Heimdal
Studio album by
Enslaved
Released3 March 2023 (2023-03-03)
RecordedJanuary 2021-April 2022
Studio
  • Duper
  • Crow's Nest
  • Conclave & Earshot
  • Overlook Hotel
  • Fascination Street
GenreBlack metal,[1] progressive rock[2]
Length48:26
LabelNuclear Blast
Producer
Enslaved chronology
Caravans to the Outer Worlds
(2021)		 Heimdal
(2023)

Heimdal is the sixteenth studio album by Norwegian extreme metal band Enslaved, released 3 March 2023 by Nuclear Blast.[1]

Background

The album is titled after a character in Norse mythology, whom the band calls "fascinating" and who has appeared in their lyrics several times throughout their career, starting as early as their second demo tape, Yggdrasill, in 1992.[3] The album contains six new songs, plus "Caravans to the Outer Worlds" which had previously appeared on an EP of the same title in 2021.[4] The band structured that stopgap EP as a bridge between their previous full-length album Utgard (2020) and Heimdal, and determined that the song "Caravans to the Outer Worlds" fit into the new album both lyrically and musically.[3]

Critical reception

Upon its release, Heimdal received positive reviews from heavy metal-oriented publications. Kerrang! called the album "stunning" and described it as "a foundation of black metal at its most vast and Pink Floyd at their most spacious."[1] Blabbermouth praised the album and concluded that Enslaved can "still find a way to remain true to their origins while defining extreme metal progression."[5] Distorted Sound noted the album's mix of black metal and progressive rock, and suggested that it may be the best of the band's career.[2]

Rock n' Load, also suggested that Heimdal might be one of Enslaved's best albums, and that it is more engaging than their last several studio albums.[6] MetalSucks called the album "Awe-inspiring, spellbinding, and imaginative," and concluded that "Heimdal reflects total authenticity combined with artistic brilliance."[7] According to Ghost Cult, Heimdal is "a grand vision that Enslaved have executed to perfection, on an album that is up there with their best."[8] A reviewer for No Clean Singing found some of the songwriting to be predictable, but concluded that the album "finds Enslaved once more turning their gaze towards new horizons."[9]

Track listing

No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Behind the Mirror"Ivar Peersen
6:20
2."Congelia"Peersen
  • Peersen
  • Sandøy
  • Grutle
8:01
3."Forest Dweller"Grutle
  • Peersen
  • Sandøy
5:56
4."Kingdom"Peersen
  • Peersen
  • Sandøy
  • Grutle
5:52
5."The Eternal Sea"Peersen
  • Peersen
  • Sandøy
  • Grutle
7:25
6."Caravans to the Outer Worlds"Peersen
  • Peersen
  • Sandøy
  • Grutle
6:45
7."Heimdal"Grutle
  • Peersen
  • Sandøy
8:07
Total length:48:26

Personnel

  • Ivar Bjørnson – electric guitars, acoustic guitars, synthesizers, keyboards, sequencer, FX, backing vocals (track 1)
  • Grutle Kjellson – vocals, bass guitar, synthesizer
  • Iver Sandøy – vocals, drums, percussion, keyboards, FX
  • Håkon Vinje – keyboards, piano, vocals
  • Arve Isdal – electric guitars

Charts

Chart performance for Heimdal
Chart (2023) Peak
position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[10] 51
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[11] 26
Scottish Albums (OCC)[12] 31
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[13] 27
UK Album Downloads (OCC)[14] 30
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[15] 10
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[16] 6

References

  1. 1 2 3 Ruskell, Nick (2 March 2023). "Album review: Enslaved – Heimdal". Kerrang!. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
  2. 1 2 Bolitho-Jones, Tim (2023-03-01). "ALBUM REVIEW: Heimdal - Enslaved". Distorted Sound Magazine. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
  3. 1 2 "ENSLAVED's 'Heimdal' track by track: Ivar Bjørnson breaks down new album". Revolver. 2023-03-02. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
  4. ↑ DiVita, Joe (6 August 2021). "Enslaved Unveil Ultra Dynamic 'Caravans to the Outer Worlds' EP Title Track". Loudwire. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
  5. ↑ "Heimdal". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. 2023-03-01. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
  6. ↑ "Enslaved // Heimdal // Album Review". R o c k 'N' L o a d. 2023-03-01. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
  7. ↑ Halmstad, Bree (2023-02-23). "Review: Enslaved's Heimdal is a Nordic Triumph Worthy of Valhalla". MetalSucks. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
  8. ↑ Abstrakt Soul (2023-02-27). "ALBUM REVIEW: Enslaved - Heimdal". Ghost Cult Magazine. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
  9. ↑ Synn, Andy (2023-03-02). "ENSLAVED - HEIMDAL". NO CLEAN SINGING. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
  10. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Enslaved – Heimdal" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  11. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Enslaved – Heimdal" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  12. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  13. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Enslaved – Heimdal". Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  14. ↑ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  15. ↑ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  16. ↑ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
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