By: AvNatten

Posted: Jul 17, 2006

The time has flown quickly since the release of their last effort which was entitled "Isa" but once again Enslaved have offered us another chapter in their unique take on black metal. The favorite sons of Asgard have had a long ride to get to the point where they are now, they started out much like their peers in the Norwegian black metal movement blasting forth sonic waves of coldness with a heavy dose of Nordic pride. As the years passed by their sound started to develop more and incorporate more progressive elements and a more spaced out atmosphere. They have remained extreme and yet flawlessly fused rock and soft elements into their sound.
 
The album kicks off with a rather upbeat track called 'Entroper', it spins around with melodic guitar work and then breaks the cycle with its slower breakdown around halfway through the song. The title track itself, 'Ruun', is epic to say the least. Grutle Kjellson's recognizable voice cuts through the intriguing yet desolate soundscapes, his scream being paired up with the clean vocals of keyboardist Herbrand Larsen in a stunning mix of harsh and soft which continues into the musical aspect of the song as well where the soft notes of an acoustic guitar, can be heard alongside the electric guitar passages. 'Path To Vanir' mixes Kjellson's vicious sounding vocals over mid paced cycling guitar riffs and drumbeats. The Hammond organ is present and delivering a nice change of pace from the usual run of the mill keyboards that other bands offer. Halfway through the song the pace changes and shifts down into a soft, swirling soundscape that has the warmth and feeling of the recordings done in the 70ties, it doesn't last for too long though and the band is quickly up and running again with sporadic yet catchy shift changes and of course loads of tremolo picking.
 
The warmth of the instruments and the production has always been something I have admired in the works of Enslaved, their careful selection of equipment and recording devices proves that this is a band who are doing what they want when they want and not bowing to any trends. At the end of the day this is still the Enslaved that we all know and love, and fans of the band will easily digest these tracks, and welcome the progressive elements as a natural growth for the band. Their constant evolution keeps their sound fresh but without straying too far from their original intentions since the black metal elements are still present alongside the progressiveness and hints of psychedelic rock but they have been morphed into something the band can call their own. Enslaved sticks to their guns but remain unpredictable at the same time. Challenging the stereotypes with each album, it will be exciting to see what the band holds in store for the future.

Rating: 9/10

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