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Enslaved has been herald as a “viking metal” band, focusing on a black metal with lyrics that celebrate
viking heritage. Yet seeing that this release is out of The End Records catalog, you know that more has to lie behind this
often confusing exterior.
They do have one song on this album that has a chant that hearkens back to the day of bearded Scandinavians going out
to the sea to rape, pillage, and burn. But, that's not what draws me in. Yes, it is fun trying to chant along with them, but
that is not the highlight of the album.
Below the Lights is a progressive black metal disc. It starts out with quirky guitars with a tone that is usually not
heard in this genre, let alone others. It is not a fast paced affair that is usually found in black or blackened metal. It
has an artistic flair that helps it transcend what others are and have been doing in this field. They even have a song that
has a piece of flute music. And this is not the typical Rhapsody or even Finntroll pseudo-folk (or real) . I struggle with
trying to describe the sound that Enslaved has going for them. The only real way to figure their sound out is by sitting down
with an opened mind, and being ready to experience greatness.
My judgment here echoes the judgments of pretty much the whole The End Record's bands. People need to stop worrying about
whether they are tr00 or kvlt. That does not, and should not matter. A genre such as black metal has limited itself to the
point that it has grown stale, stagnant and some say, that it has died. I applaud musicians that are pushing the limits of
their respective genres.
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