Enslaved
By:
Last time Blistering caught up with Enslaved, the band were just start hitting their creative stride with Ruun and were in the throes of near-unanimous critical and consumer acclaim. The band was always polarizing from the start, as their status as the first true Viking metal band often separated them from the black metal pack, but when lead guitarist/songwriter Ivar Bjornson made the decision to go progressive, it is when Enslaved found itself in the enviable position of metal underground heavyweights.
We’ve been quite effusive with our praise for Vertebrae and frankly, there’s little reason why we shouldn’t. An album that has come on strong late in 2008, Vertebrae is at this moment in time, Enslaved’s career statement and apex. Knowing that Bjornson would have a lot on his phone, Blistering caught up with the soft-spoken guitarist for an interrogation.
Blistering.com: Did you follow the same writing process as you did for Ruun? Meaning, were you secluded for most of the time?
Ivar Bjornson: Definitely. That’s become a really big thing. It doesn’t normally have to include a lot of geographical distance, but it needs to put up some sort of symbolic distance or wall between ordinary, day-to-day activities. This time, we stayed not too far away and had some family went out of town for a few months, moved my home studio there, and didn’t tell a whole lot of people what I was doing. I shut the world out, turned off the phone and got into that writing mode.
Blistering.com: What type of comfort level does having the same lineup for three consecutive albums bring?
Bjornson: You know things are going to be stable and if you have an idea that’s going be controversial, so to speak, you know that the discussion is going to be at the level it needs to be. At the same, it’s very inspirational. After Ruun was released in May 2006, we did some extensive touring. We did two full European tours, a bunch of festivals, and some US tours, so we really got to know each other, too. That’s the inspiration – you know you can push the envelope. Their musical capabilities are limitless; they’re the perfect people for Enslaved. They want to apply that knowledge and experience to Enslaved.
Blistering.com: You’ve been going for this “less is more” approach for the last three albums as well. Is that at the forefront when you’re writing?
Bjornson: It happened naturally. The band avoided having musical discussions upfront. You need to just let the creativity flow and let it come from the lower part of your brain. Music comes from a strange place and if you try to verbalize and control it too much, it throws everything off. We’re five guys and have our approach to music and have reached our maximum energy level when we focus it and at the same time, we’re also quite aware of the value of when we divert our focus. There’s no point in everyone trying to be technical at the same time, there’s no point in everyone trying to be melodic all at the same time. You find guys that have a special musical expression and try to exploit that the best way possible.
Very often, that goes back to what you’re saying, “less is more.” It fits that space, so that the listener can carve their experiences. It’s not like it’s totally full and you have to pick up what you can.
Blistering.com: The best example of that is “Reflections.”
Bjornson: “Reflections” is looking like it’s going to be the opener for the next tour. It’s got the dynamics and production and mixing-wise, that’s the song that came out best. It’s a pulsating song structure with things contracting, expanding, flowing throughout the song and the vocals are amazing. “Clouds” and “Reflections” are my favorite two songs.
Blistering.com: Ice Dale’s (lead guitars) solo on that song is one his best, agree?
Bjornson: Absolutely.
Blistering.com: With “Clouds,” there’s quite a bit of clean vocals from Herbrand (Larsen, keyboards). Was that song designed specifically with those in mind?
Bjornson: The guys work on their own after I send them demos and ask me what they should do with the songs. When they come back with the recorders and test vocals, so this time I thought with the more melodic and atmospheric guitar work, would provoke some more harsh vocals from Herbrand, but the opposite it happened. He’s doing 75% of the clean vocals and I have the same approach the vocals as I do my riffs and that’s just to find the best possible solution.
|
