Enslaved was formed in 1991 by Ivar Bjørnson and Grutle Kjellson, and did their first demo “Yggdrasill” in the summer of 1992. Enslaved released the legendary mini album “Hordanes Land” in 1993 (this was released also as a split-CD with Emperor’s s/t MLP). Enslaved’s debut album came during the spring of 1994, while the historically successful second album “Frost” was released already late 1994.
“Eld” in many ways marked the opening of a horizon-widening era for the band in 1997 – the following year saw the release of “Blodhemn”; perhaps surprising some with its fury and blacker edges. “Mardraum (Beyond the Within)” was released in 2000; this aural nightmare of an album sent shock waves through the Extreme Metal scene with its experimental, innovative approach. The band followed up with “Monumension” in 2001; and again the band was shocked to see the positive response to their “no rules” approach to Extreme Metal.
Many see an important, if not the important milestone being “Below the Lights” – where the progressive yet darker Enslaved emerged – released in 2003; it presented the perfect blend of power, tradition, progressive elements and dark Psychedelia. A new line-up was put together after the recording of “Below the Lights”; introducing scene veteran Cato Bekkevold (Red Harvest founder), Ice Dale and Herbrand Larsen.
In short, Enslaved started climbing new heights with their live performances, adding strong visual elements in the shape of video art and more. The new line-up released the album “Isa” late 2004. The album put Enslaved at the very forefront of contemporary Extreme Metal; both as a recording and live artist. Enslaved received both the Norwegian Grammy and the independent Alarm Price for “Isa”, topping it off with the release of acclaimed live-DVD “Return to Yggdrasill”. The critically acclaimed “Ruun” was released in 2006, and received numerous great reviews from fans, magazines and websites worldwide. Www.blabbermouth.com concluded that “The metal world needs more bands this willing to throw out the rule book and go wherever their mad Muse takes them.” Early 2007 Enslaved sat out on tour in USA and Canada, and “Ruun” was rewarded with another Norwegian Grammy for Best Metal Album 2006. At the end of the year, “Ruun World Tour part II” commenced all over Europe and the North-American continent.
Whilst building a reputation as one of the very finest live-acts around; there was found the time and power to create Enslaved’s greatest piece in seventeen years of existence: “Vertebrae” was recorded during the first months of 2008 – then mixed by sinister mastermind Evil Joe Baresi (Tool, Queens of the Stone Age) and mastered by the legendary George Marino in Sterling Sound. Produced by Ivar Bjørnson, Herbrand Larsen and Grutle Kjellson themselves, “Vertebrae” comes across as one of the strongest album to emerge from the Extreme Metal scene: sound, songs and atmosphere marks a great leap for the band and genre as a whole.

Mind Burns Alive finds Pallbearer navigating the space between disquiet and serenity with a singular intensity. At times poetic and blistering, their fifth full length is a heartfelt meditation on isolation, trauma and mental breakdown, framed by the possibility of redemption and the quiet, aching beauty of escape.

Musically and lyrically stripped bare and vulnerable, Mind Burns Alive deals in universal themes of loneliness and the feeling of emotionally drowning in a world turning upside down. Bassist/vocalist Joseph D. Rowland describes the album as “an exploration of fate; when you are deceived by your own instincts and internal voice.” Guitarist / vocalist Brett Campbell furthers, “These songs are vignettes which tell the stories of people who deal with myriad sicknesses of the spirit. These are illnesses communicated by the world we live in, and the subjects are the symptoms of its disease.” 

While the band’s earlier catalog leaned on walls of guitar, massive distortion and piercing vocals, they achieve more on Mind Burns Alive by stripping everything back. These six songs offer a singular perspective into the pain that lies at the heart of everyday experience. Mind Burns Alive is not simply an exposition on those complex feelings. It is the musical intersection where struggle collides with the will to carry on.

“Their open-heart blues-infused rock ‘n’ roll is infectious. Frontlady Mlny Parsonz has always done it herself. As a self-taught instrumentalist who writes plot-driven metaphoric lyrics and works relentlessly to create dynamic on the stage, Parsonz’s music is explosive.” -Paste Magazine

A dark, enlightening foresight into the future of humankind dictated by singer/songwriter Nathan Opposition.

Ancient VVisdom was founded in Austin, TX in late 2009 with the order consisting of Nathan Opposition , writer and vocalist, Justin “Ribs” Mason on acoustic guitar, and Nathan’s brother, Michael on electric guitar.

In 2010, they recorded and released a split 12” EP with Charles Manson entitled “Inner Earth Inferno” (Withdrawal Records), which garnished praise from critics and cultists alike.

The band spent the rest of the year sharpening their blackened craft, using acoustic guitars to give the music an organic connection to the nefarious rites they beget. Writing well over an albums-worth of material, they chose the most appropriate songs for their debut LP ” a godlike inferno” to record at The Bubble, a local, vvorld renowned studio in Austin, TX. For the recording , they enlisted additional instrumentation by
Alex Hughes (Hatred Surge, Iron Age) to play the bowed stand-up bass, Wade Allison (Iron Age) machete percussion and guest guitar lead on “lost civilization”, Chase VVarlow on bamboo percussion and Jason Buntz (engineer and co-producer) on select guitar and synth.

Not unlike early death rock and neo-folkore sound, Ancient VVisdom incorporates electric guitar effects, synth sounds, vocal harmonies and abstract percussion to create a deeper, ethereal quality to their minimalist arranagements. Nathan’s powerfully honest voice is complimented by lyrics ranging from mysteries of the occult, paganism, satanic philosophy, and forbidden knowledge.