Indi Recordings/Innovative Promotion
Release : september 29th 2008

Tracklist “Vertebrae” :
Clouds
To The Coast
Ground
Vertebrae
New Dawn
Reflection
Center
The Watcher

“Vertebrae” from Enslaved” is not what I can call an easy listening album. To appreciate all the subtleties and the nuances of it, several listenings are necessary, because with this album, Enslaved gives us a progressive metal tinted of great quality black metal. I think that to say that Tool is for this album, a reference for the group would not be a lie as the influences can be heard in the tracks especially in the vocals but also in the instrumental lines. The tracks give melancholic ambiances. The structures are much worked with complex passages on the guitars and the keyboards levels. The heavy and slow passages are succeeding just simply melodic passages, other times the riffs sound clearly black metal. Other times we have much more atmospheric passages which succeed to heavier and faster ones. The vocals are shared between clear vocals and black ones, and the two are completing themselves pretty well, bringing each one in their style a different atmosphere. The tracks are relatively dark with melancholic ambiences but sometimes along a track we have passages which let see light and a little of hope. Enslaved gives us tracks which seem to be a compromise between despair and hope, darkness and light, unhealthy and serenity. The creative potential of the group is huge and it does not hesitate to push its proper limits to go towards experimental. The first track « Clouds » seems to come directly from the 70s or the 80s with its keyboards melodies and its soli.« To The Coast » has a lot of rhythmic changing with purely black metal passages. I think that one of the darkest tracks is « Vertebrae » worrying ambience which seems to rise in intensity musically especially on the rhythmic level. « New Dawn » and « Reflection » are very groovy, with rather rock riffs. The melody of “Center” is “calmer” with atmospheric keyboards. At the end « Vertebrae » is an excellent album full of musical contradiction with worked, technic and melodic orchestrations and riffs. It is a bewitching album which with we musically travel.

Line up :
Grutle Kjellson (chant/basse) (vocals/bass)
Ivar Bjornson (guitare/claviers) (guitars/keyboards)
Arve Isdal (guitare) (guitars)
Herbrand Larsen (claviers/chant) (keyboards/vocals)
Cato Bekkevold (batterie) (drums)

Contacts :
http://www.myspace.com/enslaved