Norway’s ENSLAVED have landed on the American Billboard Hard Music chart at #11 and the Heatseekers chart at #49 after having sold over 1,100 copies of their latest album Vertebrae since it’s October 28th release.
ENSLAVED guitarist and founding member Ivar Bjørnson shares his thoughts on this accomplishment and the upcoming 2009 North American tour:
“We were on the first day of our European tour in Copenhagen when we got the update from the U.S. on the Vertebrae release. We’ve been told the first sales figures are very good! We are very grateful for the reception Vertebrae has received in America; and now to see the first-week sales being doubled compared to those of Ruun is nothing short of amazing. We wish to thank the fans for backing the release, the media for the in-depth reviews and features, and everybody at Nuclear Blast for getting 100% behind ENSLAVED on this release.”
“The new songs sound like a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, and we can’t wait to take this album on the road – luckily the wait is over! The confirmation of the North American dates in May 2009 is the best news we could get. The two tours over there in 2007 were fantastic; the response was overwhelming and we got to meet and know so many dedicated fans and followers of ENSLAVED all over North America. Going back now, with the massive welcome Vertebrae has received, is something we can’t wait to do. Having SWALLOW THE SUN and KEEP OF KALESSIN as support is absolutely great. We can’t wait!”
Confirmed North American tour dates are below. Advanced tickets are on sale now exclusively through EnterTheVault.com until November 26th. On November 27th, tickets will go on sale through normal ticketing outlets.
May 01 Mokena, IL @ Pearl Room May 02 St. Paul, MN @ Station 4 May 03 Winnipeg, MB - Royal Albert Arms May 04 Regina, SK - The exchange May 05 Edmonton, AB - Starlite Room May 06 Calgary, AB - Warehouse May 07 Vancouver, BC - Plaza Club May 08 Victoria, BC - Sugar May 09 Seattle, WA - El Corazon May 10 Portland, OR - Hawthorne Theater May 11 San Francisco, CA - Slims May 12 West Hollywood, CA - Key Club May 13 San Marcos, CA - Jumping Turtle May 15 San Antonio, TX - Scout Bar May 16 Houston, TX - Scout Bar May 18 Ft. Lauderdale, FL - Culture Room May 19 Orlando, FL - Backbooth May 20 Atlanta, GA - Masquerade May 21 Raleigh, NC - Volume 11 May 22 Baltimore, MD @ Sonar - Maryland Deathfest May 23 Worcester, MA - Palladium May 24 New York, NY - The Blender Theatre at Gramercy May 25 Montreal, QC - Foufounes Électriques May 26 Toronto, ONT - Opera House May 27 Rochester, NY - Penny Arcade May 28 Springfield, VA - Jaxx May 29 Louisville, KY - Uncle Pleasants May 30 Milwaukee, WI - The Rave