Throughout history, man has questioned its existence, from the tenacity of the Greek’s to the Tolstoy’s and Nietzsche’s of the world. Tackling such a charged subject, people often fall short. Due in part to its magnitude, the sheer weight of the philosophical thoughts and now it seems that Enslaved are revealing what they deem to be their philosophical interpretations in the form of In Times.
Over the course of the album we’re treated to the symbolic waves of Enslaved‘s intellect. Dancing cautiously between their established black metal and progressive metal habits the band retain their ferocity yet add a sense of grace to their attack. It would seem as though previously the band had been flirting with progressive tendencies, they have now become the bands mistress. Though embracing the levitation like style of post rock, they haven’t renounced their black metal origins.
Bursting forth from the inertia of “Thurisaz Dreaming“, Thurisaz meaning ” giant”. It’s a deceptive opening, playing to their black metal strengths. Yet later when the darkened clouds clear the calm after the storm is revealed, as the song tails off in the last ethereal minute. Final track “Daylight” eclipses the blackened frost bitten growls. Welcoming the crooning vocals, were birthed into a haze of tasteful lead work tailing the album off nicely.
Enslaved glide into trance like sections particularly on “One Thousand Years Of Rain” yet all the while the band are capable of asserting their authority through the Sequoia like riffs. Throughout the album there is an inert sense of the elements, the ethereal mid sections mirroring the nomadic sense of the sky. The listener is always tethered with the organic sounding introductions, giving the album a theoretical concept. The earthy rumble articulating the genesis of the album. Giving Enslaved all the more weight of a philosophical mind whilst retaining the mystery of a divine being.
The overall feel of the album enhaces the instrumentation, the ebb and flow of heavy and melancholic clean sections work fantastically. “Building With Fire” begins with a slow simple beat, slowly evolving into a more up tempo riff, the album has also got some truly brilliant solo’s particular highlight being “Nauthir Bleeding“. It’s worth noting that Enslaved‘s lead work on this album is exceptional. Not all songs may contain the tasteful solo’s prevalent in both “Daylight” and “Building With Fire” but the meandering lead lines incite texture that was sometimes slightly lacking in the bands back catalogue. Throughout the tempest that is title track “In Times” the band never lose sight of their identity. No matter how off piste the band may go, they always return to the quintessential Enslaved sound.
Creating a more daring album, containing only six songs yet reaching over the 50 minute mark. Enslaved have broken free of the rigid black metal shackles to see them reach their true potential. Where some albums have wavered in the past In Times fluctuates in all the right places and stands tall among previous releases. Garnering tension when it is needed, to paint a picture of lugubrious beauty. In Times simultaneously sees the band’s progressive nature bloom whilst retaining the temper of their classic style. Mature, forward thinking song writing that has a fantastic philosophical footprint. An excellent album from the inimitable Norwegians.
If you liked what you read/heard then you can pick up the new album here!
