Enslaved lose keyboardist 2016-12-14 by demon of surveillance | 38 Comments Isa (he had previously done engineering for the band). After completing their two-day 'New York By Norse' event that also featured Nordic folk band Wardruna, the band decided to reveal the news.



Vocalist/bassist and founding member Grutle Kjellson comments:



"Friends of Enslaved, brothers and sisters! Nothing lasts forever, and we have something to announce. Our keyboardist and vocalist for the last 13 years, Herbrand Larsen is leaving the band. There is no drama in connection with his departure, it was entirely his own decision, and we part ways as friends and with no bad blood in between us.



"We want to thank Herbrand for his duties in Enslaved in all these years, for standing alongside us on our adventures all over the world. We had some really good times on the road, in the recording studios and in our practice space. We raise our glasses, and wish you all the best on your next voyage! Thank you friend!"



Herbrand added:



"After 13 years of being a part of this amazing band it saddens me to say that I will be leaving Enslaved. It was not an easy decision to come to! I love Enslaved and will always do. There is no drama or anger involved in this. I think we all understand why this is the best decision both for me and the band.



"I don’t have that 100% drive anymore, the drive you need to be in a band like Enslaved. Only 99% and that is not enough. It’s hard to explain but this is how it is. I remember all the shows we have done together. All the places we have been and all the fans that we’ve met. I remember meeting fans, telling me that our music really means something to them. I remember traveling places I never thought I would see. I remember working with extremely talented people. I remember tough times, sad times but most of all, all the good times. You have all been a huge part of my life and will still be.



"For that I’m truly grateful! I’m looking forward to spend more time in the studio. Recording, producing and mixing music. That’s where I want my focus and my drive to be. To Arve, Cato, Grutle and Ivar, thank you for your friendship, your creativity and your support. I wouldn’t be who I am today if it wasn’t for you guys. I am sure you will be even better, stronger and more successful in the future. And you will still continue to be my friends and a big part of my life. Thank you!"



The band will finish the last date of their 'Spinning Wheel Ritual' Norwegian tour in their hometown of Bergen on December 16th.



https://www.facebook.com/enslaved/posts/10154024702942201 Norwegian progressive black metallers Enslaved have announced that longtime keyboardist/clean vocalist Herbrand Larsen is departing the band. He joined in 2004, first performing on the acclaimed album(he had previously done engineering for the band). After completing their two-day 'New York By Norse' event that also featured Nordic folk band Wardruna, the band decided to reveal the news.Vocalist/bassist and founding member Grutle Kjellson comments:Herbrand added:The band will finish the last date of their 'Spinning Wheel Ritual' Norwegian tour in their hometown of Bergen on December 16th.

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meh





Ah man that is shitty.



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God dammit.





hopefully they stoppit with the cleans then.



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Damn this really sucks, loved what he brought to the band.



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"hopefully they stoppit with the cleans then."



agreed hard the cleans suck





The cleans were fantastic. Very sad that he is leaving.



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I've never found these guys' vocals, clean or harsh, to be anything noteworthy. Sad to hear that they're losing a member, though. Great band.





The cleans were fantastic. Very sad that he is leaving. [2]







imagine if they could get Einar Solberg to at least be a live member when he's not busy with Leprous, that would be fantastic





vocals improved quite a bit since axioma sad to see him go





They'd better go find him





Damn this sucks.





Love the cleans...added so much to the music. Band is awesome. Don't you guys think they have been taken for granted for a while now? They don't make a bad album. Ever.



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TURN INWARDS, REALIZE

WITNESS

THE MARCH OF THE GIANTS



(is that him singing this? I dug his vocals on axioma if that's the case)





RIP Herbrand Larsen, damn you 2016.





@tastepolice yeah that was him, he's done pretty much all the clean vocals for Enslaved since he joined (only time Grutle's done them by himself is the segment right before it gets heavy again in Daylight from what I can recall)





Gutted! A real loss imo - He made RiTTiR what it was





damn i always loved his cleans





oh no





*starting with axioma





The cleans were fantastic. Very sad that he is leaving. [3]





I know I'm probably in the minority here, but his cleans are what made me stop listening to Enslaved. Now that he's gone I'm finally looking forward to their new stuff again.





I can understand where you're coming from they are a bit out there





Worst cleans since CoB





God. Saw them 2 months ago live. I'd never expected that he would leave the band. His vocals elevated their sound to a whole new level. Neogenisis crawls in my mind as his most mesmerising performance. This news really saddens me, but im happy that he takes the right path for him and ill hope he'll be fine. He will always stay in my mind as a brother!





LOL!





So In Flames then?





Shit. Not sure if they will find a proper replacement to do the vocals live





Maybe he's going to become a skateboardist now





Thank GOD he is leaving, the cleans have been really meh. Here's hoping the next keyboardist has some character in his voice.





Band needs to stop the cleans thing, and the prog thing.



Band needs to return to where its real game is at, black metal.



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This sucks. The cleans and the prog made them stand out among all the other black metal bands. But then again, I typically think BM = crap.



Larsen really divided the fan base.





"I love Enslaved and will always do."





Sucks





Man I loved their proggy mix of cleans and black metal. I can't believe some people are happy he's leaving...there's a million other black metal bands out there but I've never heard another band that sounds like Enslaved. So glad I got to see them live (but if I hadn't, I probably would never have gotten into them...)





Agreed hard





indeed





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