Written by Introspekrieg on 15.11.2008 at 21:25

By tiring do mean in like a dreamy, Pink Floyd way? I don't know if the extreme vocals seem unpolished by accident, they employed one of the best sound engineers/producers in music... so maybe the vocals are meant to contrast to an amazing result, which makes the album so much more interesting at least for me. We've seen this coming for some time now, the progressive elements have been appearing more and more, and I think they have finally got it right, personally.

Well, actually I don't mean in a Pink Floyd way, I just don't feel the dark emotion I once felt in either style of vocals. I don't think it's a bad album by any means (I rated it an 8). I just don't like it, as I feel "Vertebrae" now sounds like a band that isn't playing music to pour forth their emotions out of necessity, but instead they play music because, well, they are just talented musicians who know how to logically progress their style with each disc. It's not a criticism, but it's just something I don't find interesting.

Perhaps what you are saying about the continued addition of progressive elements is what bothers me. The band is predictable in its evolution, and honestly, I knew what the album would sound like before I even listened to it. It's totally unsurprising, but still musically well done.

And also to add a side note, I've disliked Pink Floyd (not hated, just don't care for) ever since I was a kid - I just have no interest in them, so if sonically Enslaved is sounding more like them, then maybe that's another reason I'm having less interest in their last 2 albums, who knows?

Written by Jason W. on 16.11.2008 at 00:34

Well, actually I don't mean in a Pink Floyd way, I just don't feel the dark emotion I once felt in either style of vocals. I don't think it's a bad album by any means (I rated it an 8). I just don't like it, as I feel "Vertebrae" now sounds like a band that isn't playing music to pour forth their emotions out of necessity, but instead they play music because, well, they are just talented musicians who know how to logically progress their style with each disc. It's not a criticism, but it's just something I don't find interesting.

Perhaps what you are saying about the continued addition of progressive elements is what bothers me. The band is predictable in its evolution, and honestly, I knew what the album would sound like before I even listened to it. It's totally unsurprising, but still musically well done.

And also to add a side note, I've disliked Pink Floyd (not hated, just don't care for) ever since I was a kid - I just have no interest in them, so if sonically Enslaved is sounding more like them, then maybe that's another reason I'm having less interest in their last 2 albums, who knows?

Yeah maybe that's it, the predictability of the evolution of their sound is one way to look at it (similar to how predictable the Opeth evolution has been.) Marcel was the one saying how this album is channeling Pink Floyd sonically, and I've come to agree, those atmospheric parts with the clean vocals definitely. However, I thought that their was a defined Tool influence on many of the rhythm parts, especially Center which sounds like it was ripped from Lateralus minus the extreme vocals.
They've already proven themselves as talented musicians so I see what you're saying about them just making music to progress as musicians, and I need to be careful to not confuse atmosphere with emotion. Do you know if they are planning on touring the US to support Vertebrae like they are in Europe?

Written by Introspekrieg on 17.11.2008 at 00:06


Yeah maybe that's it, the predictability of the evolution of their sound is one way to look at it (similar to how predictable the Opeth evolution has been.) Marcel was the one saying how this album is channeling Pink Floyd sonically, and I've come to agree, those atmospheric parts with the clean vocals definitely. However, I thought that their was a defined Tool influence on many of the rhythm parts, especially Center which sounds like it was ripped from Lateralus minus the extreme vocals.
They've already proven themselves as talented musicians so I see what you're saying about them just making music to progress as musicians, and I need to be careful to not confuse atmosphere with emotion. Do you know if they are planning on touring the US to support Vertebrae like they are in Europe?

About the US tour, yes They are playing in May - I'm not sure what venues you usually go to, but seeing them should be accessible for you if you don't mind a small drive... I'll be sure to see them @the Massachusetts date; they are touring with Swallow the Sun & Keep of Kalessin, neither of which I've seen before.

I still think they will be masterful live, and hopefully they will play some different older songs this time around as well, like ones from Monumension and Mardraum in addition to other classics. It's always possible I don't like the mix on the new album and live it may all even out for me. The extreme vocals may really come alive for me then.... Their emotion on stage when I saw them before was stronger than anything, and impressive considering there was less than 100 fans there to see them!

About the Tool references.... well, I'd have to sit down and compare the two, but I really only care for Tool's "Undertow" and "Aenima" releases; so I'm not familiar enough with their later stuff to immediately pull out the references... Whatever Enslaved does for influences, they are very subtle at doing it (and therefore intelligent), so even if they are pulling from Tool and now Pink Floyd in ways, they are doing it with class, for sure!

For flying fucks sake I have just found out that Enslaved played here in The Netherlands last Firday, yesterday, and today and I frigging missed them. The gig last Friday would have bene perfect to attend since it was in the Dynamo CLub....

Damn I am pissed off at myself for missing them...

Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 17.11.2008 at 02:11

For flying fucks sake I have just found out that Enslaved played here in The Netherlands last Firday, yesterday, and today and I frigging missed them. The gig last Friday would have bene perfect to attend since it was in the Dynamo CLub....

Damn I am pissed off at myself for missing them...

Marcel, saw them in London Thursday, they were awesome!!!!! two songs from the new album, two songs from ruun, i think two from isa, one from from the split with emporer (as an encore) at least one from every other album i think... fantastic...

Written by Stuart on 17.11.2008 at 02:33

Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 17.11.2008 at 02:11

For flying fucks sake I have just found out that Enslaved played here in The Netherlands last Firday, yesterday, and today and I frigging missed them. The gig last Friday would have bene perfect to attend since it was in the Dynamo CLub....

Damn I am pissed off at myself for missing them...

Marcel, saw them in London Thursday, they were awesome!!!!! two songs from the new album, two songs from ruun, i think two from isa, one from from the split with emporer (as an encore) at least one from every other album i think... fantastic...

Oh, I sure do belive you when you say they were awesome cause the last time I saw them was on the Isa tour and they were frigging brilliant then as well (as the couple of times I saw them before that)

Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 17.11.2008 at 02:40

Written by Stuart on 17.11.2008 at 02:33

Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 17.11.2008 at 02:11

For flying fucks sake I have just found out that Enslaved played here in The Netherlands last Firday, yesterday, and today and I frigging missed them. The gig last Friday would have bene perfect to attend since it was in the Dynamo CLub....

Damn I am pissed off at myself for missing them...

Marcel, saw them in London Thursday, they were awesome!!!!! two songs from the new album, two songs from ruun, i think two from isa, one from from the split with emporer (as an encore) at least one from every other album i think... fantastic...

Oh, I sure do belive you when you say they were awesome cause the last time I saw them was on the Isa tour and they were frigging brilliant then as well (as the couple of times I saw them before that)

Yeah, it was the third time I've seen them, the last two times were in larger venues 900+, this time it was a smaller venue approx 400, they were really good. in fact it was alot better than the Ruun tour...

Written by Jason W. on 17.11.2008 at 00:23

About the US tour, yes They are playing in May - I'm not sure what venues you usually go to, but seeing them should be accessible for you if you don't mind a small drive... I'll be sure to see them @the Massachusetts date; they are touring with Swallow the Sun & Keep of Kalessin, neither of which I've seen before.

Oh shit! I didn't even realize they were playing at Maryland Deathfest! Definitely have to go to that...

They play here in December and the place is only about an hour away. Well, I'm going to the Metalfest the day before that, but if I don't make it to Enslaved, I wouldn't know how to cope with life, lol.

I would have seen them in Frankfurt two years ago, but the damn Manager of this company fucked those shows totally up. Enslaved, Unleashed, Keep of Kalessin, Marduk, Belphegor, etc., all cancelled in Frankfurt.

I should totally find a druggie as well, lol. Enslaved is the kind of band, you want to be "trippin" too. (just kidding, that aint ma style man)

Something weird have happened to me on the journey of getting into Enslaved. Firstly, personally I have antipathy to their psychedelic element in their music, but now when I 've got into their music, I find no or not much psychedelic, or even not so much infuence that of in their music. Really love the song and video Essence 2006. It such a very cold music. I really love the way of their song, the length is not always long, some songs that are 6 minutes, but the tempo is not so fast that forms a Epic atmosphere.

PS: IMO they are more progressive than epic. Still epic but more softly progressive.

Bad news. apparently the US tour scheduled in May had been canceled. That bums be out...

Written by -DC-002- on 27.11.2008 at 10:29

Bad news. apparently the US tour scheduled in May had been canceled. That bums be out...

I know I had jsut found a couple of people that wanted to go and was gonna grab some tickets, and then i'm hit with tour cancelled. it's too bad was looking forward to this show.

Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 17.11.2008 at 02:40

Written by Stuart on 17.11.2008 at 02:33

Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 17.11.2008 at 02:11

For flying fucks sake I have just found out that Enslaved played here in The Netherlands last Firday, yesterday, and today and I frigging missed them. The gig last Friday would have bene perfect to attend since it was in the Dynamo CLub....

Damn I am pissed off at myself for missing them...

Marcel, saw them in London Thursday, they were awesome!!!!! two songs from the new album, two songs from ruun, i think two from isa, one from from the split with emporer (as an encore) at least one from every other album i think... fantastic...

Oh, I sure do belive you when you say they were awesome cause the last time I saw them was on the Isa tour and they were frigging brilliant then as well (as the couple of times I saw them before that)

At least you've seen them once before then! This was my first time- DARMSTADT! It was BLOODY brilliant, so to say in the parlance of our times.

Here is the setlist...as I remember???

Clouds
Fusion of Sense and Earth
Ruun
As Fire Swept Clean The Earth
To The Coast
Ground
Eld
New Dawn
Allfadr Odinn (not positive here..)
The Watcher

Encore:Isa

When they walked off stage of course we all shouted for more! They were starting to come back on stage when some guy grabbed the mic (and stand) and said 'heyyy.......'; then Grutle snatched it from him and said to him 'Don't touch my shit again man, I'll kick your ass!'. It was hilarious!!!

And I asked 'Ice Dale' about The Big Lebowski

He said he doesn't remember the film too well.

CDR: Do you believe the theory that 'The Stranger' is ACTUALLY God?!
ID: I have no idea.. I haven't seen that in SO long. Who was the Stranger?
CDR: The Cowboy with the huge mustache, Sam Elliot!
ID: With the mustasche?
CDR:Cowboy.. with a mustasche, yes.

ID:

Just heard their new album last week. It was my first experience with Enslaved but I don't think it will be my last 'cause I really liked the album

I just saw an online streaming concert from Germany that they played a day or two ago. it was cool. the set list was pretty much the same as CDR said but the songs where switched up a bit

Vertebrae is a real treat to listen to, love the mix of Pink Floyd and Black metal.

The new songs sound very good live. They are quite mellow on album, but live sound much harsher.

At first I thought Ruun was only OK. Now that I've let it sink in and I know it better I think its getting close to my favorite release of Enslaved. I still may like Isa a bit more though....

I'm new to Enslaved, so i don't much about their music. I like few songs from Frost and still getting used to it. But i really like what i hear now...

I love this band, and all the members are so cool. Ivar is such a nice guy, and I cant wait to see these guys may 2nd!

I don't like Enslaved's progressive era much. I love everything they did up to Blodhemn. I'm just not into their later work. Vikingligr Veldi is one of the albums that got me into Black metal. And Eld is also a fucking masterpiece.

Albums before frost are very very great,after frost albums are just good,that is problem with enslaved

New album will be entitle 'Axioma Ethica Odini' which is... nice.

Fingers and arseholes crossed they regain that perfect balance of prog and black they had with Isa. Though I won't be surprised if the new one is entirely devoid of black metal.

Written by Guest on 15.07.2010 at 15:20

New album will be entitle 'Axioma Ethica Odini' which is... nice.

Fingers and arseholes crossed they regain that perfect balance of prog and black they had with Isa. Though I won't be surprised if the new one is entirely devoid of black metal.

Got the album yesterday and had time to listen twice. Too early to say for sure, but it seems really great. The first thing that strikes me is the vocals. They are better than ever, both Grutle's even, evil growl and Herbrand's clean, dreamy chant. It is a truly progressive album, but not forgetting their BM roots. One of the candidates for this year's best album.

Will see them live next Tuesday in Stockholm. Can't wait....

Written by Mother North on 07.10.2010 at 00:31

Written by Guest on 15.07.2010 at 15:20

New album will be entitle 'Axioma Ethica Odini' which is... nice.

Fingers and arseholes crossed they regain that perfect balance of prog and black they had with Isa. Though I won't be surprised if the new one is entirely devoid of black metal.

Got the album yesterday and had time to listen twice. Too early to say for sure, but it seems really great. The first thing that strikes me is the vocals. They are better than ever, both Grutle's even, evil growl and Herbrand's clean, dreamy chant. It is a truly progressive album, but not forgetting their BM roots. One of the candidates for this year's best album.

Will see them live next Tuesday in Stockholm. Can't wait....

I've listened to pretty much nothing else recently and I hate to tag along with everyone else's opinion but it really is a shockingly good album, scarily so at times. I didn't think Enslaved had it in them to do something approaching the quality of Isa but they managed it, and then some. I think this album will have the same universal appeal that the last Primordial record had.

Well said and a very adeqaute comparison with Primordial. Will be interesting to see if it means a breakthrough!

It's definitely a dreamy album! Anyone else hear the signature Yes taking place in ''Singular''?

I'm loving the new album a lot more than Vertebrae.

Maybe it will sound weird but Axioma Ethica Odini sounds to me like the mix of Ghost Reveries, Crack the Skye and Lazarus by Hacride.

I guess if I was better acquainted with the band I would say that it's a "perfect mix of older and newer material" but since it's not the case (yet), that's my description.

Written by K✞ulu on 21.10.2010 at 22:42

I guess if I was better acquainted with the band I would say that it's a "perfect mix of older and newer material" but since it's not the case (yet), that's my description.

If you're planning to get to know the band better, you're in for an amazing ride. I almost envy you