Enslaved Post “Caravans to the Outer Worlds” Video from ‘The Otherworldly Big Band Experience’
A couple things to note here for context. The version of “Caravans to the Outer Worlds” in the video below comes not from Enslaved‘s impending Heimdal album, due March 3 on Nuclear Blast, but from their prior livestream ‘The Otherworldly Big Band Experience.’ A bluray of that stream, a sort of culmination for the Bergen, Norway-based progressive black metal forebeards — that was a typo but I’m leaving it — from their ‘Cinematic Tour’ series that was released as a CD/DVD box set in 2021, will be included in the special edition of the new record, and featured a collaboration with the band Shaman Elephant. So when you see the glut of dudes in the video and say to yourself, “I don’t remember Enslaved being an orchestra,” well, there’s your explanation.
One can hardly begrudge Enslaved getting some mileage out of ‘The Otherworldly Big Band Experience’ or the streams in general, considering the quality of the audio/visual production at hand. Considering that alongside the adventurous nature of the project to start with, it’s pretty emblematic of who Enslaved are at this point in their career, masters of their sound who refuse not to explore new ideas. That’s been true of their work all along — one can trace a linear path across decades in their studio albums; if you never have, it’s a fun listening project provided you keep an open mind — but the farther out they go from their rawest beginnings, the more daring they seem to become. Special thanks to whoever it was that introduced them to krautrock, however many years ago now that might’ve been. At least 20.
You might also recall “Caravans to the Outer Worlds” was the title-track on an EP (review here) the band released last year. I don’t know if that version is the same one on Heimdal to come, but fair enough if it is, and while I haven’t heard the record yet, with the recent announcement of North American touring alongside Insomnium and Black Anvil, I look forward all the more to being immersed in that special expansiveness that is so quintessentially Enslaved‘s own when the time comes.
For now, dig into this and watch for flashing lights:
Enslaved, “Caravans to the Outer Worlds (Live from The Otherworldly Big Band Experience)” official video
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. Pre-order / pre-save the album: https://enslaved.bfan.link/heimdal.yde
Listen to ‘Caravans to the Outer Worlds (Live from The Otherworldly Big Band Experience)’: https://enslaved.bfan.link/caravans-tothe-outer-worlds.yde
Enslaved’s 16th studio album, Heimdal, will be released on March 3rd 2023, via Nuclear Blast Records.
(#127909#) Kolibri Media: https://kolibrimedia.no
Left-field metal luminaries Enslaved have revealed a single and video for ‘Caravans to the Outer Worlds (Live from The Otherworldly Big Band Experience)’. The track, which comes from their forthcoming new studio album Heimdal (out March 3rd), as well as last year’s EP of the same name, sees an innovative, alternative live recording and stellar presentation of the song, with nuanced accompaniment from fellow psychedelic Norwegian prog band Shaman Elephant.
This extraordinary performance took place one year ago, on last year’s Winter Solstice, via the streaming event The Otherworldly Big Band Experience.
Grutle Kjellson commented,
“Caravans To The Outer Worlds’ was the first material written for our upcoming album, and that first song usually points in a certain direction. However, this song points in several directions, and that really made the whole process immensely interesting, and ultimately pushed us making our best album ever!
This live-version, taken from ‘The Otherworldly Big Band Experience’, our last big project keeping us alive during the pandemic, is the first of hopefully many opportunities to behold a performance of this energetic song. We hope you’ll enjoy it. God Jól!”
ENSLAVED – ALBUM LAUNCH EVENT
HEIMHUG
03 March NO, Bergen – USF Verftet
Head to enslaved.no/Heimhug for more information.
ENSLAVED + INSOMNIUM
NORTH AMERICAN CO-HEADLINE TOUR 2023
w/ Black Anvil
05 April New York, NY – Irving Plaza
06 April Boston, MA – Big Night Live
07 April Montreal, QC – Corona Theatre
08 April Toronto, ON – The Opera House
10 April Detroit, MI – Saint Andrew’s Hall
11 April Chicago, IL – House Of Blues
12 April Minneapolis, MN – Varsity Theater
14 April Denver, CO – The Gothic Theatre
15 April Salt Lake City, UT – The Complex
17 April Seattle, WA – The Crocodile
18 April Vancouver, BC – The Rickshaw
19 April Portland, OR – Hawthorne Theatre
21 April Berkeley, CA – The UC Theatre Taube Family Music Hall
22 April Los Angeles, CA – The Fonda Theatre
23 April Phoenix, AZ – Nile Theater
25 April Austin, TX – Come And Take It Live
26 April Dallas, TX – The Echo Lounge & Music Hall
28 April Atlanta, GA – Variety Playhouse
29 April Raleigh, NC – Lincoln Theatre
30 April Baltimore, MD – Baltimore Soundstage
VIP tickets for NA shows available here: enslaved.soundrink.com
ENSLAVED – 2023 FESTIVAL SHOWS
03 Feb 2023 DK, Fredericia – Winter Metal Magic
13 May 2023 UK, London – Incineration Festival
10-11 Nov 2023 MX, Monterrey – Mexico Metal Fest
Enslaved is:
Ivar Bjørnson – guitar
Grutle Kjellson – vocals/bass
Ice Dale – guitar
Håkon Vinje – keys/vocals
Iver Sandøy – drums
