Enslaved have announced their new album Mið, due out October 30th via Nuclear Blast Records. Alongside news of the release, the veteran Norwegian metal band has unleashed the new single “Solar Will.”
“Solar Will” is prototypical Enslaved, fusing hefty black metal, mid-tempo sky-reaching heavy metal and complex progressive rock structuring into a seamless whole. It covers quite an expanse of emotional terrain in its mere five minutes, feeling at times like basking in the sun and other times like being trapped in a reeking dungeon. It continues the band’s streak of more rock-centered music compared to their somewhat heady period in the 2000s and 2010s.
Guitarist Ivar Bjørnson stated, “There have been sun cults as long as Magic Man has been around (at least). The Sun is a nurturing and terrifying parent that can grant as well as obliterate life totally. Such a classic and awe-inspiring object of our worship and myths requires classic and awesome riffs, Bonham-esque drum grooves and blistering melodic flares celebrating its horrific glory. This is what that sounds like to me: ‘Solar Will’!”
Meanwhile, vocalist and bassist Grutle Kjellson offered an extensive explanation of the overall concept of the album, saying:
‘Solar Will’ explores archetypal conflicts, those that manifest in nature, the cosmos, mythology, and, above all, within the human mind. In this instance, the central struggle is expressed through one of the enduring rivalries found in Norse mythology, embodied by two important, though often somewhat overlooked, figures within the pantheon. Readers familiar with the Norse mythological tradition will likely recognize the identities rather instantly, yet I shall refrain from naming them, allowing each reader the opportunity to engage with and decipher the lyrics on their own. After all, perhaps this is one of the essential functions of lyric writing: to invite interpretation and cultivate a sense of wonder? The conclusion, or more precisely, the absence of one, suggests that, for human beings, chaos and dreams are at least as significant as the realities we perceive through our senses. Ultimately, the work advocates not for resolution, but for the acceptance, assimilation, and shaping of these often contradictory forces.
The album also features previous single “Spirit Helper” featuring Kevin Kickin Woman, a track we named Heavy Song of the Week upon its release.
Watch the music video for “Solar Will” and see the album art and tracklist for Mið below.
Mið Artwork:
Mið Tracklist:
01. Non-Being
02. I Am Ice (featuring Johan Sara Jr)
03. Solar Will
04. Mountain
05. Spirit Helper (featuring Kevin Kicking Woman)
06. Parting
07. Tales of Trees
08. I Miðju
