ENSLAVED

E NUCLEAR BLAST

Enslaved struck a positive tone on their 14th studio album, marking a clear line between present and past and wringing yet more depth from their well of inspiration. A celebration of duality, commonality and spiritual bonds, E also boasted some of the most epic and strange music the Norwegians have ever written. labyrinthine explorations like shoegazefuelled closer Hiindsiight and majestic centrepiece Sacred Horse were unmistakably the work of Bergen’s finest, but the big picture revealed a band in a state of electrified transformation, striding into new territory. Although bolstered by the recruitment of new keyboard player and clean vocalist håkon Vinje, Enslaved are weatherbeaten veterans, but their wideeyed wonder at heavy music’s limitless possibilities remains one of our world’s most invigorating thrills, and E may just be their greatest album yet.