Norwegian progressive black metal pioneers Enslaved are set to return with their 17th studio album, Mið, arriving October 30, 2026.
The album follows 2023’s acclaimed Heimdal, Enslaved’s 16th studio album, which continued the band’s exploration of psychedelic, progressive, and extreme-metal territory.
Continuing the band’s long-running tradition of pushing the boundaries of extreme and progressive metal, Mið promises to be another ambitious chapter in Enslaved’s remarkable career. The album moves between atmospheric beauty, crushing heaviness, and adventurous progressive passages, showcasing the band’s ability to evolve while maintaining their unmistakable identity.
Guitarist Ivar Bjørnson stated: “There have been sun cults as long as Magic Man has been around (at least). The Sun is a nurturing and terrifying parent that can grant as well as obliterate life totally. Such a classic and awe-inspiring object of our worship and myths requires classic and awesome riffs, Bonham-esque drum grooves and blistering melodic flares celebrating its horrific glory. This is what that sounds like to me: ‘Solar Will’!”
Voicalist / bassist Grutle Kjellson adds: “’Solar Will’ explores archetypal conflicts, those that manifest in nature, the cosmos, mythology, and, above all, within the human mind. In this instance, the central struggle is expressed through one of the enduring rivalries found in Norse mythology, embodied by two important, though often somewhat overlooked, figures within the pantheon. Readers familiar with the Norse mythological tradition will likely recognize the identities rather instantly, yet I shall refrain from naming them, allowing each reader the opportunity to engage with and decipher the lyrics on their own. After all, perhaps this is one of the essential functions of lyric writing: to invite interpretation and cultivate a sense of wonder? The conclusion, or more precisely, the absence of one, suggests that, for human beings, chaos and dreams are at least as significant as the realities we perceive through our senses. Ultimately, the work advocates not for resolution, but for the acceptance, assimilation, and shaping of these often contradictory forces.”
Mið* promises to be another adventurous chapter in that evolution. The album moves between hypnotic atmosphere, progressive complexity, and crushing extreme-metal intensity, with songs including “Tales Of Trees,” “Mountain,” “I Am Ice,” and “Solar Will.”
With Mið, Enslaved once again embrace the balance between darkness, melody, experimentation, and uncompromising metal that has defined their music for decades.
The album follows a remarkable legacy that has earned Enslaved widespread critical acclaim and prestigious recognition, including the Spellemannprisen, Norway’s equivalent of the Grammy Awards.
Mið will be released on October 30, 2026.
Mið Tracklist:
01. Non-Being
02. I Am Ice (featuring Johan Sara Jr)
03. Solar Will
04. Mountain
05. Spirit Helper (featuring Kevin Kicking Woman)
06. Parting
07. Tales of Trees
08. I Miðju
