Only Heavy Metal

…and there we started the process of making a new live-DVD. Or perhaps “concert movie” would be a more appropriate title for this undergoing. We’ve gone to some lengths to keep this under wraps for as long as possible; and now we’re more or less ready to go. We will record two full sets containing material from all our releases – there will be a total of 24 songs (matching the number of the Futhark, by the way-ish), including some very special and long asked-for treats for our fans. There will be glimpses into the world of Enslaved between the songs that will help create a unique musical experience caught on film. The site of the recording is ABC Studios in Etne, appropriately located in the house of the old school...

Norway's progressive extreme metallers ENSLAVED have entered the studio to begin recording their thirteenth album for an early 2015 release via Nuclear Blast. Main recordings for the as-yet-untitled CD are taking place at Duper and Solslottet Studios in Bergen, Norway, with additional tracking 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" seven-inch single in 2012. The effort is being produced by bandmembers Ivar Bjørnson, Grutle Kjellson and Herbrand Larsen together with Iver Sandøy. Mixing will be done by Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studios in Örebro, Sweden. Cover artwork will once again be created by longtime artist and "sixth ENSLAVED member" Truls Espedal, who has painted all of the band's album covers since 2001's "Monumension".

'IN TIMES' will be the title of the thirteenth studio album by Norwegian progressive extreme metallers ENSLAVED. Hand-painted artwork is by long-time collaborating artist and “sixth ENSLAVED member” Truls Espedal. The album will be released on March 6 (Europe) and March 10, 2015 (N. America).

ENSLAVED guitarist & composer Ivar Bjørnson shares the following about the band’s latest creation:
“I was so deep into the songs and ideas for such a long time (or have my head so far up my own a**, if you prefer more direct language) that it is hard to have any ‘opinions’ about them that is anything else than the high-flying mumbo-jumbo of the introvert song-smith. The songs are extensions of my inner and outer life, the thoughts I am aware of having, as well as those that lie too deep to register in everyday consciousness. The songs are the resounds of grandiose altered states and mundane tiny micro-events. In addition, they are, of course, also the result of inspiration from other music and art. I do think this new album is the most consistent body of work we have so far: It incorporates our ‘blacker’ past with our influences from prog rock, our present sense of absolute freedom, and the joy of being in this band, if that makes any sense… Ha, ha, ha. It is higher in energy, more aggressive, yet more beautiful and subtle. It simply sounds inspired.”