How Enslaved have maintained a 30 year career with no real dud albums is a testament in and of itself. Superb band with fantastic musicianship and songwriting,
And they literally keep pumping albums out! Like every year or two years. How are they finding time to write and record all this material? And still tour?
To me, Enslaved is like the RUSH of extreme metal. No matter what phase or style of music they play, it’s ALWAYS top tier. This is what impeccable musicianship and songwriting is all about. Long live Enslaved!! 🤘🏽
I was actually shocked at Vertebrae not resonating. That is my favorite album of theirs and a top ten all timer to me. Perhaps it is because it had most replays for me as it was beginning era of streaming, still buying CDs. I felt at the time it was jaw dropping what they were doing on that album. The Floyd moments were so incredibly well done and the heavy sections were some " what are they even doing" parts. It is a black metal on a beach album in a sense. Came at a time of metalcore fatigue and the Mastodon inspired mediocrity. It felt really special. Just my input. Vertebrae and RIITR are top notch to me. Favorite discography ever though.
Purely Norwegian BM speaking, there is no comparison in consistency and prolificacy. Possibly Ulver, who were similarly amazing from the very start of their careers, although they evolved into a completely different beast. Dodheimsgard would be in this company as well if they didn't choose to release new material only once every 8 years somewhere back in 1999.
The greatest compliment I can give Enslaved is that their fans cannot agree on their best work, which is indicative of the amount of great music they've created.
I *literally* just listened through Mardraum again and thought "this is unbelievable", every single time I relisten to it it just gets better, I'm so happy to see it at the top here, a truly timeless masterpiece, it's like modern Enslaved before modern Enslaved :p
Mardraum was where I started and by the time Below The Lights was released, they were already my favorite band. It's mind blowing how great they've been beyond that point. Still my favorite band, and while I would say they have objectively released better albums, Madraum is still my fave. Makes me smile to see it at the top of your list.
Long before I even got into the band, I saw them live at Wacken in '06 or '07. It was a magical experience seeing them play 'As Fire Swept Clean the Earth' during the sunset.
While I can appreciate and enjoy their earlier output, particularly Blodhelm, where I really got into Enslaved was when I first heard the song "The Dead Stare" off of Below the Lights, which along with Vertebreae are my favourite albums and I own every album Below the Lights onward. Each album is different and hold their own significance for me. I also have to shout out Axioma Ethica Oudini because I saw them perform live during that tour and wow did they sound amazing!
It's too bad live records don't get as much love. With the delux box set for Vertebrae it came with a live record. Incredible. Much of the songs are performed even better than their studio versions.
One of my favorite bands. Love all the albums I've heard (I've not listened to the debut full length or Monumension). The run of albums Below the Lights, Isa, Ruun and Vertebrae is just fantastic. I love Vertebrae and would rank it pretty high. I love the progressive elements in it. I think all the songs are great but I especially love "Ground" for the gorgeous guitar solo and "Center" for something a little slower and moodier.
Cool review. I like Eld more than you do and RIITIIR less. But E I think is perfect, and Mardraum is so obscure I am not sure I will ever hear the entire thing. What an amazing band, I am taking my family to see them on April 10th in Detroit. I feel like they will be impressed. Something for everyone as they say. Cheers!
Great ranking! Mine looks relatively similar with a few noteable exceptions: Perfection: Frost, In Times, Heimdal, Axioma Ethica Odini Fantastic: Vikingr Veldi, Mardraum, Ruun, E, Riitiir Amazing: Blodhemn, Utgard, Eld Great: Isa, Below the lights (I really dig them but they haven't hit me as hard as most other folks. I will definitely check them out further and they'll land two or three tiers higher) Good: Monumension, Vertebrae
Excellent list, I agree for most of them. I especially like to see Mardraum get the love it deserves, supremely good album that! My one disagreement is that, while I love Frost, Vikingligr Veldi is probably my favorite due to its unique, raw atmosphere that's just pure black/viking metal greatness. I'd rate it as perfection myself, but that's the thing with Enslaved's discography; by its very nature different albums will have different effects on people, and a few will stand out more.
Enslaved is one of my all time favorite black metal bands. All their albums are fantastic and definitely looking forward to Heimdal when it comes out tomorrow. Here would be my ranking: S - Frost, Isa, Axioma Ethica Odini, In Times A - Eld, Mardraum - Beyond the Within, Monumension, Vertebrae, RIITIIR, Utgard B - Vikingligr Veldi, Blodhemn, Below the Lights, Ruun, E
I would switch Vertebrae and Ruun if this was my ranking. But really, I totally agree the bar is set exceptionally high with Enslaved, and even though I don't like Ruun as much as you do, I think you would agree even their lower tier albums for them is more like B tier in the general scheme of things. I think this band was important to me because Opeth was the band that turned me onto metal, and especially Progressive Metal. When I first heard Isa, that was probably about as close to Blackwater Park Part 2 as I figured I was going to get.
That clip for Utgard in the video is like a melodeath riff. Great stuff I like how there are as many albums in the top two tiers as the rest three, in a tier list that already has no tiers below good. You've got me pretty hyped, man
E was the gateway for me into BM in 2018. I did not realy like the shrieking vokals in the beginning but it grew on me, and I'm now in love with most of the albums of Enslaved. I do favor the discography after Mardraum more, due to that I feel the sound have a little to raw BM sound for my taste. Really enyoing the Heimdal album 🤘🤘
This discography was ridiculously hard to rank. 16. Blodhemn 15. Monumension 14. In Times 13. Ruun 12. E 11. Utgard 10. Vertebrae 9. Frost 8. Heimdal 7. Below the Lights 6. Vikingligir Vedli 5. Riitiir 4. Mardraum: Beyond the Within 3. Eld 2. Isa 1. Axioma Ethica Odini
Never really gave them a fair chance. I'm more into the very atmospheric and post black side of this subgenre and I remember listening to one song from them back when even grittier metalcore was a bit too much for me, and it was too heavy, so I left it there and never really returned. It's been 4 years since then so I guess I should give them another spin. Edit: from the clips you used at least, everything from Isa onward seems right up my alley
@@MetalTrenches I will be giving them a chance of course. You've got me hyped and again, listening to the clips in your video, I don't think I'll be even close to disappointed.
below and eld are both top tier, i was almost a fanatical fan until i just woke up one day since ruun and realized they just have literally no real melodies anymore and even worse, try to mask it with convolution that just doesnt go anywhere and believe me i tried to find fascination in it, even old borgknagar aged better than these. I think 4 Odini was very good, i might add. Yet madraum, 1 below, 6eld,5Ruun,3 frost,2 Bloodhem. Are my highest ranking Albums.
Enslaved always, and I mean, always manage to end up on my year-end lists, no matter the comparisons between albums. They've never lost a step. Let's hope Heimdal continues the trend, even though I feel that they are getting somewhat "comfortable" with their sound. Utgard was a great record, but I'm just hoping they can be more surprising this time around.
Personally though, I find Monumension and Vertebrae to be quite underrated. Monumension is an exercise of extreme metal exploration for Enslaved, crossing more uncharted musical territory like death metal, thrash metal, doom metal and yes, even stoner metal/60's and 70's psychedelic and progressive rock (Hollow Inside, The Cromlech Gate and The Sleep are reminiscent of that style), whereas Vertebrae is very grounded, thanks to Joe Barresi's mixing and George Marino's mastering, anchoring the sound in the 70's era of prog music. I feel it's a love letter to that era, period.
Monumension and Frost are S tier for me. I guess with such a flawless discography everyone will have a different opinion. Great list like always. So excited for the new album
Don't know why you've decided to do those rankings and not give more detailed review of the new album - I guess, you've concluded people get bored listening reviews for more than couple of minutes
I think vertebrae is one of their best , maybe because it was the first I listened to , and it has good ratings , I was shocked seeing it so low on the ranking
Below the lights is still my favorite and yes they keep putting out good music. But at 16 albums it's time to pump the brakes. I own at least a half to 3/4 of these in some form but I don't need 16 albums by any band.
After you moved Vertabrae, I think my only disagreement is I'd put Monumension one tier higher. Leaving Eld all by itself so we can taunt it for being the closest thing to a bad album they've done.
how could u say that "below the lights" starts to lose you in the last two songs when one of them is "Ridicule swarm" which is one of their best songs oat
Largely agree with this ranking, my own top 5 would be: 1. In Times 2. Vikingligr Veldi 3. Riitiir 4. Vertebrae 5. Frost Having said all that tho, I do think you are a bit harsh on Eld. It's inconsistent, but it's lifted back up by Lindisfarne, Kvasir's Blod and For Lenge Siden. My least favorite is E by a large margin, far too prog in my opinion.
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keep listening to Enslaved, not a band to forget
How Enslaved have maintained a 30 year career with no real dud albums is a testament in and of itself. Superb band with fantastic musicianship and songwriting,
It's a monumental accomplishment
Everything after Below the Lights was a dud
And they have an amazing sound live. All round an amazing band.
@@svendragon8139Cap
And they literally keep pumping albums out! Like every year or two years. How are they finding time to write and record all this material? And still tour?
RiitiiR and Axioma Ethica Odini take the crown for me.
I'm not the biggest fan of black metal I'm more in to groove but these guys 🔥🔥🔥
To me, Enslaved is like the RUSH of extreme metal. No matter what phase or style of music they play, it’s ALWAYS top tier. This is what impeccable musicianship and songwriting is all about. Long live Enslaved!! 🤘🏽
Not an unfair comparison
That's a good comparison.
Opeth too for me.
They're on par with Opeth and Mastodon. Experimental, complex songs that are disguised as catchy when they want to be. They rule!
This band has singlehandedly changed my entire perspective on black metal. Thanks for the rec.
🙏🏻
I was actually shocked at Vertebrae not resonating. That is my favorite album of theirs and a top ten all timer to me. Perhaps it is because it had most replays for me as it was beginning era of streaming, still buying CDs. I felt at the time it was jaw dropping what they were doing on that album. The Floyd moments were so incredibly well done and the heavy sections were some " what are they even doing" parts. It is a black metal on a beach album in a sense. Came at a time of metalcore fatigue and the Mastodon inspired mediocrity. It felt really special. Just my input. Vertebrae and RIITR are top notch to me. Favorite discography ever though.
Same here vertabrae is my fav
@@Nall412 same
I agree. The solo in Ground is possibly my favorite guitar solo ever. It's just so tasteful.
1:13 Please tell me that you consider In The Nightside Eclipse THE BEST debut of the second Norwegian Black Metal Scene
The day Enslaved makes a bad album should be interpreted as a sign of impending doom, perhaps even the apocalypse.
Agreed
Enslaved are one of those bands I’ve known since I was a teen but just never really checked out. So it’s about time I get to it 🤘
DO IT
Cool time to be into the darkness
Band has never been disappointing all the albums are brilliant and i am extremely excited for the new record tomorrow
🤘🏻
easily one of the best discographies in all of metal. 30 year career and not a single dud in there. what other band can you even say that about?
Almost none. Dark Tranquillity comes close for me but even they are not on the same level.
There are quite a few bands that would fit that bill.
Purely Norwegian BM speaking, there is no comparison in consistency and prolificacy. Possibly Ulver, who were similarly amazing from the very start of their careers, although they evolved into a completely different beast. Dodheimsgard would be in this company as well if they didn't choose to release new material only once every 8 years somewhere back in 1999.
Then you have the likes of Arcturus and Borknagar. Also incredibly consistent if not as prolific.
Blind Guardian, at least for me
Enslaved just blows me away album after album for decades now. One of if not my favorite band of all time.
E, Below the Lights, and Axioma Ethica Odini are on my top 3
🤘🏻
The greatest compliment I can give Enslaved is that their fans cannot agree on their best work, which is indicative of the amount of great music they've created.
Bruh this shit sounds good. I think I might do a discog drive soon. I already listen to one of their albums so I’m already hyped
They have one of the best discographies of all time. Any genre
I *literally* just listened through Mardraum again and thought "this is unbelievable", every single time I relisten to it it just gets better, I'm so happy to see it at the top here, a truly timeless masterpiece, it's like modern Enslaved before modern Enslaved :p
So incredibly underrated
If your into extreme metal I think it's impossible to not like this band
Mardraum was where I started and by the time Below The Lights was released, they were already my favorite band. It's mind blowing how great they've been beyond that point. Still my favorite band, and while I would say they have objectively released better albums, Madraum is still my fave. Makes me smile to see it at the top of your list.
I'm glad to see so many people feel that way
Long before I even got into the band, I saw them live at Wacken in '06 or '07. It was a magical experience seeing them play 'As Fire Swept Clean the Earth' during the sunset.
Saw them a few years back. You can actually see my press pass from that show stuck to the NIN vinyl to my left.
Utgard and Vetebrae are master Prog jewels 💎 in my list should be over top 🔝 ❤❤❤❤❤ same as Below Lights 💡
While I can appreciate and enjoy their earlier output, particularly Blodhelm, where I really got into Enslaved was when I first heard the song "The Dead Stare" off of Below the Lights, which along with Vertebreae are my favourite albums and I own every album Below the Lights onward. Each album is different and hold their own significance for me. I also have to shout out Axioma Ethica Oudini because I saw them perform live during that tour and wow did they sound amazing!
Lots of good albums. Monumental band. Hardly ranking albums. 😮
Heimdal was great! This band never disappoints. Some of the best to ever do it.
It's too bad live records don't get as much love. With the delux box set for Vertebrae it came with a live record. Incredible. Much of the songs are performed even better than their studio versions.
Eld is a masterpiece. Mardraum is a masterpiece. The rest are Fantastic.
One of my favorite bands. Love all the albums I've heard (I've not listened to the debut full length or Monumension). The run of albums Below the Lights, Isa, Ruun and Vertebrae is just fantastic.
I love Vertebrae and would rank it pretty high. I love the progressive elements in it. I think all the songs are great but I especially love "Ground" for the gorgeous guitar solo and "Center" for something a little slower and moodier.
1. Axioma Ethica Odini
2. Bloodhemn
3. Isa
4. Ruun
5. Frost
6. In Times
7. Riittiir
8. Heimdal
9. Utgard
10. Mardraum
11. Monumension
12. Eld
13. Vikingligr Veldi
14. Vertebrae
15. E
16. Below The Lights
Every Album S 😎
Monumension is my pick for heaviest album ever
Great ranking. Very close to how I would do it. The new album, Heimdal is fantastic. Incredible band.
I’m going back and listening to these albums and OMG I don’t know how I have been sleeping on this band!
🔥🔥🔥
@@MetalTrenches I keep coming back to this list...
Cool review. I like Eld more than you do and RIITIIR less. But E I think is perfect, and Mardraum is so obscure I am not sure I will ever hear the entire thing. What an amazing band, I am taking my family to see them on April 10th in Detroit. I feel like they will be impressed. Something for everyone as they say. Cheers!
Listen to Mardraum!
Great ranking! Mine looks relatively similar with a few noteable exceptions:
Perfection: Frost, In Times, Heimdal, Axioma Ethica Odini
Fantastic: Vikingr Veldi, Mardraum, Ruun, E, Riitiir
Amazing: Blodhemn, Utgard, Eld
Great: Isa, Below the lights (I really dig them but they haven't hit me as hard as most other folks. I will definitely check them out further and they'll land two or three tiers higher)
Good: Monumension, Vertebrae
Monumension is one of my faves tbh
Excellent list, I agree for most of them. I especially like to see Mardraum get the love it deserves, supremely good album that!
My one disagreement is that, while I love Frost, Vikingligr Veldi is probably my favorite due to its unique, raw atmosphere that's just pure black/viking metal greatness. I'd rate it as perfection myself, but that's the thing with Enslaved's discography; by its very nature different albums will have different effects on people, and a few will stand out more.
Enslaved is one of my all time favorite black metal bands. All their albums are fantastic and definitely looking forward to Heimdal when it comes out tomorrow. Here would be my ranking:
S - Frost, Isa, Axioma Ethica Odini, In Times
A - Eld, Mardraum - Beyond the Within, Monumension, Vertebrae, RIITIIR, Utgard
B - Vikingligr Veldi, Blodhemn, Below the Lights, Ruun, E
Love seeing how different everyone's rankings are
Great band, always challenging and awesome
Holy shit man. Can't thank you enough for your efforts here. They have always been my favorite act of all time. Thank you, brother.
Always here for Enslaved
Love your rankings dude👍👍🤘🤘
I can't think of any other band or artist who has been as consistent as what Enslaved have been for 30 years. It's incredible.
I would switch Vertebrae and Ruun if this was my ranking. But really, I totally agree the bar is set exceptionally high with Enslaved, and even though I don't like Ruun as much as you do, I think you would agree even their lower tier albums for them is more like B tier in the general scheme of things.
I think this band was important to me because Opeth was the band that turned me onto metal, and especially Progressive Metal. When I first heard Isa, that was probably about as close to Blackwater Park Part 2 as I figured I was going to get.
Two truly benchmark albums.
I love frost but not listened to the rest. Excited to get into the recommended ones, thanks man
Enjoy!
My top 5 would be
1. In times
2. Riitiir
3. Vikinglir veldi
4. Axioma ethica Odini
5. Eld
Great ranking!!
What a Fantastic Diskographie!!
No bad Album!!!
Im hyped as fuck for Heimdal
So tomorrows gonna be a fun day
Also eld in bottom tier is not based tbh
But rest of the ranking is reasonable tbh
Fight me lol
Rolo Tomassi deserves a tier list.
Those guys need more exposure!
I’d enjoy doing it but I’m not sure how many would actually watch
Best to least best*
They're *such* a good live act as well. A definite must-see whenever the chance arises.
That clip for Utgard in the video is like a melodeath riff. Great stuff
I like how there are as many albums in the top two tiers as the rest three, in a tier list that already has no tiers below good. You've got me pretty hyped, man
E was the gateway for me into BM in 2018. I did not realy like the shrieking vokals in the beginning but it grew on me, and I'm now in love with most of the albums of Enslaved. I do favor the discography after Mardraum more, due to that I feel the sound have a little to raw BM sound for my taste. Really enyoing the Heimdal album 🤘🤘
Going to see them for the first time in April along with Insomnium! Can't wait. Also seeing Godspeed You! Black Emperor in a week
They are fantastic live
@@MetalTrenches So I've heard! Also bringing a couple of friends along that aren't into BM at all. They have no idea what they're in for haha
Love them and while not one of my favorite bands, honestly, perhaps the best, consistently awesome yet diverse discographies in all of metal
This discography was ridiculously hard to rank.
16. Blodhemn
15. Monumension
14. In Times
13. Ruun
12. E
11. Utgard
10. Vertebrae
9. Frost
8. Heimdal
7. Below the Lights
6. Vikingligir Vedli
5. Riitiir
4. Mardraum: Beyond the Within
3. Eld
2. Isa
1. Axioma Ethica Odini
Perfection: Monumension, Below the Lights, Frost, Vikingligr Veldi,
Fantastic: Ruun, Isa, Vertebrae, Mardraum, E
Amazing: Axioma Ethica Odini, In Times
Great: Blodhemn, Utgard, Riitir
Good: Eld, Heimdal
They're probably the most consistent band in extreme metal.
Never really gave them a fair chance. I'm more into the very atmospheric and post black side of this subgenre and I remember listening to one song from them back when even grittier metalcore was a bit too much for me, and it was too heavy, so I left it there and never really returned.
It's been 4 years since then so I guess I should give them another spin.
Edit: from the clips you used at least, everything from Isa onward seems right up my alley
You need to. One song can’t give you a full picture. The newer stuff gets pretty damn atmospheric
@@MetalTrenches I will be giving them a chance of course. You've got me hyped and again, listening to the clips in your video, I don't think I'll be even close to disappointed.
Besides In Times and Axioma which are almost best albums , don’t agree at all with this rank in my opinion very poor 😢
below and eld are both top tier, i was almost a fanatical fan until i just woke up one day since ruun and realized they just have literally no real melodies anymore and even worse, try to mask it with convolution that just doesnt go anywhere and believe me i tried to find fascination in it, even old borgknagar aged better than these. I think 4 Odini was very good, i might add. Yet madraum, 1 below, 6eld,5Ruun,3 frost,2 Bloodhem. Are my highest ranking Albums.
Thanks a bunch @metaltrenches! This video opened my eyes for some real gems that I had overlooked.
Very difficult to decide but come on, my Top 5:
1 Vertebrae
2 Riitiir
3 Utgard
4 E
5 Below the lights.
Can't wait for this! Also can't find Vikingligr Veldi, Isa and Ruun in a reasonable price... Thanks for the video
Yeah that's why I snagged that vinyl when they did the reissue.
My favorite Enslaved album changes all the time. One of the few bands you can make a case for any of their albums being the best. Great vid 🤘
Isa the best🤘
🐐
I keep coming back to double check the numbers, and it looks like if I stick to my budget I can go see them live!
I would’ve mentioned Hordanes Land but great list nevertheless
Isa was my entrance to the band and still my favourite.
1:13 I would of put it at amazing or fantastic
I love Utgard, don't disagree on the list
Testament album ranking when
When they drop the new one
E is such a great album! Killer list my dude 🤘
Any chance of a Gwar tier list? 👀
Maybe one day. No clear plans at this moment
New album was kind of disappointing but there’s some good moments here and there
Give it a few spins. I think there’s a lot under the hood
Enslaved always, and I mean, always manage to end up on my year-end lists, no matter the comparisons between albums. They've never lost a step. Let's hope Heimdal continues the trend, even though I feel that they are getting somewhat "comfortable" with their sound. Utgard was a great record, but I'm just hoping they can be more surprising this time around.
Personally though, I find Monumension and Vertebrae to be quite underrated. Monumension is an exercise of extreme metal exploration for Enslaved, crossing more uncharted musical territory like death metal, thrash metal, doom metal and yes, even stoner metal/60's and 70's psychedelic and progressive rock (Hollow Inside, The Cromlech Gate and The Sleep are reminiscent of that style), whereas Vertebrae is very grounded, thanks to Joe Barresi's mixing and George Marino's mastering, anchoring the sound in the 70's era of prog music. I feel it's a love letter to that era, period.
Can't wait to hear the new one.
Monumension and Frost are S tier for me. I guess with such a flawless discography everyone will have a different opinion. Great list like always. So excited for the new album
Precisely
Wheres Yggdrasill?
Vertebrae is their best work to date. sad to see it so low in your rankings.
I mean as I said, they have no bad albums. But something has to end up on the lower end
Don't know why you've decided to do those rankings and not give more detailed review of the new album - I guess, you've concluded people get bored listening reviews for more than couple of minutes
I think vertebrae is one of their best , maybe because it was the first I listened to , and it has good ratings , I was shocked seeing it so low on the ranking
great stuff, rank rotting christ next
Below the lights is still my favorite and yes they keep putting out good music. But at 16 albums it's time to pump the brakes. I own at least a half to 3/4 of these in some form but I don't need 16 albums by any band.
I’d normally agree, but when it comes to this band they always deliver on something interesting
After you moved Vertabrae, I think my only disagreement is I'd put Monumension one tier higher. Leaving Eld all by itself so we can taunt it for being the closest thing to a bad album they've done.
lol
I never get the taste of americans in BM. So different from EU fans.
Click bate channel winner of ALLLLLL TIME. What's up in the trenches??? Enslaved 🤔.. I'll have 2 check them out. WHERE did u find them 🤯
toolbag.
how could u say that "below the lights" starts to lose you in the last two songs when one of them is "Ridicule swarm" which is one of their best songs oat
Because we are two different people with independent tastes. Is it really that shocking?
@@MetalTrencheslol
Largely agree with this ranking, my own top 5 would be:
1. In Times
2. Vikingligr Veldi
3. Riitiir
4. Vertebrae
5. Frost
Having said all that tho, I do think you are a bit harsh on Eld. It's inconsistent, but it's lifted back up by Lindisfarne, Kvasir's Blod and For Lenge Siden. My least favorite is E by a large margin, far too prog in my opinion.
I mean like I said, there are no bad albums. I just like Eld the least as a whole