ENSLAVED
A band that has consistently made leaps and bounds since their inception and shifted music into some of the most exciting areas heard in metal, the prog and experimental aspects of Enslaved’s sound and their capacity to combine the most disparate of sounds in their more recent albums has grown exponentially. With ‘RIITIIR’, Enslaved again retain the power of their metal roots and push ever onward into prog and experimental territories with all of the tracks moving seamlessly across an array of styles, genres, sounds, atmospheres, and feels, all contained within immaculate structures and arrangements. To balance such extremes is, of course, commendable and there are a number of bands out there that are more than capable and produce album after album of incredible material. Enslaved has just left them all behind.
Albums that are immediate in their impact frequently reveal themselves to be flawed in many ways and so many of the best albums are growers. ‘RIITIIR’ is both immediate and a grower. Upon the first listen, it’s apparent that this is just un-fucking-believably good. Subsequent listens and the reasons for it being un-fucking-believably good continue to appear in every aspect right down to the tiniest detail. There are countless ways to get lost in this album. Listen out for a single melody, for a theme, or for a whole passage and then listen out for the variations and see what they have done to fortify each track and the album with subtle complexities and musical delights. Disappointment and dissatisfaction drive bands onward to greater achievements. It may be some time before Enslaved find much wrong with this. Album of the year? Yup. And 2013’s got a challenge on its hands.
Albums that are immediate in their impact frequently reveal themselves to be flawed in many ways and so many of the best albums are growers. ‘RIITIIR’ is both immediate and a grower. Upon the first listen, it’s apparent that this is just un-fucking-believably good. Subsequent listens and the reasons for it being un-fucking-believably good continue to appear in every aspect right down to the tiniest detail. There are countless ways to get lost in this album. Listen out for a single melody, for a theme, or for a whole passage and then listen out for the variations and see what they have done to fortify each track and the album with subtle complexities and musical delights. Disappointment and dissatisfaction drive bands onward to greater achievements. It may be some time before Enslaved find much wrong with this. Album of the year? Yup. And 2013’s got a challenge on its hands.
LABEL:
FORMAT:
Nuclear Blast
Album
RIITIIR
Review by Jason Guest
RUNNING TIME:
67:13
RELEASE DATE:
28th Sept 2012
TRACK LISTING
1) Thoughts Like Hammers
2) Death in the Eyes of Dawn
3) Veilburner
4) Roots of the Mountain
5) Riitiir
6) Materal
7) Storm of Memories
8) Forsaken
2) Death in the Eyes of Dawn
3) Veilburner
4) Roots of the Mountain
5) Riitiir
6) Materal
7) Storm of Memories
8) Forsaken
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:
Norway
"...Enslaved again retain the power of their metal roots and push ever onward into prog and experimental territories..."
