Genre : Progressive metal, Experimental metal, Progressive black metal
Released : March 3rd, 2023
Label : Nuclear Blast Records
FFO : Ihsahn, Ulver, Oranssi Pazuzu, Fluisteraars, Black Crown Initiate
If like myself you are fairly new to Enslaved (I didn't give them a proper listen until "Utgard" came out in 2020), please, please, please, do not make the same mistake I almost made by associating them with the plethora of bands that base the entirety of their appeal by capitalizing upon over-stereotypical northern European historical and cultural tropes with very one-dimensional and more often than not, cringe-worthy metal music.
Despite being deep-rooted in Norse mythological themes and imagery, Enslaved are the exact opposite of the bands I previously referred to, and instead of using that universe as a dead horse to endlessly beat in order to make a profit, they use it more as a blank canvas upon which they can let their imagination and musical experimentations roam free.
Permanently shape-shifting between progressive metal, black metal and electronic psychedelia, you would be hard pressed to find anything else that sounds the way Enslaved do, and "Heimdal" is the epitomy of that sentiment.
Managing to make songs which carry the technical instrumental flair and desire for experimentation progressive metal is known to possess while infusing it with the cold sharp edge of black metal and still being able to carry the listener into an elevated sonic experience with these unique-sounding, psychedelic synth arrangements is no easy task; harder yet is to make viking-themed metal that doesn't turn into a parody of itself, yet Enslaved pull this off with great panache, resulting in a journey like no other this year.
Again, please do not miss out on this by any means.
Bandcamp : https://enslaved.bandcamp.com/album/heimdal
YouTube :
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