Metalcatto
This is a tough one. There are few bands more respected and loved than Enslaved in our colourful little community. However, I haven’t been genuinely happy with the band’s output since Axioma Ethica Odini. Well, though Riitiir was pretty good, but surely we can still have some hope for Mið. It’s Enslaved, after all. They should be able to sell us a convincing story and take us somewhere interesting, right? Let’s go, pagans! There are wars to lose out there!
Meh. I’m a little bummed out, people. This wasn’t what I expected at all. Mið is different, I’ll give it that. Enslaved have clearly taken a few risks, experimenting with their sound and moving away from some of the more familiar Folk and Progressive Metal territories. There’s a greater emphasis on atmosphere here, and while the idea is interesting, the execution leaves quite a bit to be desired. There’s simply not enough going on during roughly 75% of the album. Is this some forgotten Doom Metal band trying to test my patience? No? Then why does it feel like I’m waiting for something to happen?
Interestingly, the final two tracks contain most of the album’s genuinely exciting ideas. Before that, we’re treated to a collection of emotional ups and downs that rarely develop into anything particularly memorable. The songwriting is still pretty solid, because we’re talking about Enslaved, and these guys don’t exactly forget how to write music overnight. However, I’m struggling to identify anything here that feels particularly fresh or different from what they’ve explored in the past. We’ve been down some of these roads before!
You can probably tell I’m not particularly enthusiastic about this one. It’s not that Mið is a bad album. Rather, it takes far too long to become interesting, and several tracks end up feeling like extended introductions, overtures, or interludes for the two closing numbers. Honestly, why not just give us six tracks and make them count? Where’s the Progressive Metal madness? Where are those moments that make you stop whatever you’re doing and pay attention? I’m more disappointed than when Gaerea released… Actually, perhaps that’s an exaggeration. That was considerably worse. I’m still recovering.
Ultimately, Enslaved deserve credit for exploring new territories at this stage of their career. That’s admirable, and there’s nothing wrong with challenging expectations. Unfortunately, Mið doesn’t represent the best this band has to offer. The production is decent, the musicianship is excellent, and the ideas are there. They’re just not assembled in a way that works for me. Alright, perhaps I’ve been a little harsh. Give it a spin yourself, and let’s have a civilised discussion here or over on IG!
Label: Nuclear Blast Records
Release date: 29 October, 2026
Website: https://enslaved.bandcamp.com/album/mi
Country: Norway
Score: 3.0/5.0
