In Times
Enslaved
•
February 8, 2015

Not ones to rest on their laurels, the legendary genre-defying Norwegian Progressive Metallers ENSLAVED are back with their thirteenth full-length album "In Times", following in the wake of their highly acclaimed 2012 album "Riitiir". Due for release on the 6th of March in Europe, this opus sees ENSLAVED's Black roots come to the fore, weaving spellbinding soundscapes that are stunningly merged with an insidious beauty that is as energetically fierce as it is dazzlingly striking.
Starting off with "Thurisaz Dreaming", we are blown away by the ravenous, raw, and tumultuous Black Metal barrage. And it is already in this early juncture that we start to see the glimmers of ENSLAVED's Progressive side, with clean vocals that interlace a mesmerizing tapestry of haunting melodies with dark, cold riffs, and searing guitar solos. "Building with Fire" takes on a more Rock-like undertow that makes you want to close your eyes and surrender to the journey on which you are taken. It is in this track that ENSLAVED's genius for unexpected yet flawless switches in music style comes to shine, with an interplay between softer, more harmonic passages and harsher guttural vocals that is electrifying. A twisted and somewhat sinister melody starts off "One Thousand Years of Rain", although this rises to almost ecstatic, buoyant heights tinged with Viking influences before plummeting through the absolute chasms of the psyche, taking the listener on a veritable roller-coaster of a trip. "Nauthir Bleeding" on the other hand contains some of the most powerful and evocative passages of the album with stormy and moody parts that are almost overwhelmingly intense, with one's sanity being saved by the tempered poignant cleaner sections. The title track of the album takes the penultimate spot, seeing uneasy harmonies swirl through the ether, made more corporeal by the percussions and rhythmic guitar work that spin a hypnotizing web which is torn asunder by the ferocious harsh vocals that burst unexpectedly forth. And it seems like a fleeting moment before we find ourselves on the final track "Daylight", which is marked by chant-like clean vocals intertwining with sheer Black vocals that seem to erupt from the very bowels of the underworld, amalgamating heaven and hell in one seamless song that leaves the listener on one final triumphant crescendo before fading into the rain.
Augmenting the atmosphere with recordings from deep within the forested heart of Norway, the keyboards have also been kept minimalistic, although they provide irreplaceable layers of subtle and diaphanous texture to the music. In terms of the song structures, all I have is but a single word: impeccable. Each song is cleverly though through, following its own unpredictable path. With much of the production work mainly in the hands of the band, one certainly has to admit that the band knows what they are doing: "In Times" is excellent from recording to production to mixing and mastering. The album artwork also adds an incontrovertible facet to the music, and was created by none other than Truls Espedal, who has done several previous album covers for ENSLAVED over the years. You can see how he created this captivating artwork in the video below, with the background music containing sections of "Thurisaz Dreaming".
In short, ENSLAVED have managed to surpass any and all expectations with seemingly effortless ease, and "In Times" is undoubtedly a strong candidate for best album of 2015, and definitely one I will have on repeat for a long while to come. The album doesn't contain a single highlight in my mind: each song is exceptionally crafted and perfect in its own stead. All in all a definite must listen. And for American fans, there is even more good news, with ENSLAVED heading off on a North American tour in early March, so be sure to catch them live!
10 / 10
Masterpiece

"In Times" Track-listing:
1. Thurisaz Dreaming
2. Building With Fire
3. One Thousand Years of Rain
4. Nauthir Bleeding
5. In Times
6. Daylight
Enslaved Lineup:
Ivar Bjørnson - Guitars
Grutle Kjellson - Vocals, Bass
Cato Bekkevold - Drums
Herbrand Larsen - Keyboard, Vocals
Ice Dale - Guitars
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