A year ago, Norwegian cosmic travelers Enslaved released their latest avant-garde creation titled Heimdal. To commemorate the first year of this studio album's existence, the band announced the digital album Heimdal (Deluxe), which will be released on March 1 via Nuclear Blast Records.
Heimdal (Deluxe) will include the full original album, plus the bonus track 'Gangandi', as well as alternative versions of two songs, '' Congelia'' and ''Forest Dweller', both featuring renowned cellist Jo Quail. In addition, the album will have'The Otherwordly Big Band Experience', the amazing event that Enslaved performed and transmitted via streaming together with their countrymen Shaman Elephant.
“Gangandi was the last song we did before the recording sessions for Heimdal began. I remember Ivar was driving home from Bergen on a Friday night to play a demo for a new song, and I was like 'woah! This is good!'. I loved it, but at the same time, I felt like it was a little removed from the rest of the material. When I began to see what to sing about the music that Ivar gave me, I ended up writing a cross-rhyme poem, in archaic Western Norwegian, which separated everything that had been done from the song much further.
So, in the end, we ended up not including the song in any way other than as a bonus track on the more limited and 'exclusive' vinyl versions.
Having said that, it doesn't mean we don't enjoy the song! Quite the opposite! We love this folk rock hybrid, with some early Mayhem and King Crimson! It ended up being the weird cousin of the rest of the songs. Kind of like Enslaved itself, in fact.”
Enslaved's latest album, Heimdal, is a journey and a communion with the roots forged three decades ago in the turbulent nests of the Black scene. Norwegian Metal. It is a work that points towards new beginnings and a dawn that is on the other side of the earth. A psychedelic journey through Nordic folklore, connecting with our oldest ancestors, and our future selves.
Enslaved recently announced a tour of Europe and the United Kingdom for the spring of 2024. This 16-show tour will take place in March, taking the band to 10 countries, accompanied by the British Post-Hardcore Svalbard and the Americans Wayfarer.
