In the final installment of their track-by-track series, bassist/vocalist Grutle Kjellson and rhythm guitarist/songwriter Ivar Bjørnson of the progressive/psychedelic Norwegian black metal band ENSLAVED offer commentary on the final song that will appear on the band’s new album Axioma Ethica Odini, which is out today (September 27th) in Europe, and in North America tomorrow (September 28th).

Grutle on 'Lightening': “This the last song Ivar came up with, and also the last one I did the lyrics for on this album. Another ‘love at first sight’ story for me; I enjoyed it straight away and had a really good time working on it. I really have to mention [lead guitarist] Ice [Dale]’s huge impact on this song, too. He really does some magic here and the beginning of the song had been remarkably different without his genius! I remember that I wrote the lyrics while listening to the pre-production on repeat, and the words just came out instantly. It was just like the words were already there and I was merely a medium… strange but cool. I won’t say too much about the lyrics other than they describe certain forces inside you, written in mythological metaphors. The title should provide a pretty good hint. Enjoy!”

Ivar on 'Lightening': “[Keyboard player and clean vocalist] Herbrand was a little bit concerned with the opening riffs on this song, as they seem to skip a lot between scales, bars, and time signatures. Then he and Ice Dale sat down to work out a collaboration between the lead guitar and the clean vocals. And WHAT a result! I dare say this is Herbrand’s most impressing vocal efforts to date, and it shows that Ice Dale is a guitar legend in the sense that he can feel the notes, not only shred them. Then Grutle takes over in the second part of the song, again showcasing very impressive timing and his best aggressive vocals so far in my ears. These lyrics by Grutle definitely gives off a sense of lightening, of brightening up – but to me it is more the bright light of an explosion than any kind of meek light of forgiveness. A perfect end to the album.”

Read the commentaries on 'Ethica Odini', 'Raidho', 'Waruun', 'The Beacon', 'Axioma', 'Giants', 'Singular' and 'Nightsigh' at this location.

Axioma Ethica Odini features the following tracklisting:

'Ethica Odini'

'Raidho'

'Waruun'

'The Beacon'

'Axioma'

'Giants'

'Singular'

'Night Sight'

'Lightening'

Audio samples of all tracks from Axioma Ethica Odini are available online at Amazon.co.uk.

Enslaved recently launched a 'Ethica Odini' Fan Video Contest. More information on the flyer below. Further details at this location.

Enslaved will embark on a seven-show Circling Above And Within Tour of Europe beginning October 15th and will return to North America in November as the direct support act for DIMMU BORGIR. All upcoming tour dates are available here.