Enslaved are set to release their new album RIITIIR through Nuclear Blast on September 28^th 2012.

It’s now two decades after their birth in Norway and ENSLAVED’s latest album, RIITIIR, will once again surprise even those who are familiar with their non-linear development. RIITIIR embodies a lot more of what has come to be known as ENSLAVED: indefinable and grandiose, honest and unearthly, dark, harsh, and beautiful.

The praise for 2010’s Axioma Ethica Odini was no less fervent.  Besides winning their 4^th Norwegian Grammy for “Best Metal Album” in a row, the album also won Terrorizer Magazine’s Reader’s Poll for “Best Album of 2010,” ranked #5 in Decibel Magazine’s “Top 40 Extreme Albums of 2010” list, and repeatedly ranked in the Top 10 on “Best Albums of 2010” lists around the world.  In Germany, Metal Hammer Magazine awarded ENSLAVED the “Album of the Year” title and the Dutch magazine Aardschok ranked Axioma Ethica Odini at #9.  The album also debuted at #16 on the American Billboard Heatseekers (New Artists) chart.  Following the completion of their North American tours with fellow countrymen DIMMU BORGIR and their “20 Years of No Compromises” anniversary tour with Ghost & Alcest, ENSLAVED were the first metal group to receive the Norwegian Artist & Songwriters Association Honorary Award for their contribution to the Norwegian music industry, presented to them by Norway’s Minister of Culture. 

For 2012’s RIITIIR, many elements of the recording process are similar to that of the previous few albums. Again, the team of producers came from within the band itself: Ivar Bjørnson, Grutle Kjellson, Herbrand Larsen – this time completed by Iver Sandøy (who co-produced 2010’s Axioma Ethica Odini, the 7” Thorn EP, and the 12” The Sleeping Gods EP). The core recordings all took place in Bergen, Norway: Ivar Bjørnson’s guitar, Grutle Kjellson’s bass, and Cato Bekkevold’s drums were recorded live in Duper Studios while Herbrand Larsen & Ice Dale recorded their vocals, keys, and guitars in Earshot Studios. Furthermore, Grutle and Ivar’s vocals, guitars, keys, bass pedals, effects, and percussion were recorded in Solslottet Studios and Peersonal Sound. At times, recordings were being done at all three locations simultaneously.  The producers travelled to Fascination Street Studios in Örebro, Sweden, where Jens Bogren mixed and Tony Lindgren mastered the album.
“This time it was all about expanding a winning team rather than changing it,” states guitarist / songwriter / founding member Ivar Bjørnson on RIITIIR’s creation process. “I have to personally admit that expanding the producer team to include a member from outside the band has had its massive challenges for me, but the result is without a doubt better than I had ever dreamed of. Once again, we have learned something about finding the ideal recording process for ENSLAVED, and for that I am eternally grateful to all the involved parties.”

Enslaved: Ivar Bjørnson – Guitar , Grutle Kjellson – Vocals & Bass, Cato Bækkevold – Drums, Herbrand Larsen – Keyboards & Vocals, Ice Dale – Guitar

UK Tour Dates

Thur 14th March                                               Moho, Manchester

Fri 15th March                                                   Hammerfest, North Wales

Sat 16th March                                                  Belfast

Tue 19th March                                                Academy, Sheffield

Wed 20th March                                              The Fleece, Bristol

Thur 21st March                                               The Garage, London