LIVE REVIEW: Enslaved @ Slay, Glasgow

While it’s a shame that ENSLAVED aren’t frequent visitors to Glasgow, this sad fact makes tonight’s show particularly special. Had it just been ENSLAVED themselves performing tonight, it would have been enough for many in attendance tonight. The quality of their 2023 record Heimdal will undoubtedly have led to a shakeup of fans’ album rankings and their ‘end of year’ lists, so the prospect of hearing this new material performed live is an undeniably exciting one. The Norwegians haven’t come alone though, being joined by two bands who also grew to new levels in 2023 – British post-hardcore band SVALBARD, and the American Western-inspired metal band WAYFARER.

WAYFARER are an interesting bunch – and not just because of their ‘Western’ aesthetic of bolero hats and bolo ties. While they deal exclusively in matters relating to the American Frontier, they take their music in a black metal direction, incorporating elements of melodic death metal along the way and making them a fitting support act for tonight.

Their healthy crowd of fans and newcomers seem instantly impressed as they stomp through a short set of tracks largely pulled from their 2023 album American Gothic, opening with The Thousand Tombs Of Western Promise and piling on the suitably creepy Reaper On The Oilfields. Another new track, To Enter My House Justified, seems to be a favourite of those with prior knowledge in attendance. Although they have limited time on stage, they perfectly showcase their unique brilliance.

Rating: 9/10

It feels fair to say that SVALBARD had their biggest year yet in 2023 with the release of The Weight Of The Mask. Touring with ENSLAVED seems as big of a deal to them as it does to those in the crowd, who eagerly give the four-piece the warm welcome that they are due. Disparity and Open Wound open their set before they shift into the newer material, with Faking It standing out as a clear highlight of their set. A brief setback with technical difficulties allows some time for vocalist Serena Cherry to talk about how much fun they’re having on tour and about their journey up north, including a stop-off to see some highland cows.

Their incorporation of post-hardcore and post-rock is perfect for club venues, and tonight is no exception. SVALBARD have become known for tackling topics like depression and the challenges of modern life on tracks like Lights Out. While this isn’t the most obvious fit beside their progressive Viking metal tour mates, their presence on this small stage is undeniable, and the heart that they are able to pour into their tracks in a live environment is captivating.

Rating: 8/10

Tonight’s venue doesn’t have much in the way of space for theatrics, or even wall space for the banners of individual acts, so ENSLAVED are instead preceded by atmospheric Nordic music as the ‘fog’ (in the form of CO2) gently rolls in. As the lights dim, the band take to a Glasgow stage for the first time in almost seven years and soak in the energy of the room before the duelling harmonies of Kingdom kicks things off.

There’s a strong argument to be made that ENSLAVED are at the top of their game tonight, which isn’t an easy achievement considering the band is approaching their 35th anniversary in a couple of years. Trying to pick a setlist that covers such an expansive career is no easy task, and bassist/lead vocalist Grutle Kjellson even jokes at one point about the length of some of their material, which also impacts what they can cover in one evening. Their most recent album Heimdal is their current focus, and tonight is better for it. Their performance of the ethereally heavy Forest Dweller is transcendent, filling the halls and back corridors of Glasgow’s Slay with eclectic synths, growls, and melodic chants. The rapid black metal opening of the chaotic Congelia rattles the bones of patron and staff alike, while the title track Heimdal stomps and grooves through its various phases.

Tonight isn’t all about the newer material though. While tracks like Homebound from 2020’s Utgard are included, they indulge themselves (and the audience) with tracks from their early-mid 00s run of albums, including the Norse hymn that is the classic Havenless, the progressive black metal anthem The Dead Stare, and the title-track from 2004’s Isa.

ENSLAVED are a band that have undergone several changes in their long career, both in terms of their line-up and their overall style. Like many Scandinavian metal bands, their earlier material adheres closer to black metal than anything else. While it’s more of a nod to end things on than anything else, fans who prefer this older styling don’t go away empty handed as the band shriek and blast their way through Allfǫðr Oðinn from their debut EP Hordanes Land as their final song of the night. Their chemistry on stage is electric, and while it shouldn’t necessarily come as a surprise, tonight’s performance is nothing short of brilliant.

Rating: 10/10

Check out our photo gallery of the night’s action in Glasgow from Duncan McCall here: 

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