Enslaved are a Norwegian progressive black metal band and this is their seventeenth album.
After the transformative journey that properly started with 2020’s Utgard and continued with 2023’s Heimdal, Enslaved have now arrived at the 44-minute Mið. An exemplar of progressive texture and classic blackened depth, Enslaved’s new record is a real winner.
Mið is an amalgamation of different musical aspects, brought together with skill. It has that modern Enslaved sound, full of stylish confidence and proficiency, but also offers more than this. The progressive tendencies have been embraced further, while still being incorporated into the band’s ever-questing blackened heart. On top of this, in key places, Mið brings in a raft of different influences and styles from across the world, some of which Enslaved have never dabbled in before. It all works, and is all tastefully used to enrich the music. For example, there are two guest spots on the album; whereas most guests on albums these days are there for the names they bring more than anything else, here they actually add an individual touch to the songs they’re on, and without them the songs would be less than they are.
Even the parts of Mið that operate more in line with the ‘standard’ Enslaved template have been tweaked. An atypical melody here, a prog-inspired keyboard layer there, a clean vocal highlight here, a captivating burst of soloing there, and more – Enslaved have been hard at work across Mið ensuring that it’s a record to pay attention to. Rich in atmosphere, feeling, and worldbuilding, Mið is quite the remarkable achievement for any band, let alone one so deep into their career. A ‘phoned in’ seventeenth record this is not.
The good thing about Mið, (one of many), is that it’s simultaneously business as usual for Enslaved, but also something new and different. The core is unmistakably Enslaved, but the final product is something enhanced. It’s the sort of record where the band are bringing together the best of all worlds. The music is achingly familiar, like an old friend, yet also pulses with a newly found vibrance that comes from embracing a new muse. Mið is seriously good. Enslaved sound vital.
Mið is a very well-written and varied record, with the band showcasing an enviable amount of talent. The only real misstep is the rather pointless intro, but apart from this, Mið is a strong record. It’s short by Enslaved standards, but it’s packed with quality and offers the listener an extremely enjoyable listening experience.
Essential listening.
