Norwegian progressive extreme metal band ENSLAVED released their twelfth studio album, RIITIIR, in Europe on September 28th and in North America on October 9th via Nuclear Blast.

Rhythm guitarist Ivar Bjørnson released the following on the new album:

“I’ve poured my work, dedication and inspiration into this.

At one point, guitars were being written and recorded in my home studio while I was waiting for the phone call from the hospital that would admit my wife and I to the Labor Ward to receive our firstborn.

I have a feeling that RIITIIR has more of everything: the beautiful is more beautiful while the harsher is harsher. That it ended up being the longest album we’ve made so far was something we discovered by accident when we made the first rough mixes after the recordings. We forgot to think about length during the making and rehearsing of the album before recording it!

We sat down and thought about it: did it mean we hadn’t been critical enough with regards to the time? Upon listening through the recordings with the proverbial scissors in mind, we couldn’t find anything we absolutely didn’t want to keep. I’ll take that as a good sign. So good news if you don’t absolutely love what we’re doing: at least the songs are very long!”

A previously released album preview can be heard below:

Past song commentaries on Enslaved's RIITIIR can be read on the band's Facebook page.

RIITIIR was recorded in Bergen, Norway at Duper Studios, Earshot Studios, Solslottet Studios, and Peersonal Sound. At Fascination Street Studios in Örebro, Sweden, Jens Bogren handled mixing duties while Tony Lindgren handled the mastering. The team of producers includes Enslaved’s very own Ivar Bjørnson, Grutle Kjellson & Herbrand Larsen, plus Iver Sandøy.

RIITIIR tracklisting:

'Thoughts Like Hammers'

'Death In The Eyes Of Dawn'

'Veilburner'

'Roots Of The Mountain'

'Riitiir'

'Materal'

'Storm Of Memories'

'Forsaken'

The deluxe digi-pak edition of Riitiir includes a bonus DVD featuring: The Making of Riitiir, The Band, The Studios, The Artwork.