Checking in from Duper Studios in Bergen, members of Norwegian progressive extreme metallers ENSLAVED offer the second installment in the seven-part "Diary Of Mad Men" series shedding insight into the band's upcoming as-yet-untitled thirteenth studio album, set for an early 2015 release.
"It has been something like 10 months since the first song was written for this album, but it feels like an eternity with all the touring and normal & special shows!" explains ENSLAVED guitarist & composer Ivar Bjørnson. "Now time is back to normal time, and things are going really well from the get-go: Cato [Bekkevold, drummer]laid down something like one-third of the drums for the album just during the first day!"
ENSLAVED drummer Cato Bekkevold adds: "This album is very complex and challenging to record, and I guess the same words will be frequently used both by the critics and the listening audience. But rest assured that it - as always - is 100% pure ENSLAVED."
Main recordings for the as-yet-untitled new album are taking place at Duper and Solslottet Studios in Bergen, Norway with additional recordings done at Conclave & Earshot Studios (presided over by ENSLAVED members Larsen and Ice Dale), and Ivar Bjørnson's Peersonal Sound Studios.
Additional experimentation and sonic exploration will be conducted deep in the woods of Valevåg south of Bergen where the band took a mobile studio to record the infamous 'Thorn' 7" single in 2012.
Album number thirteen is being produced by band members Ivar Bjørnson, Grutle Kjellson & Herbrand Larsen together with Iver Sandøy. Mixing will be done by Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studios in Örebro, Sweden.
Artwork will be illustrated by long-time collaborating artist and "sixth ENSLAVED member" Truls Espedal, who has painted all seven album covers since 2001's "Monumension".
A very special hometown show in Bergen, Norway awaits fans on November 1st, where ENSLAVED's live set will include songs never previously performed in front of an audience, including 'Havenless' from 2003's "Below The Lights" album.
2012's studio release, "RIITIIR", garnered ENSLAVED a seventh nomination for a Spellemann Award (the Norwegian equivalent of the American Grammy) in the category of "Best Metal Album." They have won a Spellemann Award four consecutive times for the following four studio albums: "Axioma Ethica Odini" (2010), "Vertebrae" (2008), "Ruun" (2006), and "Isa" (2004).
