Yesterday (Friday, March 3rd) Norwegian Progressive / Black Metallers ENSLAVED, have released their 16th studio album, “Heimdal”. To celebrate the release the band dropped an official lyric video for album focus track “The Eternal Sea”, created by Ingo Spörl.
“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. 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.
“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” was, as always, developed by Ivar Bjørnson and Grutle Kjellson in tandem.
Grutle Kjellson comments: “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.”
The record is named after Heimdal, arguably the most mysterious entity in Nordic mythology. It 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.
“Heimdal” track listing:
- Behind the Mirror
- Congelia
- Forest Dweller
- Kingdom
- The Eternal Sea
- Caravans to the Outer Worlds
- Heimdal
You can watch the official lyric video for “The Eternal Sea” below:
