Heimdal

On Heimdal, their sixteenth studio album, Enslaved reaffirm their position as sonic architects of extreme metal’s more cerebral edge. Released on 3 March 2023 via Nuclear Blast, this is not merely a continuation of their progressive trajectory—it’s a full-blown convergence of myth, space, and transcendental heft.

Named after the Norse god Heimdallr—an enigmatic figure who has loomed in the band’s lyrical universe since their 1992 demo Yggdrasill—the album finds Enslaved at their most expansive. Built on a black metal foundation but fleshed out with lush, Floydian textures and exploratory prog-rock detours, Heimdal is the spiritual successor to 2020’s Utgard, with the previously released Caravans to the Outer Worlds EP acting as a deliberate bridge between the two.

It’s an album of wide horizons and deep mythology. Where Caravans… sets the tone with celestial urgency, the six new tracks push the boundaries of form without ever feeling indulgent. The band’s ability to balance primal aggression with meditative atmosphere remains striking, and the result is an immersive listen that rewards both the headbanger and the headphone pilgrim.

Critics across the board agree—Heimdal may well be among the band’s finest. Kerrang! praised its vast scope and space, while Blabbermouth and Ghost Cult both noted the band’s ongoing evolution without loss of identity. Even outlets like MetalSucks called it “awe-inspiring” and “imaginative”, signalling just how universally admired this latest effort is.

Thirty years in, Enslaved continue to gaze forward without losing sight of their roots. Heimdal is more than a mythic namesake—it’s a portal, and Enslaved are its fearless gatekeepers.