Enslaved is one of the most long lived metal bands in Norway. This year they celebrate 25 years together as a band with concert dates in Norway and Europe. The band was formed by Ivar Bjørnson and Grutle Kjellson from Haugesund, and they are still with the band. So far Enslaved have won four Spellemann awards (Norwegian Grammy), with three more nominations. Last night they celebrated their first 25 years at Rockefeller in Oslo.

Grutle

Enslaved started out as a black metal band, but from the start in the early 90’s they extended the traditional format and prefer to call their music extreme metal. Sometimes their songs are long, and they incorporate elements from viking philosophy, earning them the label viking metal.

Ivar Bjørnson

The band got their present members of Cato Bekkevold on drums, Arve “Ice Dale” Isdal on guitar and Herbrand Larsen on keyboard and vocal in the period 2002-2004, extending their sound with synth and mellotron. With two vocalists, Grutle on growling and Herbrand on clean singing, this also gives the band a unique sound.

Ice Dale

At the concert Enslaved played songs mainly from their earlier releases: Hordanes Land (Allfadr Odinn, Slaget i Skogen Bortenfor), Vikingligr Veldi (Norvegr), Frost (Fenris, Loke, Jotunblod) from 1994, Mardraum (Frøyas Smykke) from 2000, Below The Lights (As Fire Swept Clean The Earth) from 2003, Isa (Isa) from 2004 and In Times (Daylight) from 2015.

All photos are © Per Ole Hagen and must not be used without written permission.