Enslaved Post “Bounded by Allegiance” Live Video
Bergen, Norway, progressive black metal expansionists Enslaved held their ‘The Otherworldly Big Band Experience’ stream on Dec. 21, 2021, the Winter Solstice, and played as a nine-piece lineup — hence “Big Band” — that incorporated the four-piece outfit Shaman Elephant. Even for a band who’ve spent the better part of the last two decades refining and building on a sound that has only become more individualized for their efforts in making it, the stream was a distinct step beyond expectation. Enslaved‘s new interpretations of old songs — like “Bounded by Allegiance” below, originally taken from 2004’s Isa LP — found them all the more atmospheric for the stunning visuals and cinematography that accompanied, not to mention the extra players, and furthered their commitment to exploring progressive, psychedelic and extreme styles that broadened the definitions of genre as much as their own.
But you know all this. If you’ve heard me expound for the last decade-plus about Enslaved‘s evolving, consistent, and consistently evolving genius, you don’t need me to rehash the point. And to be perfectly honest, if you haven’t caught on by now, I sincerely doubt I’ll change your mind by telling you how good they are at what they do. I believe strongly in the power of words, but hey, some things just don’t connect. I get it.
Then I guess the underlying point in my posting “Bounded by Allegiance” as taken and made a single from what one can only assume/hope is a forthcoming live release for ‘The Otherworldy Big Band Experience’ — please, please, please let them do black metal Sgt. Pepper for the cover art — is that I’m doing it for me, as an Enslaved fan. I’m choosing to write about something I actively enjoy and appreciate. And if you want to come along with that, shit, the more the merrier. If not, maybe next time.
If you hit play on the clip, watching for flashing lights, as that’s a thing. There’s a link in the PR wire info that follows as well just to get to the audio if that might suit your better.
Otherwise, hope you dig:
Enslaved, “Bounded by Allegiance” from The Otherworldly Big Band Experience
Left-field metal luminaries ENSLAVED are proud to reveal their single and video for “Bounded by Allegiance – Live.” The track, which originally comes from their ground-breaking album “Isa” (2004), sees a live recording of a new avant-garde interpretation, with nuanced accompaniment by fellow psychedelic Norwegian prog band Shaman Elephant. This extraordinary performance took place on last year’s Winter Solstice, via the stunning streaming event “The Otherworldly Big Band Experience.”
Listen to the “Bounded by Allegiance – Live” single here:
https://enslaved.bfan.link/bounded-by-allegiance.ema
Frontman Grutle Kjellson stated, “So here’s a little memory from last year’s musical endeavor. Our ‘Big Band’ collaboration with Shaman Elephant was such a trip! It felt like, and indeed it was, an avalanche of locked up energy just bursting out. The streamed concert plus a small tour in Norway was pretty much the only shows we did in 2021, so the energy level was pretty much turned to 11, on all of us. All nine of us! ‘Bounded By Allegiance’ was one of the first songs we thought would fit being dressed for a nine man outfit, with its natural percussive nature. We hope we were right, enjoy!”
“The Otherworldly Big Band Experience” was an ENSLAVED show like none other, their biggest, boldest project to date – a colossal, kaleidoscopic stage show featuring a stellar setlist covering their career, both past and present. Including some tracks never previously performed live.
Enslaved is:
Ivar Bjørnson – guitar
Grutle Kjellson – vocals/bass
Ice Dale – guitar
Håkon Vinje – keys/vocals
Iver Sandøy – drums
