Sam Dunn got me into black metal by putting, "Havenless" by Enslaved into Metal: A Headbangers Journey. I heard it and it fucking blew me away, made me go out and look deeper into the black metal genre. Enslaved is one of my favorite bands now. Below the lights, frost and Riitiir are my favorite albums from them, can't wait to check this new album.
Seriously, Hiindsiight is in my opinion one of the greatest and most beautiful songs to ever exist. The ending is so magnificent. That's how you end an album!!
Judging by Storm Son and The River's Mouth I'm gonna say without any second thoughts that this will be AOTY, listened to about 60 albums from this year, that's how much I admire them and appreciate existing at the same time as Enslaved!
I’m angry at the world for not exposing me to this band sooner. I just listened to Below the Lights for the first time and I can’t believe that album is from 2003. It’s so far ahead of its time. Definitely a divisive band, but those that get them LOVE them.
Excellent review for an excellent album. The 8 track version makes it feel much more complete and I have it spinning on repeat. I love Enslaved. It's a shame Opeth couldn't have went the same direction.
For me, one of THE best extreme metal bands out today. Not only do they share such a historical importance to the genre, but they're the epitome of a band that has actually "progressed". They share a true sign of a great band; they aren't afraid to travel back to where they started. And since they are such capable musicians, that they flawlessly incorporate new ideas which elevates their entire sound.
I love the fact that your show actually plays excerpts from the albums. Been a fan of yours since 2007, but have to be honest that I totally dropped off the metal map for a few years moving back and forth from Japan and getting really into old toys. Bands like Enslaved, Mastodon and Opeth keep me in check though ;) I do miss the old days of singing death/black metal with big names over here. Anyway, great review - will be following this show more closely!! Cheers!!
One of my favourite bands, their sound is so epic. The guitar work on this album is dizzying and changes tempo at the drop of a hat i'm really impressed. Digging the new melodic vocals too. Really fucking great!
Hard to believe it's been almost one year exactly since the Release of E. I'm ashamed to say that it was the record that turned me on to Enslaved. I just didn't know, man. But now I do. Seen 'em twice since then and my god, are they INCREDIBLE.
I know I am quite late for this but I have recently become a huge fan of this band, partly because Sam has always talked about Enslaved as one of his favourite extreme metal bands in the world (I remember them in the Extreme Metal part of his documentary), so he made me curious about their music. The first reason is the Storm Son video, which has captured me from the first watch. I've never liked pure black metal. I may listen to some bands which can be influenced by black metal and use it in their music but these guys have found the perfect balance, mostly because they mix it with an awesome progressive/psychedelic rock and nordic folk music/references. Starting from E (which has easily become my favourite 2017 record), I'm going back "In Times" to discover the entire discography of the band. The only thing I do not agree about the review (Sacred Horse final part is awesome) is that I love the sax solo in Hiindsiight. To me, it fits really well. 5 out of 5. Thank you, papa Dunn.
Man, you guys should do a review on the album "Awaken" by Fleshkiller. It's almost criminal how unknown they are, especially for as good as this album is. If you're interested in checking it out, here's a single from the album: ruclips.net/video/OUkilN_kKrQ/видео.html
Hey Sam! I just downloaded the album off iTunes! It has 8 songs on the iTunes version. The final two add about 12 more minutes. I'll comment what I think after I give them a listen. Excellent review bud!
Well I just got back from the first of their 2 special release shows in Bergen and I gotta tell you man, they sounded fucking gnarly. Storm son was amazing live!
Good review Sam. Thanks for such quality content. It will be either this album of "Lykaia" by Soen that will end up at the top of my list for this year.
Coming late to this review, Axis of the Worlds was the song that really got me into Enslaved. I bought E, then Utgard, then Riitiir. Masterpieces all of them!
Maybe it's just me, but I feel that Borknagar does this whole 'black-prog' thing so much better, making it hard for me to get into these last few releases.... Hearing this just makes me want to go back and listen to Winter Thrice or Urd.
I like these two albums as well, but they are not as expansive and deep as enslaved. Doesn't elevate you and make you think about life. Therefore songs in those albums sound repetitive after listening to them for many times
This sounds amazing. Am going to listen at the album for sure it sounds so good! You know if you guy's weren't around I wouldn't find as many metal bands as I have without you guys around! Keep it up!! #keepupthemetal
Thanks for the review. Love enslaved. I grew up with them and as they evolved so did I, they really opened my mind to change and progression when it comes to music. \m/
Just throwing it out there, I preferred the two skull rating. I feel or hoped it meant people wouldn't look too much into the ratings whilst having a general idea of how the reviewer feels in an easy to digest kind of way. On an unrelated note, I'm gutted you guys didn't review Akercocke's new release after 10 years off the scene. Cheers!
It's fun to watch Sam's analyses of these albums. The samples sounded good. I have to keep this one in mind. They've been going at it for some time. I'm sure the quality level is high.
There's a post black metal band called White Ward have a saxophone player and comes in the right times IMO to highlight this sense of film-noir type ambience to their songs.
Dear Banger team, I appreciate all that you do for metal. I request that one of the two weekly reviews be of a band that doesn’t have screaming vocals. One screaming/growling review and one cleaner singing review sounds fair to me.
Thanks for the feedback Ronnie. And thanks for watching. We do try to mix things up and now that we have two reviews per week expect to see even more diversity.
Like the reviewer, I've been a big Enslaved fan since before Mardraum (since about 1997). It's very clear Mardraum was the line in the sand for aggressive in-your-face metal and the progression they've had since. I wouldn't say it's been the last few albums, but more like the last 17 years have been progressive. All the way back when Monumension was release I've heard the music referred to as "black floyd" and similar. All that said, after the intro track Storm Son, I have not been able to get into this release, nor the last release "In times." I think they reached the culmination of their progressive sound with RIITIIR, which I do believe is a godly level album. In fact I think they had an unprecedented level of quality for 5 straight releases (Isa, Ruun, Vertebrae, Axioma Ethica Odini, and RIITIIR), and it is hard to measure up to that.
I just discovered Enslaved music two weeks ago with their albums 'In Times' and 'Riitiir', and I was so amazed by them and I --naive-- believed that just a couple of people knew them. After, I saw Sam Dunn's documentary about extreme metal music and also discovered his passionate love to this band (and I put this face: :O). Well, I know this anecdote doesn't have any relevance for anybody, but for me it was a genuine coincidende that I'm still trying to process. :)
It would be awesome to see Sam's kid grow up to make the artwork cover for an extreme death metal album, and then show him that picture when he was 5years old.
I saw Enslaved back in the day at their first appearance in the U.S., or North America for that matter. It was at a metal fest in New Jersey called March Metal Meltdown. I was extremely excited to see them, and hoping to hear material from their forthcoming "Blodhemn" album. Sadly, they were robbed of a good time slot, but their character triumphed as they morphed me from a fan into a fan-for-life. Every time they play, I get so lost in their music that I cry foul when they stop the show, thinking they had only just started. I'm proud to have witnessed and followed one of the best bands to have ever formed.
I actually like the sax! I like the way it's used in avantgarde productions such as Solefald or Ihsahn. In E is so limited that it cannot disturb me too much.
Do you guys ever do reviews of older stuff? Would love to see a review of Glory and Perdition by hungarian masters Sear Bliss. Because black metal needs more trombone!
Enjoyed the review, bro, and I'm glad you see Enslaved in such positive overall light, but how in all f* are you leaving Feathers of Eohl out of this review and writing it off as not worth mentioning compared to the other tracks??? That song is pure, soaring, masterful artistry...to each his own, in music and life :)
totally fair rating. Really would have liked them to have continued the dreamy/ethereal soundscapes they had going at the beginning of the storm son throughout the album. I am also strongly against sax in metal - it just doesn't work. I am constantly amazed with this band.
Saxophone doesn't fit well with metallic music? Well, I have to say I absolutely love it, even in particular. Stuff like the Norwegian Shining do amazing things with the saxophone, even if they aren't necessarily metal, but 'progressive' always meant to think outside generally decreed genre boundaries. Another example that comes to mind is Repangea, an amazing 12 minute epic by Cephalic Carnage and one of my all time favorite metal songs overall. In that one the saxophone really deepens and sophisticates the somber approach of the song. It also creates a nice contrast with its slow beginnings including the sax and the mayhem that is about to follow.
Finally! A review from Sam, hands-down the key reviewer of Banger. But if the album doesn't stack up, as he indicated, why give it four stars? It must be judged by itself only and not in relation to its prior output.
Quick question, what makes a progressive band progressive? Ive been a metal fan all my life (16 years) but i never understood what progressive means. I always knew mastodon were progressive but i never understood why.
Peter Verescuk The prefix "Progressive" in any genre label means the band love their hallucinogens, and their music is best enjoyed on such substances. Simple.
Meeh... I have been listening to their records since early 2000's... and although I've been a fan of their "no fear of experimenting" approach, the last couple of albums really didn't bring that much of an appeal to me.. x'P
"He's 5, i'm a proud papa"
Most metal quote i ever heard
Sam Dunn got me into black metal by putting, "Havenless" by Enslaved into Metal: A Headbangers Journey. I heard it and it fucking blew me away, made me go out and look deeper into the black metal genre. Enslaved is one of my favorite bands now. Below the lights, frost and Riitiir are my favorite albums from them, can't wait to check this new album.
That's awesome, man!
Fuck yes!
That bit got me into Enslaved for sure, had to figure out who that was hahaha.
same! that song mixed with the visual montage did it for me
What got me into Enslaved was the intro riff of Path to Vanir long time ago. Flipping epic.
This dude has an upside down cross marked on his forehead folds whenever he raises his eyebrows...Black Metal AF!!!
Seriously, Hiindsiight is in my opinion one of the greatest and most beautiful songs to ever exist. The ending is so magnificent. That's how you end an album!!
Judging by Storm Son and The River's Mouth I'm gonna say without any second thoughts that this will be AOTY, listened to about 60 albums from this year, that's how much I admire them and appreciate existing at the same time as Enslaved!
just a small question what does AOTY mean?
Album of the Year
Great review! Enslaved to me is one of the most unique and brilliant metal bands out there, I can’t wait to get this CD!
Deathwing2001 this album is amazing man
I’m angry at the world for not exposing me to this band sooner. I just listened to Below the Lights for the first time and I can’t believe that album is from 2003. It’s so far ahead of its time. Definitely a divisive band, but those that get them LOVE them.
my favorite geddy lee impersonator wearing a fly by night shirt. 10/10
Banger 18 is a better name
top top top top top
YUS!
ehwaz means horse yes, but Odin's horse was called Sleipnir (8 legged horse)
Excellent review for an excellent album. The 8 track version makes it feel much more complete and I have it spinning on repeat. I love Enslaved. It's a shame Opeth couldn't have went the same direction.
Opeth changed faster than Enslaved, which didn't allow fans to prepare or get use to it in a more palatable way.
FUCK YEAH! It's Sam Dunn!
For me, one of THE best extreme metal bands out today. Not only do they share such a historical importance to the genre, but they're the epitome of a band that has actually "progressed". They share a true sign of a great band; they aren't afraid to travel back to where they started. And since they are such capable musicians, that they flawlessly incorporate new ideas which elevates their entire sound.
Extreme is meshuggah, enslaved is progressive + black melodic metal 🤘
I love the fact that your show actually plays excerpts from the albums. Been a fan of yours since 2007, but have to be honest that I totally dropped off the metal map for a few years moving back and forth from Japan and getting really into old toys. Bands like Enslaved, Mastodon and Opeth keep me in check though ;) I do miss the old days of singing death/black metal with big names over here. Anyway, great review - will be following this show more closely!! Cheers!!
All three are amazing bands. Some of my favorites too
I think Ihsahn used the Sax very well and it sounded great on the after album
wizarddragon agreed. One of the best prog metal albums of there.
wizarddragon As did Cephalic Carnage on the "Misled By Certainty" album, and also Norwegian Shining's more recent stuff.
That would be Jurgen of Shining playing the Sax on After.... so good.
First of all, great shirt! Second, I have not seen the words "high speed dubbing' since I got rid of MY old cassette playing boombox in mid 90's!
One of my favourite bands, their sound is so epic.
The guitar work on this album is dizzying and changes tempo at the drop of a hat i'm really impressed. Digging the new melodic vocals too.
Really fucking great!
Hard to believe it's been almost one year exactly since the Release of E. I'm ashamed to say that it was the record that turned me on to Enslaved. I just didn't know, man.
But now I do. Seen 'em twice since then and my god, are they INCREDIBLE.
Welcome to the fan boy club!
I know I am quite late for this but I have recently become a huge fan of this band, partly because Sam has always talked about Enslaved as one of his favourite extreme metal bands in the world (I remember them in the Extreme Metal part of his documentary), so he made me curious about their music. The first reason is the Storm Son video, which has captured me from the first watch. I've never liked pure black metal. I may listen to some bands which can be influenced by black metal and use it in their music but these guys have found the perfect balance, mostly because they mix it with an awesome progressive/psychedelic rock and nordic folk music/references. Starting from E (which has easily become my favourite 2017 record), I'm going back "In Times" to discover the entire discography of the band. The only thing I do not agree about the review (Sacred Horse final part is awesome) is that I love the sax solo in Hiindsiight. To me, it fits really well. 5 out of 5. Thank you, papa Dunn.
It's Friday the 13th. Hope you guys are doing the new Exhumed
You might just get your wish!
BANGERTV - All Metal AWESOME!
Man, you guys should do a review on the album "Awaken" by Fleshkiller. It's almost criminal how unknown they are, especially for as good as this album is. If you're interested in checking it out, here's a single from the album: ruclips.net/video/OUkilN_kKrQ/видео.html
That album is incredible, these guys really need to review it.
Rather see them review the new Tetragrammacide
Thanks for a solid review! I am going to grab this album and maybe get Vertebrae too. I am looking forward to adding Enslaved to my music library.
Love the review, everything about the new set is awesome as well. Keep it up!
Was so pumped for this album. Great review sam
Hey Sam! I just downloaded the album off iTunes! It has 8 songs on the iTunes version. The final two add about 12 more minutes. I'll comment what I think after I give them a listen. Excellent review bud!
That's curious. The advance copy we were sent is 6 tracks but I see what you mean on iTunes. Will have to check out those other songs!
The 8 tracks clocks the album at 62 mins.
Those last two songs are considered bonustracks, with the last one "What else is there?" being a Röyksopp coversong
The extra two seem to be just that, extra, one is a cover for example.
The additional two are bonus tracks with one of them being a cover song.
Well I just got back from the first of their 2 special release shows in Bergen and I gotta tell you man, they sounded fucking gnarly. Storm son was amazing live!
book of souls drawing on point!
Yeee thanks for the review Enlsaved is definitely a favorite!
I hear lots of Opeth influences here.
Haahaaha... i read a lot opeth influence in your words.
Good review Sam. Thanks for such quality content. It will be either this album of "Lykaia" by Soen that will end up at the top of my list for this year.
I love Overkill Reviews and I love this album. Ivar Bjørnson is a personal hero and Enslaved is simply the best.
COOL! So good to see you doing this, I was wondering what you were going to do next.
Just subscribed. This channel is outstanding, and Sam your reviews are stellar. Congrats and keep it up!
Coming late to this review, Axis of the Worlds was the song that really got me into Enslaved. I bought E, then Utgard, then Riitiir. Masterpieces all of them!
I discovered Enslaved a week ago because they are on tour with Insomnium. I went to see Insomnium, but Enslaved absolutely blew my mind
Isa was the album that drew my to Enslaved.
Maybe it's just me, but I feel that Borknagar does this whole 'black-prog' thing so much better, making it hard for me to get into these last few releases.... Hearing this just makes me want to go back and listen to Winter Thrice or Urd.
Nick Lee I agree with you there.
I like these two albums as well, but they are not as expansive and deep as enslaved. Doesn't elevate you and make you think about life. Therefore songs in those albums sound repetitive after listening to them for many times
This sounds amazing. Am going to listen at the album for sure it sounds so good! You know if you guy's weren't around I wouldn't find as many metal bands as I have without you guys around! Keep it up!! #keepupthemetal
Thanks for the review. Love enslaved. I grew up with them and as they evolved so did I, they really opened my mind to change and progression when it comes to music. \m/
Just throwing it out there, I preferred the two skull rating. I feel or hoped it meant people wouldn't look too much into the ratings whilst having a general idea of how the reviewer feels in an easy to digest kind of way. On an unrelated note, I'm gutted you guys didn't review Akercocke's new release after 10 years off the scene. Cheers!
It's fun to watch Sam's analyses of these albums. The samples sounded good. I have to keep this one in mind. They've been going at it for some time. I'm sure the quality level is high.
Thanks for the review, will definitely check it out
...Totally Excellent New Album !!!
Great review as usual, always nice to see prog, my only request is that would you please do a Lockhorns for Avant-garde Metal, please and thank you.
Yes! Getting this tomorrow!
Always good to see Sam's face here on BangerTV
The bonus tracks on this album are real good
There's a post black metal band called White Ward have a saxophone player and comes in the right times IMO to highlight this sense of film-noir type ambience to their songs.
Just saw them in Lawrence Kansas! They were phenomenal!!
Dear Banger team,
I appreciate all that you do for metal. I request that one of the two weekly reviews be of a band that doesn’t have screaming vocals. One screaming/growling review and one cleaner singing review sounds fair to me.
Thanks for the feedback Ronnie. And thanks for watching. We do try to mix things up and now that we have two reviews per week expect to see even more diversity.
BANGERTV - All Metal. Thanks for responding. Looking forward to the future of BangerTV
By the way, long time Enslaved fan. I own every album, I'm sure this won't disappoint.
What about a video showing everything that have on BANGER HANGAR ??? (I LOVED THE NAME! RS)
Good idea! We'll look into that. Meanwhile Sam will be showing off different artifacts in his reviews.
I will see them the first time on a boat on the baltic sea soon:) It will be great. Hope to see you out there Enslaved fans...
how was it?????
Great review. Subbed for that Pestilence tape.
Like the reviewer, I've been a big Enslaved fan since before Mardraum (since about 1997). It's very clear Mardraum was the line in the sand for aggressive in-your-face metal and the progression they've had since. I wouldn't say it's been the last few albums, but more like the last 17 years have been progressive. All the way back when Monumension was release I've heard the music referred to as "black floyd" and similar. All that said, after the intro track Storm Son, I have not been able to get into this release, nor the last release "In times." I think they reached the culmination of their progressive sound with RIITIIR, which I do believe is a godly level album. In fact I think they had an unprecedented level of quality for 5 straight releases (Isa, Ruun, Vertebrae, Axioma Ethica Odini, and RIITIIR), and it is hard to measure up to that.
I'm so checking this one out. Thanks guys keep it up.
I just discovered Enslaved music two weeks ago with their albums 'In Times' and 'Riitiir', and I was so amazed by them and I --naive-- believed that just a couple of people knew them. After, I saw Sam Dunn's documentary about extreme metal music and also discovered his passionate love to this band (and I put this face: :O). Well, I know this anecdote doesn't have any relevance for anybody, but for me it was a genuine coincidende that I'm still trying to process. :)
Pls do a review on the album "Totenritual" by Belphegor
Great review as usual, thank you.
the sax works for me
Great band,good review! I hope you will do one for The Haunted`s new album as well
I LOVE the sax on Hindsight!
Just finished listening to this record and it blasts me outer space...4 out of 5...yes.
As I am far too late to discovering what Enslaved is all about which is a more extreme and progressive form of metal, I Can’t Get Enough!!!
It would be awesome to see Sam's kid grow up to make the artwork cover for an extreme death metal album, and then show him that picture when he was 5years old.
I saw Enslaved back in the day at their first appearance in the U.S., or North America for that matter. It was at a metal fest in New Jersey called March Metal Meltdown. I was extremely excited to see them, and hoping to hear material from their forthcoming "Blodhemn" album. Sadly, they were robbed of a good time slot, but their character triumphed as they morphed me from a fan into a fan-for-life. Every time they play, I get so lost in their music that I cry foul when they stop the show, thinking they had only just started. I'm proud to have witnessed and followed one of the best bands to have ever formed.
ah I see what you mean as they are headlining yet only played for one freaking hr but still great show!!
Man, Solefald used saxes on In Harmonia Universalis and it was awesome. Don't discount their use in metal.
Just listened to the entire album. Might be my favorite album of 2017
Totally gonna dig this album
For me is the Album of the year! 9.5/10
I actually like the sax! I like the way it's used in avantgarde productions such as Solefald or Ihsahn. In E is so limited that it cannot disturb me too much.
think I just found a new band to get into here. Awesome review
Do you guys ever do reviews of older stuff? Would love to see a review of Glory and Perdition by hungarian masters Sear Bliss. Because black metal needs more trombone!
Got this arriving today.
Enjoyed the review, bro, and I'm glad you see Enslaved in such positive overall light, but how in all f* are you leaving Feathers of Eohl out of this review and writing it off as not worth mentioning compared to the other tracks??? That song is pure, soaring, masterful artistry...to each his own, in music and life :)
Enslaved do whatever the fuck they want and it’s awesome.
great review !!
The site looks great.
Can't wait to hear this. In Times was really good.
I LOOOVVVEEEEE Sax in metal...I'm definitely gonna listen to this album for that reason alone
Great shirt Sam!!!
I also have that book of all known metal band names! Awesome!
Dunn doesn’t like the sax soo much...
Fast forward to Rivers of Nihil.....
Dunn loves the Sax
😂
Nice review! this guy knows about his shit. I give him 2 skulls.
Holy fuck; I suggested Banger Hangar as a name for the set... Did they go for my pick?! Woooooooooooooooooooo
I know they're pretty unknown but if you guys would do a review of Metal Bear Stomp from Siberian Meat Grinder I think I'd die of happiness
I think this album is great with the benefit of hindsight
I would call it the Banger Cavern
totally fair rating. Really would have liked them to have continued the dreamy/ethereal soundscapes they had going at the beginning of the storm son throughout the album. I am also strongly against sax in metal - it just doesn't work. I am constantly amazed with this band.
Saxophone doesn't fit well with metallic music? Well, I have to say I absolutely love it, even in particular. Stuff like the Norwegian Shining do amazing things with the saxophone, even if they aren't necessarily metal, but 'progressive' always meant to think outside generally decreed genre boundaries. Another example that comes to mind is Repangea, an amazing 12 minute epic by Cephalic Carnage and one of my all time favorite metal songs overall. In that one the saxophone really deepens and sophisticates the somber approach of the song. It also creates a nice contrast with its slow beginnings including the sax and the mayhem that is about to follow.
Can we officially call it Banger 18?
Add satyricon to the sax trend
Hey Sam!! May I know what your favourite bands are?? Thanks
Review Shadow of Intent's newest. I don't even like death-core and I can't stop listening to that album.
Album of the year for me!! 5/5
Wait for Ne Obliviscaris, out in 13 days on 27/10
Sorry Marco, not really my cup of tea! ;)
Finally! A review from Sam, hands-down the key reviewer of Banger. But if the album doesn't stack up, as he indicated, why give it four stars? It must be judged by itself only and not in relation to its prior output.
SKÅL
Why did not you review the new Satyricon album?
Quick question, what makes a progressive band progressive? Ive been a metal fan all my life (16 years) but i never understood what progressive means. I always knew mastodon were progressive but i never understood why.
Peter Verescuk The prefix "Progressive" in any genre label means the band love their hallucinogens, and their music is best enjoyed on such substances. Simple.
Meeh... I have been listening to their records since early 2000's... and although I've been a fan of their "no fear of experimenting" approach, the last couple of albums really didn't bring that much of an appeal to me.. x'P