ENSLAVED

USF VERFTET, BERGEN

’s 15th opus, , may have been delayed, but the fearless Norsemen intend to party on regardless by, with a studio a strange but ultimately fulfilling setting for the primal surges and vast reach of heroic opening one-two of and momentous . ’s first outing in 14 years begins a trilogy from the album, with its urgent Ice Dale leads and nefarious underbelly leading to the melancholic grandeur of . Arms are held aloft for the archaic chanting that welcomes and ends with the wash of electronics and psychedelic stomp sandwiched in between, before adds a more improvisational air to proceedings, as well as its Eastern melodies and Hammond freak-outs. A relaxed atmosphere is underlined by the humorous exchanges between Grutle Kjellson and Ivar Bjørnson, joking with younger keyboardist Håkon Vinje about his age before heading back in time for and the closing wrath of . An affirming, unifying occasion.