The Enlightened are a three-piece swedish metal band formed in Stockholm in 2012 by singer and guitarist Tom Orgsen. They are known for mixing an extreme metal style with progressive, neo-classical, orchestral and symphonic elements and arrangements. Since the band's inception, they have released one studio album and seven singles. As of 2017, The Enlightened has sold over 5 million records world wide.







Chapter I: Creation, Debut Album & First Tour (2012-2014)

The Enlightened was created as a side-band by Tom Orgsen while working on the Forsaken project in 2012. His idea was to fuse extreme metal music with progressive metal, adding symphonic and classical influences. In mid 2013, Tom decided to summon other musicians to help him developing the project: Andreas Nedland and Fredrik Hedlund, two well-known musicians from the swedish metal underground.
Preparations for the debut album, The Arcanum Circle, started on August 2013 and on January of the next year, the band entered the Rever Studios in London to start the recording sessions with british producer Bill Owens. The album was recorded in a short time, only 6 weeks, and in March 2014 the band released their debut single, Shadows that was made available as both Digital and Physical formats and peaked at #5 on the Radio Airplay Charts despite failing to enter the Top 20 digital downloads chart. At the end of the same month, their second single was released, Ascension To Abyss, an eleven-minutes epic song that obviously did not find much Radio airplay but peaked at #11 on the Digital Songs chart. At May 2nd, the band released their highly-expected debut studio album, The Arcanum Circle through Starr Records world wide. The album debuted at #5 but topped the charts some weeks later, in 7 months the album went to sold over 2 million copies, having spent two weeks at #1 and nearly ten weeks at the top of the Rock Charts. On May 9th, the band released their third single, Conspiracy, which was widely-acclaimed and peaked at #1 in both the Digital Downloads and the Airplay charts, it went to sold over 1,400,000 copies world wide, turning in the band's first platinum-selling single. On July the band finished its record contract with Starr Records due to the closing of the label and one month later, The Enlightened signed with Kaleidoscope Records. On the first days of August, the trio released a new single, Illuminate which marked their first release with the new label and debuted at #1 on the downloads charts, becoming the second number-one single for the band in the digital charts.
Enjoying this important commercial success with their first album and singles, the band decided to embark on the Arcanum World Tour from August to November 2014, playing headlining shows in Europe, North and Latin America. In August 2014, the band achieved their first nominations, they were nominated on four categories on the fifth edition of the Fan Choice Awards: as Best Band, Best Newcomer, Favourite Rock / Indie act and Favourite Rock / Indie single. The band won 2 out of 4 awards (they also played a live show at the ceremony, their first-ever american show), the people choose them as Best Newcomer and their hit single Conspiracy won the Favourite Rock / Indie single category. The Arcanum World Tour finished on November 2014 after more than 40 shows on 22 different countries around Europe, North and Latin America.




Chapter II: Sophomore Album & Continuation Of The Success (2015)

While on tour, leader Tom Orgsen confirmed that a new album is coming on 2015, which will be produced by Bill Owens again. He also confirmed that the band have been working on the album while touring and that it will be out on early 2015. On March, the first single from their sophomore album was released, Visions peaked at #4 on the digital charts and at #2 on the airplay charts. The second teaser from the upcoming album was I Am The Darkness, one of the most-commercial and catchiest songs from the band, and was made available just some weeks after the release of Visions. This single topped the digital downloads chart and reached the #7 spot on the radio airplay chart. On April the band confirmed the name of their second album, the successor of the acclaimed The Arcanum Circle is called Mythos and will be released on June through Kaleidoscope Records. After the announce of the album, the trio released the third single from it, Rising which was met with a lukewarm reception from fans and radio stations (peaked at #6 on the digital downloads chart and at #16 on the airplay charts). The band's next and newest single, The Rape Of Persephone (feat. Lily Abbot) peaked at #4 on the radio charts (topping the rock charts) and topped the digital downloads charts, becoming the second number 1 single from Mythos. In June, the band was nominated for 3 awards on the fifth edition of the Fan Choice Awards: The Enlightened appered on the 'favourite rock act', 'favourite rock single' (for Visions) and 'favourite band / group' categories. Mythos landed at #3 on the charts with over 245,000 copies sold in its first week and became a 'gold album' for exceeding 500,000 sales in just two weeks- The album was met with positive ractions from fans and critics and the band went on to play it in its enterily on 20 shows around Europe and Asia (the band just played a slective number of concerts during the We Are The Darkness World Tour).




Chapter III: Times Of Change (2016-)

2016 was the less productive year for the band. They went on a hiatus for the first time, before starting the work for their new album. Tom Orgsen suffered some health-issues so the recording process was postponed until his recovery. The band composed and wrote the new songs from January to May 2016, the recording started in September and finnished in November, then the mixing and mastering process began, finnishing in late January 2017 after many problems in the studio. In March the band announced that Slave New Race, their third full-lenght album, is coming in April, with its first single The Cleansing coming a month before.

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[08.02.14] Hail To The Enlightened!
[08.02.14] Debut Album Confirmed
[04.03.14] First Single Announced
[07.03.14] Debut Single Released
[25.03.14] New Single Announced
[29.03.14] Second Single Released
[14.04.14] Illuminati Report #1
[15.04.14] "The Arcanum Circle" Info Revealed
[04.05.14] Enter The Circle
[06.05.14] Join The Conspiracy
[26.05.14] Illuminati Report #2
[30.07.14] Illuminati Report #3
[02.08.14] Signed With Kaleidoscope Records
[03.08.14] Arcanum World Tour 2014 Confirmed
[08.08.14] New Single Announced
[09.08.14] "Illuminate" Out Now!
[08.09.14] Illuminati Report #4
[19.11.14] Closing The Circle...
[28.02.15] The Conspiracy Returns!
[24.03.15] The Darkness Rises! New Single!
[12.04.15] Unveil The Dark Mythos!...Second Album Confirmed!
[01.05.15] An Update On The Myth!
[23.05.15] All Evil Rising!...New Single Confirmed!
[15.06.15] The Final Update On The Myth!
[16.06.15] New Single Out Tomorrow!
[18.07.15] Unveil The Dark Mythos
[01.11.15] Expect The Unexpected
[01.09.16] Not Forgotten Nor Stranded
[30.03.17] Slaves Will March

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From L to R: Andreas, Tom & Fredrik



Tom Orgsen
Lead Vocals & Guitars



Andreas Nedland
Bass & Backing Vocals



Fredrik Hedlund
Drums & Percussion

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Release Date: May 2014
Label: Starr Records
Chart Position: #1




Release Date: June 2015
Label: Kaleidoscope Records
Chart Position: #3



Release Date: May 2017
Label: Arcanum Records
Chart Position: TBR






2014 - From The Arcanum Circle












2015 - From Mythos












2017 - From Slave New Race










* Click on the Covers for full info and purchase links *

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Current:

No dates confirmed yet!




Past:

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2014 - Fan Choice Awards IV

Debut Album Confirmed for 2014



The Arcanum Circle is the title of The Enlightened's debut album which is going to be released this 2014 through Starr Records: just some days ago, the band signed a 2-album deal with the company. The album will be produced by Bill Owens and it will be recorded at the famous Rever Studios of London. Orgsen said: "This album will mark a new step in my career. It's the most ambitious project of my life and it's really exciting...we're not inventing a new genre or style, but we're taking the Extreme Metal into a new level, we're mixing a lot of orchestral, classical and symphonic elements with our powerful Progressive Extreme style, it's going to be destroyer. I am very happy with this new band, it's the perfect time to forget REÄLM and come with something new. When I started with this project, I always knew that the producer would be Bill (Owens), he's a big friend of mine and he's one of the best for this genre, he knows what I want, he knows me and my ideas very well so he's the best option. I won't confirm the album's release date yet, because we have a lot of work to do, but it's going to be released this year, for sure!"

More news are coming on the next days, so stay tuned!

Debut Single Released



Shadows, the band's first single, is out now through Starr Records, available in three different formats: CD, Digital Download and Limited-Edition 7" Pictury Vynil...A new level for extreme metal is being released today!

Click here for purchase links, lyrics, full-info and streaming!

New Single Released



Ascension To Abyss, the band's second single, is out now through Starr Records, available in four different formats: CD, Limited-Edition Digipack CD, Digital Download and Limited-Edition 7" Pictury Vynil. This is the second official release by the band, following the early-March single Shadows, this single is also produced by british metal producer Bill Owens.

Click here for purchase links, lyrics, full-info and streaming!

"The Arcanum Circle" Info Revealed



The Arcanum Circle, the band's debut album, is going to be released this May 2nd through Starr Records world wide. The album will be available in several formats: Standard CD, Digital Download, Standard LP, Limited-Edition Digipack CD and Limited-Edition Picture Vynil.

The album's setlist will be confirmed in the next days, alongside a brand new single (the third) from the album. The Arcanum Circle was recorded from January to March 2014 in the Rever Music Studios (London) and is produced by british producer, Bill Owens.

Join The Conspiracy



Conspiracy is the brand new single from The Arcanum Circle. It was one of the most-acclaimed songs by the fans and critics, so the band decided to release it as the third single from their debut album. It's coming this May 9th through Starr Records world wide. As the previos single, it will be availalbe in digital and phyisical formats, the latter will feature an unreleased bonus track.

Tom Orgsen, said: "Well, we're very, very happy to have the album out there. It has been a hard work but it was worth it, we're very pleased with the final result of the album and with its good reception from everybody! Now we are releasing one more single for you guys, it's 'Conspiracy', one of my favourite songs. Thank you for your support and keep rocking!"

The single's cover-art, as all the artworks for the band, was released by Bill Owens.

Illuminati Report #2

Hello conspirators, it's been a silent month for The Enlightened so we bring youuuu the awesomeee, the second Illuminati Report (or as we've already said, the non-important-news-update). What's new? The band's latest single Conspiracy debuted as a World Wide hit, reaching the #1 position on the Radio Airplay Charts and the #2 spot on the Digital Downloads Charts (with 150,000 sales). On its second week on sale, the single stayed in the Top 10 of the charts, falling to the #6 spot in the Airplay Charts and to the #4 position in the Downloads chart (anyways, it sold more than in its debut week, 160,000 copies...it makes a total of 310,000 sales in two weeks). Conspiracy became the band's most-successful single ever and gave them their first-ever Number 1 position. The Ascension To Abyss single is still on the Top 20 Streaming Charts, this week it got into the #12 position.
Tom Orgsen, suprised by the impressive success of their third and latest single, said: "Can't believe it. It's just unreal haha! I never expected such success with this single, it's my first-ever Number One position and I'm really shocked. The fans are fucking awesome...It's the most-successful release of my enitre career! Having #1 and #2 in the main charts is awesome, but it's not our main goal, the most important things is that people likes our stuff...As I have already said, we don't write music to achieve top positions or certifications, but it's awesome when it happens, it's a great feeling. So, thank YOU guys, it won't be possible without you!".
The controversial bassist, Andreas Nedland said: "This is for all the fucking 'meta-stars' world wide...True metal on the top, baby. Thank you Conspirators, you're just awesome. I promise that a lot of very exciting news are coming very soon...Did someone say something about a World Tour?!".

And heeere you have some purchase links for our singles and our debut album:
Buy our singles: Shadows, Ascension To Abyss, Conspiracy,
Our debut album: The Arcanum Circle or get the fuck out of here!


Tom, the
insane prophet.

Signed with Kaleidoscope Records

As you may know, the band's previous label, Starr Records closed its doors and The Enlightened are now signed with Kaleidoscope Records. The band have just signed a 2-album-deal with the American label which was founded in 2013 by Jordan Snow and Saige Shahar. After signing the contract, vocalist Tom Orgsen said: "We're very happy to be in Kaleidoscope. It was horrible when the guys at Starr Records called us and said that they couldn't keep the label going on, we were unsigned again and it's hard to find a good company that supports you and your work. Thanks to god, we found the perfect label: Kaleidoscope is not a rock or metal label but it's the best choice, they accept all types of genres and allow the artists to make what they really want, they won't try to mold us into a more radio-friendly style, they want us to follow our own path and that's totally great, as they motto says, there's where 'creativity flies freely'. We're very, very excited about this. It's great to have a new label and we want to release a new single as a 'welcome' to the Kaleidoscope world, so you're going to have our fourth-single very soon and, obviously, we are going to confirm the tour dates for the expected Arcanum World Tour in just some hours. Thanks to the people at Kaleidoscope that gave us a chance!"



Visit the Kaleidoscope Official webiste, Click Here.

New Single Announced



Illuminate is the new single from The Enlightened, it's the fourth single from their debut album The Arcanum Circle. It will mark the first release of the band with their brand new label, Kaleidoscope Records and leader Tom Orgsen commented: "After signing with Kaleidoscope, we decided that we had to release a new single, as a welcome to the label. We've been thinking about what song we must choose for the last days and the chosen is Illuminate, one of the shortest songs of the album and one of my favourites. This release is a gift for the fans, it's like a teaser of the Arcanum World Tour, we are all very excited to get on the road!".

The single is going to be released this August 9th through Kaleidoscope Records and will be available in digital and physical versions (physical releases features 2 bonus tracks). It was produced by Bill Owens, who made the cover-artwork too. The band also confirmed that this is the last single from their first album.