Enslaved - E

Monday, time to introduce "Record Of The Week"

"E" is the fourteenth full length studio album from the Norwegian Viking neighbours ENSLAVED. The band's music draws heavily on the Viking cultural and religious heritage of their home country of Norway for inspiration, and most of the band's lyrics relate to Norse mythology. The Black Metal band that have infused more progressive tones into their sound over the years, nothing bad with that, rather better in my opinion.

Mastermind Ivar explains about the title E:

"The concept of the album lies in both it’s meaning as a letter in the latin alphabet, and it’s runic reference: the rune "Ehwaz", that is depicted as an "M" when drawn as rune (just to make sure it gets really confusing) – the runes are drawn to look like what they literally mean. Ehwaz (pronounced and used as what's known as E, but drawn as an “M”) looks like and means 'horse'. Which is closely linked to its esoteric meaning; which is 'trust' and 'co-operation'. One of mankind's oldest and deepest pairings/collaborations with any "outside" entities is with the horse. When they were first tamed and utilised there must have arisen the notion of some esoteric link between the two; now we could move swiftly, escape faster and even eat and drink from the animal (both horse milk and horse blood), and of course show off and brag before our enemies and peers with the most spectacular horses.

So, no, it is not about horses! It is about the symbioses that surrounds us; which are vital to our existence, to our development – on all scales: man and vessel (for instance horse, yes), a person and its significant other, child and parent, musician and instrument, chaos and order, subconscious and conscious, Oden and Sleipnir – wisdom and communication. There are many levels and variations of this concept on the album; the duality of man and nature, present and past personalities within one self, the conscious fear and the subconscious drive. And other symbiosis."

"E" is a record that breaths fresh air, not an old wunderbaum that starts to loose it fragrances, here its more natural essences that spreads overs the harmonies of the album. It's with an ease to play this record, excellent production with superb musical handcraft, thought out song structures, depth filled melodies where all the rhythms flows so smoothly, like a gentle hand caresses your body with sensual emotion. The vocals are marvellous, pending from beaming clean vocals by Hakon Vinje to Grutle Kjellson superlative harsh vocals.

The album opens up with the epic first single "Storm Son", it's also the longest tune on the album, the almost 11 wonderfully minutes. Here they mix progressive calm with crunchy black metal. Then the album takes a little turn with "The River’s Mouth" where the speed goes up a notch, heavier riffs and vocals. "Sacred Horse" keeps up the speed, a more progressive layout, hammering drums, distinct riffing, harsh vocals. "Axis of The World" have a more rockier approach, excellent riffs and melody and superb vocal parts. "Feathers of Eolh" is a real experimental progressive and groovy dark piece that charges up and blows a few times, well done! "Hiindsiight" wraps up E fluidly, doomy grandeur piece that makes it an magnificently ending.

Sum: Highly Recommended album, don't miss this one! .

Today's tune "The River's Mouth", taken from "E", released October 13th, 2017. Music video by Josh Graham of http://www.suspendedinlight.com.


More info @

Official Enslaved Web

Listen to ”Enslaved - "The River's Mouth" on Spotify!



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