Norwegian progressive black metal trailblazers Enslaved have officially announced their new studio album, Mið, set for release on October 30 via Nuclear Blast Records. Across a 35-year journey spanning 17 albums, the Bergen vanguard have continually redefined the boundaries of progressive black metal, weaving Old Norse histories and sacred traditions into complex modern soundscapes. With this latest offering, the band turn their gaze toward the fundamental concept of the axis: the middle, the origin, and the infinite reach of the present moment.
Alongside the announcement, Enslaved have unveiled the new single “Solar Will” — at once a paean to a divine spark and a testament to the album title’s core idea of a centre whose reach is infinite. Its accompanying video was created by Kolibri Media, long-term partners of the band based in Bergen.
Guitarist Ivar Bjørnson commented on the new track:
“There have been sun cults as long as Magic Man has been around (at least). The Sun is a nurturing and terrifying parent that can grant as well as obliterate life totally. Such a classic and awe-inspiring object of our worship and myths requires classic and awesome riffs, Bonham-esque drum grooves and blistering melodic flares celebrating its horrific glory. This is what that sounds like to me: ‘Solar Will’!”
– Ivar Björnson
Vocalist and bassist Grutle Kjellson added:
“Solar Will explores archetypal conflicts, those that manifest in nature, the cosmos, mythology, and, above all, within the human mind. In this instance, the central struggle is expressed through one of the enduring rivalries found in Norse mythology, embodied by two important, though often somewhat overlooked, figures within the pantheon. Readers familiar with the Norse mythological tradition will likely recognize the identities rather instantly, yet I shall refrain from naming them, allowing each reader the opportunity to engage with and decipher the lyrics on their own. After all, perhaps this is one of the essential functions of lyric writing: to invite interpretation and cultivate a sense of wonder? The conclusion, or more precisely, the absence of one, suggests that, for human beings, chaos and dreams are at least as significant as the realities we perceive through our senses. Ultimately, the work advocates not for resolution, but for the acceptance, assimilation, and shaping of these often contradictory forces.”
– Grutle Kjellson
Enslaved were formed in 1991 by Ivar Bjørnson and Grutle Kjellson, releasing their first demo Yggdrasill in the summer of 1992, followed by the mini-album Hordanes Land in 1993 and their debut full-length Vikingligr Veldi in the spring of 1994. It is a rare feat that, 35 years and 17 albums in, the band’s horizons continue to expand, with every new phase feeling like an organic act of discovery and renewal.
Mið — an Old Norse word for “centre” or “middle” — marks another departure and another new beginning. The band have always dealt in states of transition, not least on the thematically linked, mythology-steeped rites of passage that were 2020’s Utgard and 2023’s Heimdal. The new album sheds light on harmonies and dialogues embedded all around us: between the ways of the past and how they can bring enlightenment to the present, between small kernels of truth and their ability to project onto the most universal of canvases, and between band members relying on instinct and each other to create a record that galvanises on every possible level.
Pre-order Mið: enslaved.bfan.link/mid
Stream “Solar Will”: enslaved.bfan.link/solar-will
Mið is available to pre-order in the following formats: CD Jewelcase; CD Digipack (with bonus track & sticker); and LP gatefold vinyl (black, transparent blue, arctic blue pearl, and blue/white/dark green/black marbled).
Mið track listing:
- Non-Being
- I Am Ice (featuring Johan Sara Jr)
- Solar Will
- Mountain
- Spirit Helper (featuring Kevin Kicking Woman)
- Parting
- Tales of Trees
- I Miðju
Enslaved are:
Ivar Bjørnson – guitars
Grutle Kjellson – vocals, bass
Arve ‘Ice Dale’ Isdal – guitar
Håkon Vinje – keyboards
Iver Sandøy – drums
Enslaved live in 2026:
18 Sep – Sortland, NO @ Sortland Jazzfestival 2026
29 Oct – Bergen, NO @ Kulturhuset (Album Release Show)
30 Oct – Oslo, NO @ Big Dipper (Signing Session / Meet & Greet)
31 Oct – Oslo, NO @ Oslo Spektrum w/ Dimmu Borgir & Satyricon
Enslaved live in 2027:
27–30 May – Baltimore, US @ Maryland Deathfest 2027
Follow Enslaved:
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube
