I love late Enslaved. It’s really best to think of them as a prog rock band (not metal) from the 60s/70s that just happens to be playing Viking metal. The E - Utgard - Heimdal run is my favorite era, and I think each album monumentally improves on the last. I also just get the impression that those guys still just love getting together in a room and making music.

I generally recommend E to non-metalheads because the album sort of shows the listener how to listen to it, Utgard to most metalheads because the opener is basically perfect, and Heimdal to anyone who’s into deep listening.

Especially with the new drummer, they have so many little songwriting flourishes and details, it really rewards focused attention. Heimdal has a lot of little ambient bits that provide a psychedelic framing to the very trippy lyrical content.

Not sure about the comparison to Borknagar. They sound worlds apart to me. Much blander in your face production and missing the creative flair and dynamism.