Enslaved has released their new single “Tales of Trees” off their upcoming album Mið, which is set for release on October 30 via Nuclear Blast Records. This single continues to build momentum for the album’s release following the release of their latest tracks “Solar Will” and “Spirit Helper” (feat. Kevin Kicking Woman). “Tale of Trees” uses the majesty and fragility of the natural world as a mirror for the human condition. Through a blend of complex progressive structures and searing black metal atmosphere, the band draws a poignant parallel between Mother Nature and the psyche. An official visualizer was also released, which rapidly flashes between colorful images of nature, the band performing, and old black-and-white photos of various people, which are juxtaposed against more violent images of the military. When discussing the track, vocalist and bassist Grutle Kjellson stated:
“Tales of Trees is indeed tales about trees, but perhaps not first and foremost in a botanical sense. Trees can grow, shine, and flourish, but they can also wither and burn. They need to be tended to and looked after in one way or another, and thus serve as a fitting parallel to the human mind, let alone humanity as a whole. Trees as symbols of something more than mere botanical creatures have appeared throughout history, both in mythological tales and in folklore. So, I think this tale is a fitting accompaniment to the heavy and yet dynamic tunes of this composition.”
Guitarist Ivar Bjørnson added:
“‘Tales of Trees’ can be both a tribute to our wooden relatives on this planet – who have had rather a lot of patience with us; and a metaphor for so much more. The winding time signatures of folk music and the adventurous spirit of classic prog are natural ingredients in my songwriting, and they feel particularly at home here.There is something about our kinship with trees that is both deeply familiar and wonderfully strange: everyday encounters with something we barely understand. That sense of recognition and mystery is at the heart of this song, opening another path into the world of ‘Mið’.”
Through Mið, Enslaved turns their gaze toward the fundamental concept of the axis: the middle, the origin, and the infinite reach of the present moment, continuing to redefine the boundaries of progressive black metal while weaving Old Norse histories and sacred traditions into complex modern soundscapes. The band will tour across the UK and Europe in February 2027 in support of Mið as a co-headline with Iceland’s Sólstafir, with support coming from Norway’s Gaahls Wyrd. Tickets will go on-sale on September 25 at 9am BST/10am CEST.
Photo Credit: Raymond Flotat
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