ENSLAVED, the progressive black/viking metal ensemble, has unveiled a bonus track from last year’s “Heimdal” album as part of an upcoming deluxe edition of the LP
Scheduled for release almost exactly a year after the initial album launch, this digital ‘deluxe’ version of “Heimdal” will not only feature the complete album but also present extra treats for fans.
The band has confirmed that this edition will naturally include the bonus track “Gangandi,” in addition to two other supplementary tracks, namely “Congelia” and “Forest Dweller.” For the latter two pieces, ENSLAVED collaborated with cellist Jo Quail, introducing a new dimension to the songs.
But there’s more to anticipate. The deluxe edition will also incorporate audio from the 2022 streaming event, “The Otherworldly Big Band Experience,” which ENSLAVED participated in alongside fellow countrymen Shaman Elephant.
Accompanying the release of “Gangandi,” vocalist/bassist Grutle Kjellson disclosed that it was the final track they composed before entering the studio for “Heimdal“.
“Gangandi was the last song we made before the recording sessions for Heimdal took place. I remember Ivar driving down to my place from Bergen on a Friday night to play a demo for a new song for me, and I went like, ‘Daaaaamn, this is something else!’ I absolutely loved it, but at the same time, I sensed that it was a little bit to the left of the rest of the material. When I started to figure out what to sing over it, I ended up writing a poem in cross rhyme in archaic western Norwegian, which even separated the whole effort even further away from the rest of the material.
“So, ultimately, we ended up not including it on the album, other than as a bonus track on the most ‘exclusive’ and limited vinyl versions.
“That said, that doesn’t mean that we don’t enjoy the song! Quite the contrary! We love this odd little hybrid of folk rock, early Mayhem, and King Crimson! It just ended up being the weird cousin of the rest of the songs. Kind of like Enslaved itself as a matter of fact.”
Listen to “Gangandi” below, and if you’re interested, you can pre-save the deluxe edition of Heimdal today at this location.
ENSLAVED has also slated a series of shows in the UK and Europe for 2024. If you find yourself in the region this March, make sure to catch them at any of the below listed dates.
ENSLAVED 2024 UK and Europe tour dates:
w/ SVALBARD + WAYFARER
06/03 – UK London, Islington Assembly Hall
07/03 – UK Leeds, Brudenell Social Club
08/03 – UK Manchester, Club Academy
09/03 – UK Glasgow, Slay
10/03 – IE Dublin, Opium
12/03 – NL Helmond, Cacaofabriek
13/03 – FR Paris, La Machine
14/03 – CH Geneva, PTR/l’Usine
15/03 – FR Montpellier, Victoire 2
16/03 – IT Milan, Legend
18/03 – CZ Prague, Futurum
19/03 – AT Vienna, Szene
21/03 – DE Cologne, Club Volta
22/03 – DE Leipzig, Taubchenthal
23/03 – DE Berlin, Hole44
24/03 – PL Warsaw, Proxima