ENSLAVED – Check In From The Studio

Checking in once again from the studio, members of the Norwegian extreme progressive outfit ENSLAVED offer a fourth installment in the seven-part Diary Of Mad Men series, giving fans an insight into the band’s forthcoming as-yet-untitled thirteenth studio album, set for an early 2015 release.

“Wow, time flies when you’re having a magical time,” states guitarist and composer Ivar Bjørnson. “Already Friday, and Cato [Bekkevold, drummer] is doing his last tracking already. It will be a lot more quiet around the studio from now on. Doing stuff live has the benefit of several things being done at the same time, so Grutle [Kjellson, bassist and vocalist] is beginning to move on to some double bass (!) additions and we’re getting Ice Dale’s guitars over from his studio and added to the main sessions. This is shaping up big time. Tomorrow is a day off, kind of. Me, Cato, and Iver [Sandøy, co-producer] are using the up-and-running studio to record drums for another project – more on that another time.”

Bassist and vocalist Grutle Kjellson adds: “It is always a bit difficult – and that’s the beauty of it – to exactly pinpoint the direction of a new album before the final mix is done! However, I feel that this one will be quite the darker effort compared to our latest releases. It is leaning towards both our heavier albums and the darker side of ‘70s rock, long and interesting songs with a laser-sharp edge. I hope and believe our fans will embrace it.”

About this upcoming new release, band members have previously stated: “The high level of energy in the songs reflects both an inspired and an ever-harder working band that keeps pushing their own and their associated genres’ limits.”

Main recordings for the 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 and 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.

Source: BW&BK

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