Last month, progressive trailblazers Enslaved officially announced their forthcoming studio album, Mið, set for release on October 30 via Nuclear Blast Records. Throughout their 35-year journey, across 17 albums, the Norwegian vanguard have continually redefined the boundaries of progressive black metal, weaving Old Norse histories and sacred traditions into complex modern soundscapes. With their latest offering, Enslaved turn their gaze toward the fundamental concept of the axis: the middle, the origin, and the infinite reach of the present moment.
Building on the momentum of their latest tracks Solar Will and Spirit Helper (feat. Kevin Kicking Woman), the band have now unveiled the album’s next captivating single, Tales Of Trees. The song uses the majesty and fragility of the natural world as a mirror for the human condition. Through a blend of complex progressive structures and searing black metal atmosphere, the band draws a poignant parallel between Mother Nature and the psyche.
Voicalist/bassist Grutle Kjellson states: “Tales of Trees is indeed tales about trees, but perhaps not first and foremost in a botanical sense. Trees can grow, shine, and flourish, but they can also wither and burn. They need to be tended to and looked after in one way or another, and thus serve as a fitting parallel to the human mind, let alone humanity as a whole. Trees as symbols of something more than mere botanical creatures have appeared throughout history, both in mythological tales and in folklore. So, I think this tale is a fitting accompaniment the the heavy and yet dynamic tunes of this composition”
