We’re nearly a month out from the release of Enslaved’s 16th studio effort Heimdal, but today marks the release of their latest single and accompanying music video, “Forest Dweller.”
As you’ll hear in the track below, “Forest Dweller” is yet another progressive black metal banger, with enough epic visuals attached to the song to match its churning, almost psychedelic sound. Steeped in Norse folklore, Enslaved’s Grutle Kjellson felt the most natural to create for Heimdal.
“To me ‘Forest Dweller’ was the most immediate song on the album, at least in its earliest form as an instrumental demo. I spent quite some time to get into some of the other songs of the album, but this one seemed somehow logical, well logical by Enslaved standards that is. I had an idea for a lyric, and Ivar’s amazing and diverse riffs on this one made it easy to pan out the scripture. I made a rough plan on what to sing over it, and we actually ended up using some parts of those recordings on the album!
“The song sort of showcases our representative samples of inspiration: Led Zep, Genesis, Destruction, Iron Maiden and David Bowie, to mention a schizophrenic tapestry of influences. It mirrors in the lyrics as well, which deals about both darkness and light in connection to the nature of Heimdal.”
Heimdal will release on March 3 via Nuclear Blast Records, though you can preorder your copy today.
If you’d like to catch Enslaved live when they come to North America with Insomnium this April, be sure to catch the list of tour dates and venues below.
ENSLAVED – ALBUM LAUNCH EVENT
HEIMHUG
03 March NO, Bergen – USF Verftet
Head to enslaved.no/Heimhug for more information.
ENSLAVED + INSOMNIUM
NORTH AMERICAN CO-HEADLINE TOUR 2023
w/ Black Anvil
05 April New York, NY – Irving Plaza
06 April Boston, MA – Big Night Live
07 April Montreal, QC – Corona Theatre
08 April Toronto, ON – The Opera House
10 April Detroit, MI – Saint Andrew’s Hall
11 April Chicago, IL – House Of Blues
12 April Minneapolis, MN – Varsity Theater
14 April Denver, CO – The Gothic Theatre
15 April Salt Lake City, UT – The Complex
17 April Seattle, WA – The Crocodile
18 April Vancouver, BC – The Rickshaw
19 April Portland, OR – Hawthorne Theatre
21 April Berkeley, CA – The UC Theatre Taube Family Music Hall
22 April Los Angeles, CA – The Fonda Theatre
23 April Phoenix, AZ – Nile Theater
25 April Austin, TX – Come And Take It Live
26 April Dallas, TX – The Echo Lounge & Music Hall
28 April Atlanta, GA – Variety Playhouse
29 April Raleigh, NC – Lincoln Theatre
30 April Baltimore, MD – Baltimore Soundstage
VIP tickets for NA shows available here: enslaved.soundrink.com
ENSLAVED – 2023 FESTIVAL SHOWS
04 Feb DK, Fredericia – Winter Metal Magic
13 May UK, London – Incineration Festival
05 Aug NO, Bergen – Beyond The Gates
10 Aug CZ, Jaroměř – Brutal Assault
12 Aug DE, Thüringen – Party.San
10-11 Nov MX, Monterrey – Mexico Metal Fest