Review by Shadowdoom9 (Andi) for Enslaved - In Times (2015)

Enslaved is another band I really need to revisit! In Times is known as one of the greatest albums from the band's 2010s era, and was a masterpiece for me when I was still listening to them. But in the past year or so, I've only listened to a couple songs from the band when suggesting some songs for the Infinite playlists. With this nice revisit, let's see what I still think of this album...

I can still hear some greatness from this band. They've never stopped recording and touring yet, and the amazing quality shows. With this album In Times, the band keep up their fearless ascension of their classic progressive black metal sound through the modern age.

"Thurisaz Dreaming" immediately attacks with some black metal blasting, then the dynamic assault calms down for some clean singing. With this mid-tempo groove and melody, you can't go wrong with considering that song a blend of the band's earlier black metal and Dream Theater-like progressive metal. A perfect example of that mix with more progressive emphasis is "Building With Fire" which has proven the power of that sound from as early as Isa.

"One Thousand Years of Rain" roars through the extremeness of black metal while in a progressive mix with hard rock, similarly to that Stone Healer album. A personal highlight for me, "Nauthir Bleeding" has the best of the clean vocals by keyboardist Herbrand Larsen, who would end up leaving the band a year after this album.

The nearly 11-minute title epic continues the line between the complex melody of progressive metal and the violent extremeness of black metal. You can headbang through the leads and riffs in sync with the screams of Grutle Kjellson, and the rest during the ambient breaks. Kicking off "Daylight" is some unusual chord delivery, and the rest of the song pretty much discards much of the band's black metal roots, other than the vocals, for their progressive progression.

There are those purists out there who need to know that just because a band switches from extreme to progressive, doesn't mean they become softer. The progressiveness is blended together with their black metal roots. A beautiful and beastly offering like In Times needs some attention!

Favorites: "Building With Fire", "Nauthir Bleeding", "In Times"