MARDRAUM - BEYOND THE WITHIN

It's a mystery that Enslaved is not more recognised in progressive rock circles. Growing a steady fan base among metalheads, Enslaved has only gained a small foothold among progressive rock listeneners. They deserve better. I mean the band is right up there - in quality - with Opeth. Not that these two bands are somehow musical twins, they are not, but the listening experience invokes some of the same emotions. Enslaved share Opeth's musical philosophy by stressing emotions over technicality. However, the band is firmly placed within a Norwegian metal-context, and they were - along with black metal-bands - one of the pioneers of the new Norwegian metal scene in the 90's. The sound of their music is raw, atmospheric, slightly psychadelic and chrushing. So if you want to tag the music with a label, it could be viking/black-metal with progressive elements.

For listeners who are sceptic about extreme metal, it should be mentioned that the band have moved further towards progressive territory during the three latest records: ISA, RUUN, and VERTEBRAE. As with Opeth's records, they are not just filled with long songs & crushing riffs, they also contain an intelligent mixture of growling and harmonious clean vocals. The records are wonderfully produced, and the songs are divided by a seperation of "light & dark" sequences, which intertwines intelligently. Clearly the metal inspiration is not difficult to hear, but referances to the 70's progressive rock music is always in the surface. This can for instance be heard in their consistent use of keyboards and the mellotron.

Being one of the pioneers of the Viking-metal genre, their lyrical universe emphasized pagan and norse mythological themes, rather than the satanism of Black Metal. However, as Enslaved progressed they became restless. With the record MARDRAUM: BEYOND THE WITIN they began to experiment with the genre's strict rules. As listeners of progressive rock, they sought to add psychadelia, space rock and other progressive elements in their music. It was by no means a retrospective approach, it still sounded raw - like contemporary extreme metal. But the new musical ingredients paved the way for more electronic/ambient soundscapes. It was the start of the band's second period, the experimental and progressive era of Enslaved.

Enslaved's "MARDRAUM: BEYOND THE WITHIN" is a very underrated album, not just in progressive rock circles - but also in the metal genre in general. Besides the new records, this is one of the best album Enslaved has to offer. "Mardraum" is norwegian, meaning nightmare in English. Firmly placed in a pagan & norse mythological context, listening to this album may at first sound chaotic and extreme. But the concept of the album, makes the thick heavy sound, and the active use of distortion & sonic attacks meaningful. Songs like "Aege's dream" & "Warrior Unknown" are brutal. The title track is maybe the best track on the record. Containing lots of killer-riffs in a sequence and chaotic and nightmarish screaming in the background, this songs captures madness and "mardraum" only like Water's and Pink Floyd did in the 70's. It's a piece of art, it sounds raw, it sounds mad and way out there.

But these brutal offerings also comes in combination with more varied & longer epics like "Entrance - Escape". The tempo has slowed down, opening up for more psychadelic soundscapes and guitar heroism. The guitar solos on the epic tracks are magnificent and very Gilmouresque, rather than the fast and mindless solos you often hear in thrash-metal.

Listen and be Enslaved!