ENSLAVED have released two new recordings that step entirely outside the bounds of heavy metal, collaborating with Bergen's STORM WEATHER SHANTY CHOIR on a pair of maritime songs. The first, "Fire Marengo," is a traditional Norwegian sea shanty accompanied by a full music video. The second, "Anna Lovinda," was composed by the late Erik Bye — a revered Norwegian musician, journalist, and cultural icon who died in 2004.
The project is a natural extension of ENSLAVED's ongoing immersion in Norwegian cultural heritage, a thread that has run through their work since their earliest black metal recordings in the 1990s. Frontman Grutle Kjellson has spoken frequently about the importance of preserving Nordic folk traditions, and the collaboration with STORM WEATHER SHANTY CHOIR — one of Norway's most celebrated vocal ensembles — realises that ambition in an accessible, joyful form.
The recordings are warm and communal, featuring layered choir voices against maritime percussion and subtle instrumentation. They sit at a considerable remove from ENSLAVED's studio work in tone, but they demonstrate the depth of the band's cultural roots and their willingness to follow artistic curiosity wherever it leads.
STORM WEATHER SHANTY CHOIR, formed in Bergen in 2012, has built a global following through recordings and live performances celebrating Nordic maritime heritage. Their performance style blends traditional Norwegian song with dramatic vocal arrangements, making them ideal partners for this project.
Both recordings are available on streaming platforms now.