Enslaved

Biography

By taking the 80s Viking themes pioneered by Sweden’s Bathory and combining them with a brutal black metal approach, Enslaved came to the forefront of the Norwegian Wotanist movement and earned much respect from the Scandinavian extreme metal scene in the process. Formed in 1991 from the ashes of Phobia by Grutle Kjellson (Kjetil Grutle, 24 December 1973, Haugesund, Norway; vocals/bass) and Ivar Bjørnson (b. Ivar Skontorp Peersen, 27 November 1977, Bergen, Norway; guitar/keyboards), plus the phenomenal drummer Trym Torson (ex-Emperor), Enslaved got their name from Demonaz of Immortal and recorded a demo, Nema. Although its production values were in line with the usual black metal studio techniques, i.e. the tinnier the better, it led to a much better recording, Yggdrasill, which impressed Mayhem guitarist and Deathlike Silence label head Euronymous enough to sign them up. Vikingligr Veldi was duly recorded, but its release was held up by the murder of...

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