Enslaved (band)
Enslaved is a Norwegian extreme metal band formed by Ivar Bjørnson and Grutle Kjellson in Haugesund in 1991. They are currently based in Bergen. The band's lineup has changed many times over the years, and Bjørnson and Kjellson have been the sole constant members. The current lineup also includes lead guitarist Arve Isdal, keyboardist/singer Håkon Vinje, and drummer Iver Sandøy.
Enslaved | |
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Enslaved in 2021. From left to right: Arve Isdal, Håkon Vinje, Grutle Kjellson, Ivar Bjørnson and Iver Sandøy. | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Haugesund, Norway |
| Genres |
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| Years active | 1991–present |
| Labels | Deathlike Silence, Voices of Wonder, SPV, Osmose, Tabu, Relapse, The End, Candlelight, Nuclear Blast |
| Members | Ivar Bjørnson Grutle Kjellson Arve Isdal Håkon Vinje Iver Sandøy |
| Past members | Trym Torson Harald Helgeson Per Håvarstein Christian Kronheim Herbrand Larsen Cato Bekkevold |
The band's music draws heavily on the Viking cultural and religious heritage of their home country of Norway for inspiration, and most of the band's lyrics relate to Norse mythology. Though they began as a traditional black metal band their sound has undergone significant changes over time resulting in a more progressive sound. In 2014, members of Enslaved were commissioned by the Norwegian government to create a musical piece in celebration of the 200th anniversary of the Norwegian constitution. This was later released as a studio album called Skuggsjá in 2016. To date, the band has released sixteen full-length studio albums; the most recent of which, Heimdal, was released in March 2023.