Enslaved’s Riitiir Out Today!
Now available in North America is RIITIIR, the twelfth studio album by Norway’s progressive extreme metallers ENSLAVED.
“I’ve poured my work, dedication and inspiration into this,” states rhythm guitarist/songwriter/lyricist Ivar Bjørnson. “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!”
RIITIIR’s total running time is 67 minutes and was recorded in Bergen, Norway at Duper Studios, Earshot Studios, Solslottet Studios, and Peersonal Sound. It was mixed by Jens Bogren and mastered by Tony Lindgren at Fascination Street Studios in Örebro, Sweden. The team of producers includes Ivar Bjørnson, Grutle Kjellson, Herbrand Larsen, and Iver Sandøy. Artwork is once again by talented Norwegian artist Truls Espedal.
Visit the ENSLAVED Facebook page to read commentaries on all the new songs on RIITIIR.
RIITIIR is available on iTunes at the special pre-order pricing of $8.99 for all U.S. residents (special pricing also extends through the week of release). Visit iTunes to preview 90 seconds of every single thought-altering new song.
Nuclear Blast USA’s RIITIIR bundles include an exclusive album artwork t-shirt + an exclusive 1-inch pin. RIITIIR’s deluxe digi-pak edition includes a bonus DVD featuring: The Making of RIITIIR, The Band, The Studios, The Artwork.
RIITIIR’s North American 2 LP bone & charcoal splatter vinyl double-gatefold version is limited to 1,000 copies and can be pre-ordered now.
Do it. Join ENSLAVED on the Barge To Hell cruise and gift yourself the experience of a lifetime.