Enslaved Album Poll of 2020

I'd recommend Vertebrae next, as that was a major transition in their sound. After that definitely check out Axioma Ethica Odini and Ruun. If you are still looking for more, I'd head towards the newer albums and possibly Below The Lights.

Edited by Introspekrieg - 09 Dec 2020 at 4:34pm

I´ve heard them all, and enjoy most of them, although the early releases aren´t really my cup of tea. From Isa and onwards, that´s the era I´m mostly interested in. Enslaved are quite brilliant, but there is one part of their music which is lacking and that´s the clean vocals. They are not badly performed, out of tune, or anything like that, but they are quite unremarkable and leave me a bit indifferent. Compare them to the clean vocals on albums by similar artists like Opeth and Hail Spirit Noir...hmm there´s really no competition. Live it´s even worse as the clean vocals sound a little like the insecure guy having to sing on the high school musical. A stronger clean vocalist would definitely make me appreciate Enslaved more. I sometimes have a problem with the raspy vocals too, but fortunately they´ve moved a little closer to death metal growling through the years and less black metal snarling, although they are still mostly black metal type vocals.

Lots of contenders for their best but I'll go with Isa, with close competition from Below the Lights. Great band.

I voted for RIITIIR, brilliant album. I'd focus on Below The Lights and onwards first. The later you go, the more proggy they get. The earlier ones are worth exploring too - only got into that period myself in the last 5 years or so. Frost is probably my favourite of those early ones.

Edited by Nightfly - 10 Dec 2020 at 4:05pm

Okay, finished streaming them all at least once though my streams of the first three were a while ago and not remembered now, but based on everything from their fourth onward, first impressions say the highlights for me are:

Great band that I've heard every album by yet probably should still know better than I do. I reckon a few albums I've rated with 4 could easily be 4.5 or even 5's with more listens. At this point in time I'd have to throw my vote to Isa. It's the one I'm most familiar with.