ENSLAVED To Play Israel For First Time

Norwegian progressive extreme metallers ENSLAVED will play their first-ever show in Israel on May 30 at Reading 3 venue in Tel Aviv.

Stated promoter Yishai Sweartz: "It's a great honor to welcome ENSLAVED to Israel, one of the best bands ever came out of Scandinavia. As a teenager, I was informed about the band activities from MAYHEM's Euronymous in 1993 in the underground letters days and expected the debut album to come out. Once released via DSP/Voices Of Wonder in 1994, I knew something unique and different is about to unleash the metal scene, years passed by and through classic albums as 'Frost', 'Eld' and 'Monumension', ENSLAVED established themselves as pure innovators of artistic Nordic metal, with the years the band continued to travel through musical boundaries without betray the sound's signature, with brilliant albums as 'Isa', 'Ruun' and 'Axioma Ethica Odini', among others, created a unique sound and agenda never heard before in the metal scene. The band's new album, 'RIITIIR', proved once again that quality counts, and ENSLAVED delivered one of the best metal albums in the last years, adding themselves new fans while keep the old ones close and dedicated.

"The show is supported by the Norwegian Embassy in Israel and I'd like to use the opportunity to thank them for believing in the band and standing by our side."

Fans who buy tickets will have a special option to get "RIITIIR" at a special package deal price.

ENSLAVED is working on new concert DVD, to be filmed at ABC Studios in Etne, Norway. The band states: "We will record two full sets containing material from all our releases. There will be a total of 24 songs (matching the number of the Futhark, by the way-ish),including some very special and long asked-for treats for our fans. There will be glimpses into the world of ENSLAVED between the songs that will help create a unique musical experience caught on film."

ENSLAVED will return to the U.S. and Canada later this month for a 20-date headlining "Winter Rite" tour with support from U.S. doom metallers PALLBEARER and occult rockers ANCIENT VVISDOM. Kick-off is in Philadelphia on January 30, with the tour closing in New York City on February 22.

ENSLAVED's twelfth studio album, "RIITIIR", 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.

The band'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.