In Times

In Times
Studio album by Enslaved
Released 10 March 2015
Recorded September & October 2014, Duper & Solslottet Studios, Earshot & Conclave Studios, Peersonal Sound, Fascination Street Studios
Genre Black metal
Length 53:05
Label Nuclear Blast
Producer Ivar Bjørnson, Grutle Kjellson, Herbrand Larsen, Iver Sandøy
Enslaved chronology

RIITIIR
(2012)		 In Times
(2015)

In Times is the thirteenth studio album by the Norwegian black metal band Enslaved. It was released on the 10 March 2015 by Nuclear Blast.

Background

In Times marks a further move by black metal band Enslaved to a more progressive sound following similar trends on their last few albums.[1] Some reviewers see Herbrand Larsen as responsible for this change, with Exclaim! stating that "the secret star of the record may be keyboardist Herbrand Larsen, whose role in the band has expanded markedly over the past few albums and really comes to the fore on In Times".[2] Loudwire agree, writing in their review that "with each passing album, keyboardist Herbrand Larsen has become a more integral part of the band utilizing his soothing clean vocals to contrast and compliment Grutle’s uncompromising rasp".[1] Ivar Bjørnson of the band told Blabbermouth in an interview that In Times " is the most consistent body of work we have so far: it incorporates our 'blacker' past with our influences from prog rock, our present sense of absolute freedom, and the joy of being in this band".[3]

The album was recorded in Bergen, Norway, and was mixed in Sweden by Jens Bogren at his Fascination Street Studios.[3] An article in Terrorizer explains that "some of the album’s weirder textures and sounds were conducted deep in the woods of Valevåg, south of Bergen, in a mobile studio adding that "you can definitely hear the earthy, organic feel this has given the album".[4]

In Times was released in numerous formats, including digital download, a digipak CD and different coloured vinyl limited editions.

The album charted in some territories in its first week of release, including Norway and Finland.[3]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source Rating
Metacritic 78/100[5]
Review scores
Source Rating
Pitchfork Media 6.2/10[6]
Loudwire favourable[1]
AllMusic [7]
Exclaim! 8/10[2]
Metal Hammer (Germany) 6/7[8]

On the Metacritic website, which aggregates reviews from critics and assigns a normalised rating out of 100, the album received a score of 78. This is based on 4 positive reviews.[5]

In Times received mostly positive reviews. The German variant of Metal Hammer Magazine named In Times as album of the month in its March 2015 issue.[8] Andy O'Connor in his Pitchfork review feels that "there isn't a whole lot differentiating one song from another, and many (songs) feel longer than they are" and states that the album is "competent musically but too timid to go into the depths, emotional, musical or otherwise, that black metal should strive for."[6] In the Loudwire review Joe DiVita states that "the ever-consistent Enslaved have churned out another album to cement their legendary status in a style they continue to call their own".[1] Thom Jurek in the AllMusic review calls In Times "a continuum of the sonic approach they began exploring on 2009's Monumension, mixing black metal with "progressive elements, sonic ambiences, and even psychedelic explorations", and summarises the review by calling the album "vital, bracing music"[7] Natalie Zina Walschots in Exclaim! states that "Enslaved have hit a sweet spot with In Times, experimenting just enough to keep everything interesting while also offering up pure aggressive pleasure so decadent it seems almost indulgent".[2]

Track listing

Music by I Peerson, lyrics by K Grutle and I Peerson

  1. "Thurisaz Dreaming" - 8:13
  2. "Building With Fire" - 8:49
  3. "One Thousand Years of Rain" - 8:13
  4. "Nauthir Bleeding" - 8:10
  5. "In Times" - 10:44
  6. "Daylight" - 8:56

Personnel

Enslaved

Extra personnel

Chart performance

Charts (2015) Peak
position
Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)[9] 97
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[10] 39
German Albums (Official Top 100)[11] 66
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[12] 21
UK Rock & Metal Albums Chart[13] 9
US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)[14] 8
US Top Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[15] 4
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[16] 16
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[17] 25
US Top Tastemaker Albums (Billboard)[18] 12

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 DiVita, Joe (10 March 2015). "Enslaved - In Times - Album Review". Loudwire. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Walschots, Natalie Zina (10 March 2015). "Enslaved - In Times review". Exclaim!. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "ENSLAVED: 'In Times' First-Week Chart Positions Revealed". Blabbermouth.net. 20 March 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  4. ↑ Whelan, Kez (26 February 2015). "Listen To Enslaved’s New Song ‘One Thousand Years Of Rain’". Terrorizer. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "In Times - Enslaved". Metacritic. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 O'Connor, Andy (13 March 2015). "Enslaved In Times review". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Jurek, Thom. "Enslaved In Times review". AllMusic. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Müller, Robert (18 February 2015). "Album Des Monats Enslaved In Times". Metal Hammer (Germany). Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  9. ↑ "Enslaved – In Times" (in Dutch). Dutchcharts.nl. Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
  10. ↑ "Enslaved: In Times" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
  11. ↑ "Enslaved – In Times". Officialcharts.de. GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
  12. ↑ "Enslaved – In Times". Norwegiancharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
  13. ↑ "Archive Chart". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  14. ↑ "Enslaved Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Top Hard Rock Albums for Enslaved. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
  15. ↑ "Enslaved Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Top Heatseekers Albums for Enslaved. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
  16. ↑ "Enslaved Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Independent Albums for Enslaved. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
  17. ↑ "Enslaved Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Top Rock Albums for Enslaved. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
  18. ↑ "Enslaved Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Top Tastemaker Albums for Enslaved. Retrieved 19 April 2015.