Artist: Enslaved
Album: E
Year: 2017
Rating: 96/100
It goes without saying that Enslaved are one of the most interesting bands in metal to listen to today. Since they put out Below the Lights back in 2003 they have remained a band that has always seen fit to push the envelope and boundaries of what works in extreme metal, and a sound that is constantly evolving. E is their fourteenth studio album (yes, really). So how does it stack up?
Short answer: it's simply brilliant. Though I personally enjoyed In Times, the feeling is that E is a much more complete album than its predecessor, a feeling that hits the listener from the epic near 11 minute long opener "Storm Son", and you can't help but feel that Enslaved have been taking musical cues from the likes of Neurosis and Cult of Luna, instead of attempting to fill the void left by Opeth following their departure from the prog/death metal realm. Elsewhere, "Hiindsiight" is a fabulous sprawling beast with a saxophone part that enhances the textures of the album's sound, "Axis of the Worlds" is a more traditional black metal style sonic assault and "Feathers of Eolh" is a slow burner of a song that builds and climaxes with a superb off-kilter riff that underpins it.
It's not often that I'm lost for words when describing the sheer quality of Enslaved's recorded output. Having said that, though, E is a sprawling mammoth of an album that matches their best efforts, and it's easily on the same level as Isa and Below the Lights in terms of quality. If you're looking for an album from a band who love to push the envelope, Enslaved are that band.
Track listing
1. Storm Son
2. The River's Mouth
3. Sacred Horse
4. Axis of the Worlds
5. Feathers of Eolh
6. Hiindsiight
7. Djupet
8. What Else is There
