.” They have won a Spellemann Award four consecutive times for the following four studio albums: Axioma Ethica Odini (2010), Vertebrae (2008), Ruun (2006), and Isa (2004).

RIITIIR debuted at #8 on the American Billboard Heatseekers (New Artists) chart in October 2012 and appeared on numerous “Best Albums of 2012” lists around the world. It can be purchased in CD & vinyl format from the album’s Landing Page, from the Nuclear Blast USA Webshop, and digitally from iTunes & AmazonMP3.

Visit ENSLAVED online:
Like – http://www.facebook.com/ENSLAVED
Follow – twitter.com/ENSLAVEDBAND
Watch – http://www.youtube.com/ENSLAVEDOFFICIAL

Checking in from Duper Studios in Bergen, Ivar Bjørnson, guitarist, composer, and founding member of Norwegian progressive extreme metallers ENSLAVED offers the third installment in the seven-part “Diary of Mad Men” series shedding insight into the band’s upcoming as-yet-untitled thirteenth studio album, set for an early 2015 release, via Nuclear Blast Records.

“This will be a killer album. I am already willing to stake a lot on that. As the last time with RIITIIR, the first line of defense / attack is made through me, Grutle [Kjellson, vocalist & bassist] and Cato [Bekkevold, drummer] recording our guitar, bass, and drums live in the big Duper room, complete with the ceiling covered in old wooden doors for max room effect. I have to admit I’m starting to feel the effect of working around the clock (there are also things to be done at the home studio, office, and around the house in-between the sessions), but it doesn’t matter how tired the body gets as long as the mind is on fire!”

About this upcoming new release, band members have previously stated: “The high level of energy in the songs reflects both an inspired and an ever-harder working band that keeps pushing their own and their associated genres’ limits.”

Main recordings for the new album are taking place at Duper and Solslottet Studios in Bergen, Norway with additional recordings done at Conclave & Earshot Studios (presided over by ENSLAVED members Larsen and Ice Dale), and Ivar Bjørnson’s Peersonal Sound Studios.

Additional experimentation and sonic exploration will be conducted deep in the woods of Valevåg south of Bergen where the band took a mobile studio to record the infamous “Thorn” 7” single in 2012.

Album number thirteen is being produced by band members Ivar Bjørnson, Grutle Kjellson & Herbrand Larsen together with Iver Sandøy. Mixing will be done by Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studios in Örebro, Sweden.

Artwork will be illustrated by long-time collaborating artist and “sixth ENSLAVED member” Truls Espedal, who has painted all seven album covers since 2001’s Monumension.

2012’s studio release, RIITIIR, garnered ENSLAVED a seventh nomination for a Spellemann Award (the Norwegian equivalent of the American Grammy) in the category of “Best Metal Album.” They have won a Spellemann Award four consecutive times for the following four studio albums: Axioma Ethica Odini (2010), Vertebrae (2008), Ruun (2006), and Isa (2004).

RIITIIR debuted at #8 on the American Billboard Heatseekers (New Artists) chart in October 2012 and appeared on numerous “Best Albums of 2012” lists around the world. It can be purchased in CD & vinyl format from the album’s Landing Page, from the Nuclear Blast USA Webshop, and digitally from iTunes & AmazonMP3.

Visit ENSLAVED online:
Like – http://www.facebook.com/ENSLAVED
Follow – twitter.com/ENSLAVEDBAND
Watch – http://www.youtube.com/ENSLAVEDOFFICIAL

Checking in from Duper Studios in Bergen, members of Norwegian progressive extreme metallers ENSLAVED offer the second installment in the seven-part “Diary of Mad Men” series shedding insight into the band’s upcoming as-yet-untitled thirteenth studio album, set for an early 2015 release, via Nuclear Blast.

“It has been something like 10 months since the first song was written for this album, but it feels like an eternity with all the touring and normal & special shows!” explains ENSLAVED guitarist & composer Ivar Bjørnson. “Now time is back to normal time, and things are going really well from the get-go: Cato [Bekkevold, drummer] laid down something like one-third of the drums for the album just during the first day!”

ENSLAVED drummer Cato Bekkevold adds: “This album is very complex and challenging to record, and I guess the same words will be frequently used both by the critics and the listening audience. But rest assured that it – as always – is 100% pure ENSLAVED.”

Main recordings for the new album are taking place at Duper and Solslottet Studio in Bergen, Norway with additional recordings done at Conclave & Earshot Studios (presided over by ENSLAVED members Larsen and Ice Dale), and Ivar Bjørnson’s Peersonal Sound Studios.

Additional experimentation and sonic exploration will be conducted deep in the woods of Valevåg south of Bergen where the band took a mobile studio to record the infamous “Thorn” 7” single in 2012.

Album number thirteen is being produced by band members Ivar Bjørnson, Grutle Kjellson & Herbrand Larsen together with Iver Sandøy. Mixing will be done by Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studios in Örebro, Sweden.

Artwork will be illustrated by long-time collaborating artist and “sixth ENSLAVED member” Truls Espedal, who has painted all seven album covers since 2001’s Monumension.

A very special hometown show in Bergen, Norway awaits fans on November 1st, where ENSLAVED’s live set will include songs never previously performed in front of an audience, including “Havenless” from 2003’s Below The Lights album. The show’s pre-sale ticket link is available on the band’s official Facebook page.

2012’s studio release, RIITIIR, garnered ENSLAVED a seventh nomination for a Spellemann Award (the Norwegian equivalent of the American Grammy) in the category of “Best Metal Album.” They have won a Spellemann Award four consecutive times for the following four studio albums: Axioma Ethica Odini (2010), Vertebrae (2008), Ruun (2006), and Isa (2004).

RIITIIR debuted at #8 on the American Billboard Heatseekers (New Artists) chart in October 2012 and appeared on numerous “Best Albums of 2012” lists around the world. It can be purchased in CD & vinyl format from the album’s Landing Page, from the Nuclear Blast USA Webshop, and digitally from iTunes & AmazonMP3.

Visit ENSLAVED online:
Like – http://www.facebook.com/ENSLAVED
Follow – twitter.com/ENSLAVEDBAND
Watch – http://www.youtube.com/ENSLAVEDOFFICIAL