One year ago, cosmic pioneers Enslaved releasedtheir latest avant-garde creation Heimdal. To celebrate the studio album’s first year of existence, the bandannounced the Heimdal (Deluxe) digital album, which is out today! As well as a UK and European tour with British post-hardcore quartet Svalbard and US metallers Wayfarer this month.
Also today, Enslaved are thrilled to announce that internationally acclaimed composer and virtuoso cellist Jo Quail makes a special appearance at the first show of the tour, today, on March 6th at London’s Islington Assembly Hall.
To celebrate this news, Enslaved have released an electrifying alternative version of their track ‘Congelia‘, featuring Jo Quail, alongside a beautiful lyric video created by Kolibri Media.
Guitarist Ivar Bjørnson commented, “London has a very special place in the history of our band, since the very first live shows we ever did outside of our home town(s) – the city has supported us through it all. We have a huge part of our extended family and tribe here; it is always like coming home. Just with better Indian food and worse traffic. This time London seems set on outdoing its welcome of us; Jo Quail will join us on stage to perform ‘Congelia’ with us! We are so proud and eager to show you how absolutely crushing that sounds. See you very soon. Baah!”
Jo Quail commented, “I am thrilled to be joining forces with Enslaved once again on stage! It was such a wonderful experience in Bergen last year and I am honoured to be able to do this again in London – I hope you’ll enjoy this moment as much as I will.”
Heimdal (Deluxe) includes the studio album in full, as well as alternative versions of two album tracks ‘Forest Dweller‘ and ‘Congelia‘, both with sublime performances from renowned cellist Jo Quail, bonus track ‘Gangandi‘, plus the entirety of ‘The Otherworldly Big Band Experience‘ – Enslaved‘s stunning 2022 streaming event featuring fellow psychedelic Norwegian prog band Shaman Elephant.
Enslaved will be touring the UK and Europe this month. The 16-date run will take the band across 10 different countries, with support coming from Svalbard and Wayfarer.
ENSLAVED – UK + EUROPEAN TOUR 2024 w/ Svalbard + Wayfarer 06/03 – UK London, Islington Assembly Hall 07/03 – UK Leeds, Brudenell Social Club 08/03 – UK Manchester, Club Academy 09/03 – UK Glasgow, Slay 10/03 – IE Dublin, Opium 12/03 – NL Helmond, Cacaofabriek 13/03 – FR Paris, La Machine 14/03 – CH Geneva, PTR/l’Usine 15/03 – FR Montpellier, Victoire 2 16/03 – IT Milan, Legend 18/03 – CZ Prague, Futurum 19/03 – AT Vienna, Szene 21/03 – DE Cologne, Club Volta 22/03 – DE Leipzig, Taubchenthal 23/03 – DE Berlin, Hole44 24/03 – PL Warsaw, Proxima
The tree set ablaze at the end of my days Awaiting my deserved death yell Long forgotten, no one whispers my name In the mountains and forests, I’ll dwell
Norway’s trailblazing cosmic voyagers, Enslaved, released their latest avant-garde creation Heimdal, one year ago. To celebrate the studio album’s first year of existence, the band recently announced the Heimdal (Deluxe) digital album, due out on March 1st 2024.
Heimdal (Deluxe) will include the studio album in full, as well as alternative versions of two album tracks ‘Forest Dweller’ and ‘Congelia’, both with sublime performances from renowned cellist Jo Quail, bonus track ‘Gangandi’, plus the entirety of ‘The Otherworldly Big Band Experience’ – Enslaved’s stunning 2022 streaming event featuring fellow psychedelic Norwegian prog band Shaman Elephant.
Today, Enslaved have released the alternative version of their track ‘Forest Dweller’, featuring internationally acclaimed composer and virtuoso cellist Jo Quail, alongside a beautiful visualizer video created by Costin Chioreanu.
Guitarist Ivar Bjørnson commented, “It is an absolute honour to have Jo Quail on these special versions of ‘Forest Dweller’ and ‘Congelia’. We are all big fans of her unique work and style; I have personally had the pleasure of working with her for some time through By Norse Music (the label co-founded with Einar Selvik and our manager Simon Füllemann). When we had the chance to invite guest artists for the release show in Bergen of ‘Heimdal’ back in March 2023, Jo Quail was a given. She blew our (and the audience’s) collective minds with her powerful interpretation and performance on ‘Forest Dweller’ and ‘Congelia’ – to the degree that it simply could not be the end of the story. She has a take on her art that is one of a kind – impossible to categorise, haunting, emotive and atmospheric; we feel that this version of us joining forces underlines the artistic and musical kinship we feel being present between our two camps. So here we are; for the world to hear! Be sure to check out Jo’s releases while you are at it!!!”
Jo Quail added, “I’ve long been a fan of Enslaved, and I have huge admiration for the way their masterful compositions broaden and deepen with each release. When the band invited me to collaborate I had to re-read the email several times! I was honoured and humbled by this invitation from a band so greatly revered by so many of us all over the world, and I was tremendously excited by the chance to explore our sonic worlds together. Enslaved are the same people on and off stage, which is not always a given, and it’s something that, in my opinion, translates in their music and performance – the connection with their audience in concert draws us in deeply and it’s nothing short of inspiring. It was an absolute honour to be invited by Enslaved to perform Forest Dweller and Congelia with them in March 2023. I approached these two quite diverse tracks with immense respect, as both were already fully developed and everything sat perfectly and exactly where it needed to be, so any contribution from me needed to underpin or enhance the existing story arc rather than divert from it. Enslaved are musically very generous; they were wholly supportive of my suggestions for cello parts, and the result was a collaboration that I shall treasure for all time. I’m thrilled that this now has life beyond that one very special concert, and I hope you enjoy the result!”
Enslaved will be touring the UK and Europe in March 2024. The 16-date run will take the band across 10 different countries, with support coming from British post-hardcore quartet Svalbard and US metallers Wayfarer.
ENSLAVED – UK + EUROPEAN TOUR 2024 w/ Svalbard + Wayfarer 06/03 – UK London, Islington Assembly Hall 07/03 – UK Leeds, Brudenell Social Club 08/03 – UK Manchester, Club Academy 09/03 – UK Glasgow, Slay 10/03 – IE Dublin, Opium 12/03 – NL Helmond, Cacaofabriek 13/03 – FR Paris, La Machine 14/03 – CH Geneva, PTR/l’Usine 15/03 – FR Montpellier, Victoire 2 16/03 – IT Milan, Legend 18/03 – CZ Prague, Futurum 19/03 – AT Vienna, Szene 21/03 – DE Cologne, Club Volta 22/03 – DE Leipzig, Taubchenthal 23/03 – DE Berlin, Hole44 24/03 – PL Warsaw, Proxima
Enslaved have also been announced for some festivals in 2024:
18/05-19/05 BE Thronefest *Vikingligr Veldi set 31/07-03/08 NO Beyond The Gates, Bergen 11/08 UK Bloodstock Festival, Derby 14/08-17/08 DE Summer Breeze, Dinkelsbühl 16/11-17/11 MX Mexico Metal Fest, Mexico City
The Winter Solstice is a significant day in the Pagan calendar marking the symbolic death and rebirth of the Sun. In the Northern Hemisphere it is the single day of the year with the longest period of night, with the days after becoming increasingly lighter.
In celebration of this special day, left-field metal luminaries ENSLAVED are proud to reveal their single and video for ‘Sequence – Live’. The track, which originally comes from their 2020 record Utgard, sees a live recording detailing a new interpretation of the song, with nuanced accompaniment by fellow psychedelic Norwegian prog band Shaman Elephant. This extraordinary performance took place during the 2021 Winter Solstice, via the stunning streaming event ‘The Otherworldly Big Band Experience’.
‘The Otherworldly Big Band Experience’ was an Enslaved show like none other, their biggest, boldest project to date – a colossal, kaleidoscopic stage show featuring a stellar setlist covering their career, both past and present. Including some tracks never previously performed live.
Enslaved recently announced a UK and European headline tour for Spring 2024. The 16-date run will take place in March 2024, taking the band across 10 different countries, with support coming from British post-hardcore quartet Svalbard and US metallers Wayfarer. Tickets are on-sale now from https://enslaved.no/
ENSLAVED – UK + EUROPEAN TOUR 2024 w/ Svalbard + Wayfarer 06/03 – UK London, Islington Assembly Hall 07/03 – UK Leeds, Brudenell Social Club 08/03 – UK Manchester, Club Academy 09/03 – UK Glasgow, Slay 10/03 – IE Dublin, Opium 12/03 – NL Helmond, Cacaofabriek 13/03 – FR Paris, La Machine 14/03 – CH Geneva, PTR/l’Usine 15/03 – FR Montpellier, Victoire 2 16/03 – IT Milan, Legend 18/03 – CZ Prague, Futurum 19/03 – AT Vienna, Szene 21/03 – DE Cologne, Club Volta 22/03 – DE Leipzig, Taubchenthal 23/03 – DE Berlin, Hole44 24/03 – PL Warsaw, Proxima
Enslaved have also been announced for some festivals in 2024: 31/07-03/08 NO Beyond The Gates, Bergen 11/08 UK Bloodstock Festival, Derby 14/08-17/08 DE Summer Breeze, Dinkelsbühl 16/11-17/11 MX Mexico Metal Fest, Mexico City
Enslaved recently played their final live show of the year at Damnation Festival, following on from a hectic festival season with performances at the likes of Midgardsblot, ArcTanGent, Brutal Assault, Beyond The Gates and Desertfest Antwerp, on-top of a co-headline tour across the USA and Canada earlier this year with Insomnium.
Enslaved’s latest avant-garde creation, Heimdal, was released earlier this year. Their breathtaking 16th studio album 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. It’s a record that points towards new beginnings, and a dawn that’s on the other side of the apex of the land. A psychedelic journey through arcane Norse folklore, connecting with one’s ancient ancestors and our future selves.
Psychedelic prog-metallers ENSLAVED are proud to announce a new UK and European headline tour for Spring 2024. This news comes a few days after their final live show of the year at Damnation Festival, following on from a hectic festival season with performances at the likes of Midgardsblot, ArcTanGent, Brutal Assault, Beyond The Gates and Desertfest Antwerp, on-top of a co-headline tour across the USA and Canada earlier this year with Insomnium.
The new 16-date run will take place in March 2024, taking the band across 10 different countries. Support on the road will come from British post-hardcore quartet Svalbard and US metallers Wayfarer.
Enslaved’s latest masterpiece Heimdal came out earlier this year.
Vocalist and bassist Grutle Kjellson commented, “Friends! In March it is happening! The blare of the great horn shall resound once again, and Heimdal will guide you through pain and anxiety and to victory! In other words; we are going to tour Europe again! Due to events and circumstances beyond everybody’s control, our first European club tour since 2018 as a matter of fact! No less! Looking forward to see you all again. Alu Alu Laukar!! -Grutle”
ENSLAVED – UK + EUROPEAN TOUR 2024 w/ Svalbard + Wayfarer 06/03 – UK London, Islington Assembly Hall 07/03 – UK Leeds, Brudenell Social Club 08/03 – UK Manchester, Club Academy 09/03 – UK Glasgow, Slay 10/03 – IE Dublin, Opium 12/03 – NL Helmond, Cacaofabriek 13/03 – FR Paris, La Machine 14/03 – CH Geneva, PTR/l’Usine 15/03 – FR Montpellier, Victoire 2 16/03 – IT Milan, Legend 18/03 – CZ Prague, Futurum 19/03 – AT Vienna, Szene 21/03 – DE Cologne, Club Volta 22/03 – DE Leipzig, Taubchenthal 23/03 – DE Berlin, Hole44 24/03 – PL Warsaw, Proxima
Enslaved have also been announced for Bloodstock Festival UK 2024. 11/08 – UK Bloodstock Festival, Derby
Today, ENSLAVED are proud to release their latest avant-garde creation, Heimdal. Their breathtaking 16th studio album 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. It’s a record that points towards new beginnings, and a dawn that’s on the other side of the apex of the land. Prepare for a psychedelic journey through arcane Norse folklore, to connect with one’s ancient ancestors and our future selves.
Enslaved’sGrutle Kjellson commented,
“After more than three decades, I still get excited when I hear Ivar’s demos; we may be older now, and as life has evolved are unable to spend as much time on music as we would like, but the song writing process for Enslaved hasn’t changed much. Ivar works on the seeds and shapes of songs, sends them to the rest of us, and we’ll form our own narratives – these phantom sketches eventually come to life and they speak to us, and hopefully they speak to our fans as well.
In my opinion, our band is even more creative, more experimental, more diverse and somehow more musical than when we started. I suppose one of the main reasons we continue as a band is that we have never reached a place where we bore ourselves. Our passion for telling stories, writing riffs, put words to them and exploring the human condition through music and myth, has only increased over the years and Heimdal is a reflection of who we are as artists, musicians and human beings in the year 2023.”
Enslaved have also revealed a masterly lyric video, created by Ingo Spörl, for album focus track ‘The Eternal Sea‘.
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 Heimdalwas, 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 asatellite of the well-known Duper Studios, where the drums were recorded and engineered by Iver himself, with assistance from Vegard Lemme. The mainguitars, 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.
The record features 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 band’sboldest 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.
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 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 Yggdrasillin 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 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 furor of their early works while dancing gracefully through their most ambitious, most haunting and most musical tunes yet. A contradiction? Life itself is a contradiction. And yet we all live to prove it wrong.
ENSLAVED have released a new single and video from Heimdal, their 16th studio album due out on March 3rd 2023. ‘Forest Dweller’ launches with progressive splendor, 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’s Grutle 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 to get 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.”
The tree set ablaze at the end of my days 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 psychedelic track ‘Caravans To The Outer Worlds’ from last year’s EP of the same name. Album bonus versions contain an extra track, ‘Gangandi’, alongside a Blu-Ray copy of 2021’s stunning Otherworldly Big Band Experience streamed event – the band’s boldest 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.
Enslaved in 2022 are a band 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 furor of their early works while dancing gracefully through their most ambitious, most haunting and most musical tunes yet. A contradiction? Life itself is a contradiction. And yet we all live to prove it wrong.
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