Enslaved – Heimdal – Release: 03.03.23

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’s Grutle 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‚. 

You can order/stream Heimdalhere: 

https://enslaved.bfan.link/heimdal.ema

Watch ‚The Eternal Sea‚lyric video here: 

Heimdalwas 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 SandøySolslottet is a satellite of the well-known Duper Studios, where the drums were recorded and engineered by Iver himself, with assistance from Vegard Lemme. The main guitars, bass, pianos, organs, and vocals were also recorded at SolslottetArve ‚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’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 2023 Europe Festivals Shows:

13 May   UK, London – Incineration Festival
05 Aug   NO, Bergen – Beyond The Gates
10 Aug   CZ, Jaroměř – Brutal Assault
12 Aug   DE, Thüringen – Party.San
16-19 Aug   UK, Bristol – ArcTanGent
06-07 Sep   PO, Aleksandrów – Summer Dying Loud

Enslaved are:
Ivar Bjørnson | guitars 
Grutle Kjellson | vocals
Arve ‚Ice Dale‘ Isdal | guitar
Håkon Vinje | keyboards, clean vocals
Iver Sandøy | drums