ENSLAVED: 'RIITIIR' First-Week Sales Revealed

"RIITIIR", the twelfth studio album from Norwegian progressive/psychedelic black metallers ENSLAVED, sold around 2,300 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 8 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

ENSLAVED's previous album, "Axioma Ethica Odini", opened with 1,400 units back in September 2010 to debut at No. 16 on the Top New Artist Albums chart.

A track-by-track review of "RIITIIR" is available at Terrorizer.com.

"It has been only two years since we last released an album [2010's award-winning 'Axioma Ethica Odini'], and we've been touring Europe and North America several times since then," reflected ENSLAVED's Ivar Bjørnson. "Some might think that this schedule, and the fact that we celebrated our 20th anniversary last year, should result in some time off in the end. Nah. Like a space vessel that gains momentum by entering slingshot-orbits on its way through space, we seem to gain speed, direction, and strength on our journeys, through new releases and subsequent tours.

"Describing the sound on the new album is both easy and hard," Bjørnson continued. "It is easy because it sounds like ENSLAVED, whatever that means. It is hard because there are so many layers and different focal points. I have a feeling that it has a deeper complexity than our previous efforts, but at the same time, I do find it more catchy and moving. Then again, I am the opposite of objective in this, so again I'll leave it up to the people outside the band to make up their mind."

The "Thoughts Like Hammers" video can be seen below. The clip, presented by Scion AV, was directed by Jerome Siegelaer, who states, "In few words, the concept is that thoughts are liquid, hammers are stone, but they erode each other and merge. The scaling of subjects matters, in shape, size and time. All is supporting the flow of concept, and it ends into eternal vastness."

The release of the "Thoughts Like Hammers" video coincides with the announcement of Scion AV's Label Showcase, featuring Roadburn Records, which ENSLAVED will headline, with additional appearances by WHITE HILLS, Scott Kelly of NEUROSIS, EARTHLESS and ASTRA. The event takes place on November 10 at the Roxy in West Hollywood, California. The concert is free with RSVP at www.scionav.com/metalshow.