Waaaay back in 94/95 I picked up a CD that would change my musical direction for years to come. Hordanes Land is, of course, the split between two then-fledgling Black Metal tyrants: Emperor and Enslaved. At that time I thought all Black Metal should sound like Cradle of Filth, so imagine my shock when I heard True Norwegian Black Metal for the very first time.
Emperor ended… and Enslaved have carried on for 17 full-length albums (not including Eps, split albums or collections). They’re like a Black Metal factory at this point, staying true to the sound they’ve pioneered since 1994.
Their last album, Heimdal came out in 2023 and was covered by yours truly in these hallowed pages. I raved about that album like a dog with a new toy; now, three years later, here is a brand new album called Mið, and it’s fucking stellar.
Where Heimdal moved with the tempest of the waves, Mið seems to deal with the mystery of the forest and more of a spiritual path. Opening track “Non-Being” is a solemn instrumental that sets the tone of the album. The stillness is broken when “I am Ice (featuring Johan Sara Jr.)” comes bursting from the speakers, a literal avalanche of brutality that harkens back to such albums as Eld, Ruun and In Times. That’s to name just three, but if you’re familiar with the band’s timeless sound, you’ll be able to pick up on sounds from all over their catalog. It’s fierce and not in a bullshit Beyoncé way; this is elemental fury pulled up from the bowels of the Earth.
“Solar Will” is up next and it’s a scorcher (pun not intended). It’s sort of a Black ‘n’ Roll track that just bulldozes itself into your consciousness. Enslaved is not fucking around on Mið, proving they are still scene leaders in the Black Metal community.
“Mountain” comes on like the sun rising over the foothills; it’s slow and magnificent. The gargantuan riffs are powerful as the very stone of the earth. Slow and meandering one second; like a trickle of winter run-off. At around 2:45, an avalanche comes raging down the valleys and crevasses, slow and punishing until the final moments of the song when it continues to pick up speed.
“Spirit Helper (featuring Kevin Kickingwoman)” is a heavy, Native American-fueled powerhouse. Kevin Kickingwoman’s chanting is a revelation against the abrasive Black Metal fury. This is a truly revolutionary song and one of the strongest on Mið. “Parting” rises on swelling keys. Heartbreaking solemnity lasts until the 3:43 point, where it heavies up and gets downright depressing. “Tales of Trees” is a burly, short track. With a Ruun-ish chorus and a pulsing beat, this is prime Enslaved glory. Soaring vocals and fantastic Norwegian riffs… could you ask for anything more?
“I Miðju” is the final throes of this beast. A brutal mix of growling and clean vocals, as I said… PRIME Enslaved. The second half of the song picks up a sick as fuck Thrash beat and some sweet soloing. It’s like fighting a Yeti and knowing you’re going to get your ass beat but it doesn’t matter because the Yeti sounds badass while you’re dying.
Mið is a massive, crater-sized album. It sounds amazing thanks to the awesome production, and the artwork is suitably mysterious. It will benefit you greatly to go get this slice of Norwegian Black Metal, row your boat to the nearest record store now!
