Ihsahn (ex-Emperor) released a new album (stream it and read an interview)

by Doug Moore

Ihsahn is one of the most influential musicians to emerge from the Norwegian black metal scene of the early ’90s. His best-known band, Emperor, were among the first to introduce keyboards to the style. (For better or for worse; you can make a strong case that no BM band has used keyboards as effectively since.) Since Emperor’s dissolution in 2001, Ihsahn has become one of the most prolific and well-regarded solo artists in the metal world. Since 2006, he’s released five solo albums under his own name, all while juggling occasional Emperor-reunion live appearances.

We interviewed him over at Invisible Oranges today. The interviewed touched on his recently-released new album Das Seelenbrechen, the crazy-fast pace at which he works, and his uncomfortable relationship with the black metal scene. Here’s an excerpt:

Well, if you’re bringing up Emperor — let me get the boring question out of the way — what are the odds I will get to see an Emperor show here in America?

I’m sorry to say that will probably not happen, no. It’s impractical due to who is in the band and who can get a visa.

But you’ve also only played two solo shows in the US, while you’re about to play three in Japan. Why not more?

It’s so difficult to do all the paperwork and get a working visa for everyone involved. I assure you it’s more tedious than getting everyone to Japan. It’s so hard to get promoters to pay for petitions and file work for visas back and forth through the embassy. You wouldn’t believe it. For the most part I’ve been doing European shows, but not even that many of them. The shows I’ve played in the US in the past both as Emperor and Peccatum, and recently with ProgPower and Maryland Deathfest, have been a great time, but I’m one person and I mainly stick to festivals for the sake of priorities. Japan is streamlined, because they’re all very small businesses, and easy to work with. It’s easy to go and play three shows in three days.

That light touring schedule must enable you to keep making these solo records so quickly.

Yes, for me that is the priority, but I’ve come to enjoy playing live again, very much thanks to the people I’ve been working with. Leprous is very professional — no drinking, no partying. I trust them, and they always come through. My tour manager is fantastic. Everything is in order on that front. But it’s my priority to spend my time in the studio writing new music and producing music for others. I actually have some projects coming up where I will be doing more production work.

It’s been less than two years since Emerita. That’s a very rapid release.

It made sense because this is kind of a different album. I didn’t think waiting two years and then releasing something as far-fetched as this, and then waiting another two years before maybe a more metal-oriented album. It just made sense to do this quite shortly after. Most of the time, I try to focus on every second year releasing an album. It just fits my schedule to do it like that. Inspiration wise, I don’t feel I’ve run out yet, particularly not now that I’ve been able to do something so different. Now, I have a lot of time for the next one already.


You can check out the rest of the interview over at IO. Das Seelenbrechen is out now via Candlelight records. It’s available digitally via Bandcamp or on CD.

Stream the entire album below…

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Ihsahn – Das Seelenbrechen