“In Times” will be the title of the thirteenth studio album by Norwegian progressive extreme metallers ENSLAVED. Hand-painted artwork is by long-time collaborating artist and “sixth ENSLAVED member” Truls Espedal. The album will be released March 06th, 2015 via Nuclear Blast.
ENSLAVED guitarist & composer Ivar Bjørnson shares the following about the band’s latest creation: “I was so deep into the songs and ideas for such a long time (or have my head so far up my own a**, if you prefer more direct language) that it is hard to have any ‘opinions’ about them that is anything else than the high-flying mumbo-jumbo of the introvert song-smith. The songs are extensions of my inner and outer life, the thoughts I am aware of having, as well as those that lie too deep to register in everyday consciousness. The songs are the resounds of grandiose altered states and mundane tiny micro-events. In addition, they are, of course, also the result of inspiration from other music and art. I do think this new album is the most consistent body of work we have so far: It incorporates our ‘blacker’ past with our influences from prog rock, our present sense of absolute freedom, and the joy of being in this band, if that makes any sense… Ha, ha, ha. It is higher in energy, more aggressive, yet more beautiful and subtle. It simply sounds inspired.”
The track listing for In Times is:
- Thurisaz Dreaming
- Building With Fire
- One Thousand Years Of Rain
- Nauthir Bleeding
- In Times
- Daylight
The new album’s total running time is fifty-three minutes.
Pre-order the album here: http://smarturl.it/ENSLAVED-InTimes
Main recordings for In Times took place at Duper Studios to Solslottet Studio in Bergen, Norway with additional recordings sessions 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 was conducted deep in the woods of Valevåg south of Bergen where a mobile studio recorded additional sounds.
In Times was produced by band members Ivar Bjørnson, Grutle Kjellson & Herbrand Larsen together with Iver Sandøy. Mixing was completed by Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studios in Örebro, Sweden.