Bergen visionaries Enslaved present, “Caravans to the Outer Worlds (Live from The Otherworldly Big Band Experience),” taken from the bonus version of the upcoming album “Heimdal.” Watch the video through the YouTube player below:
“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. The record is named after “Heimdal,” arguably the most mysterious entity in Nordic mythology.
The record 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 tracklisting:
- Behind The Mirror
- Congelia
- Forest Dweller
- Kingdom
- The Eternal Sea
- Caravans To The Outer Worlds
- Gangandi (Bonus Track)*
- Heimdal
Heimdal formats:
CD
Limited edition digipack CD (inc. Bonus Track) + Blu-Ray*
2LP vinyl gatefold – black
2LP vinyl gatefold – white + black marble (Nuclear Blast Excl.)
2LP vinyl gatefold – white + green marble (Nuclear Blast + Selected Retailers)
2LP vinyl gatefold – blue + white marble (UK Retail + EMP)
2LP vinyl gatefold – white (USA Revolver Excl.)
2LP vinyl gatefold (inc. Bonus Track) + Blu-Ray – crystal clear w/ black marble (Nuclear Blast Excl.)*
2LP vinyl gatefold (inc. Bonus Track) + Blu-Ray – clear w/ black + gold marble (Band Excl.)*
“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.
The album was recorded primarily at Solslottet Studios in Bergen, which is owned by Iver Sandøy. Solslottet 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 Solslottet. Arve ‘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.
Never faltering, Norway’s iconic Enslaved continue to exist as one of the most original and dependable components in our scene’s indestructible backbone. Possessing the reputation as one of the most riveting live acts around, they never fail to offer us talent of the highest calibre, always doing justice to their signature Black/Progressive sound. Enslaved was formed in 1991 by Ivar Bjørnson and Grutle Kjellson, releasing their first demo “Yggdrasill” in the summer of 1992, their legendary mini-album “Hordanes Land” coming out in 1993, and with their debut full-length “Vikingligr Veldi” arriving in the spring of 1994.
Enslaved in 2022 are a band in stellar form – a band at its most existentialist and self-conscious, proud Bergeners bearing the torch of their hometown’s extraordinary musical history. Their most recent material shows Enslaved at their most unleashed and thought-through – a lethal combination unfurling a potential that’s easily rekindling the furor of their early works while dancing gracefully through their most ambitious, most haunting and most musical tunes yet. A contradiction? Life itself is a contradiction. And yet we all live to prove it wrong.
Lineup:
Ivar Bjørnson / Guitars
Grutle Kjellson / Vocals
Arve ‘Ice Dale’ Isdal / Guitar
Håkon Vinje / Keyboards, Clean Vocals
Iver Sandøy / Drums