https://www.high-endrolex.com/18

Enslaved Post “What Else is There” Video; Re-Sign with Nuclear Blast

enslaved

If you were Norwegian progressive black metallers Enslaved, why wouldn’t you re-up your deal with Nuclear Blast? And if you were the label, why wouldn’t you re-sign the band? It’s a pairing that’s worked for both sides, with the long-running Bergen outfit expanding their reach and influence across the globe while giving the imprint another act to hang its hat on and say, “fuck yes we put that stuff out.” Enslaved just finished a two-year touring cycle for their more-or-less-brilliant 14th album, E (review here).

That was their third long-player for Nuclear Blast behind 2015’s In Times (review here) and 2012’s Riitiir (review here) — they signed after issuing 2010’s Axioma Ethica Odini (review here) on Indie Recordings and in the meantime have established their own label, By Norse Music, which has stood behind reissues of their own work as well as the 2017 live album, Roadburn Live (review here) — and even as recent years have found bassist/vocalist Grutle Kjellson and guitarists Ivar Bjørnson and Arve “Ice Dale” Isdal recruiting new drummer Iver Sandøy and, crucially, keyboardist/clean-vocalist Håkon Vinje, their relentless sonic pursuit has pushed forward unabated. Plus, as evidenced by the two years they’ve just spent on the road, they tour like bastards.

Again, if you’re the label, they’re very much a band you want to continue working with.

It’s Vinje‘s vocals that are highlighted in the cover of Tromsø electro-duo Röyksopp “What Else is There” that was included as a bonus track on the limited edition of E, the band flirting with pop and new wave before blindsiding it with a bit of good old fashioned rippery. It’s a fun cut and worth highlighting, and while the video invokes Bergman and a looming sense of disaster, it’s not quite as dramatic as “The River’s Mouth” (posted here) from the album itself, which I suppose is fine too. Enslaved are certainly no strangers to changing things up. No reason that can’t extend to visuals.

With the deal in place and the E touring cycle complete, I’d expect the band to take some time off before getting back to work on LP number 15, but of course the underlying message of re-signing is that their intention is to continue on their current path, so it’s only fair to expect news sometime in the next year about stirrings and new songs, recording plans and so on. That will be welcome whenever it arrives, certainly.

Enjoy the clip:

Enslaved, “What Else is There” (Röyksopp cover) official video

There is ample reason to celebrate: ENSLAVED have once again joined forces with Nuclear Blast, to spread the music of the Norwegian avant-garde metallers all around the globe. With that, band and label renew a collaboration that has been ongoing for around ten years and two years ago produced the universally lauded album E.

Band founding member and guitarist Ivar Bjornson stated about the re-signing:
“It is with great pleasure we re-sign our record deal with Nuclear Blast worldwide! We have been working together for more or less a decade, and it has been an individed positive experience. They have both the heart to grasp our musical visions, and the business-muscles to spread them out into the world. When you add personal friendships with the wonderful people in America, U.K. and Germany it is simply an ideal situation for us to be in. Onwards, forwards and in all directions!”

To mark the occasion, ENSLAVED present a stunning new music video filled with atmospheric imagery for their interpretation of ‘What Else Is There’ by Norwegian electro-pop band RÖYSKOPP. The song is featured as a bonus track on the digital version of their latest album, E.

Enslaved is:
Ivar Bjørnson – guitar
Grutle Kjellson – vocals/bass
Ice Dale – guitar
Håkon Vinje – keys/vocals
Iver Sandøy – drums

Enslaved on Thee Facebooks

Enslaved on Instagram

Enslaved website

Nuclear Blast on Thee Facebooks

Nuclear Blast on Instagram

Tags: , , , , ,

Leave a Reply