IHSAHN TO PERFORM TELEMARK + PHAROS EPS IN THEIR ENTIRETY FOR LIVESTREAM

INCLUDING EXCERPTS FROM DAS SEELENBRECHEN + FEATURING EINAR SOLBERG FROM LEPROUS

Shapeshifting progressive metal pioneer Ihsahn has announced an exclusive set at Munin Live, streaming from his hometown of Notodden on April 4 at 7pm BST/8pm CET/2pm ET.

Once again pushing the boundaries of unconstrained creation, the Norwegian master of the avant-garde will premiere both of his latest critically acclaimed EPs Telemark and Pharos in their entirety, including tracks that have never been performed live before. The set will also include excerpts from Das Seelenbrechen, and feature Einar Solberg from Leprous.

Get tickets here.

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Having returned to that early black metal sound on Telemark, Ihsahn was due to perform at Norway's Inferno Festival in April 2020, followed by a series of live concerts and festival appearances that would showcase his more extreme work. Canceled due to the pandemic, he says. "We couldn't wait to perform the last EP. I even ordered stage props with David Thiérrée's illustrations. The plan was to do Telemark shows through the summer and focus in on my black metal roots. And then as a counterpart, I wanted to do a different show based on the more mellow, experimental side of what I do, trying to connect the two forms together."

He continues, "For many years, I felt that I should do something purely black metal again," explaining how this eventually led to the abstract basis behind Telemark and Pharos. "However, I would feel very limited by that in the form of an album," the artist shares. "And then I would have wanted an outlet for the opposite. I've done the full black metal thing in the past but I'm also not a pop artist. I think it would be hard for me to fill an album within that format. This has been a challenge of limiting myself to a certain expression."

In 2020, Ihsahn released two five-track EPs via Candlelight Records, inspired by and dedicated to his home county of Telemark.

The first, Telemark EP, represents the dark, brutal and aggressive side of Ihsahn's compositional identity. With three new original songs and two ferocious cover versions, it represents a celebration of the defiant spirit that first inspired him to follow a creative path, forming Emperor, three decades ago. Listen to "Stridig."

The second, Pharos EP, is the light to Telemark's dark. Pharos features three original compositions and two covers: A delicate but true-to-the-original version of "Manhattan Skyline" by Norway's own pop progenitors A-ha (featuring Leprous frontman Einar Solberg on vocal duties) and the haunting "Roads," originally by British trip-hop collective Portishead. Recorded at his home studio, with additional drums by Tobias Solbakk at Jukes Joint Studio, Pharos is musically and conceptually a reverse image of Telemark.

Full Ihsahn merch options are available here.

ABOUT IHSAHN:

Since 1991, IHSAHN has defied expectations and pushed boundaries. Launching his solo career in 2006 with The Adversary, he has sought to maintain the black metal blueprint that he helped devise with the world-shattering EMPEROR, while mischievously exploring progressive dreamscapes, avant-garde jazz, electronica, darkwave, ear-crushing tech-metal and ambient meditations. Each full-length album has had an element of surprise and delight, where the architect plays out his creative vision by building on an unwavering zeal for the shock and awe that keeps his listeners on their toes.

IHSAHN SOCIAL MEDIA

Spinefarm Records:

https://www.facebook.com/spinefarm

https://twitter.com/Spinefarm

http://www.spinefarmrecords.com/usa/

https://instagram.com/spinefarmrecords/

https://www.youtube.com/user/SpinefarmRec

IHSAHN RELEASES VIDEO FOR COVER OF A-HA'S "MANHATTAN SKYLINE"

Manhattan Skyline featuring Einar Solberg of Leprous New EP 'Pharos' released 11/09/2020 https://Ihsahn.lnk.to/Pharos Originally written and recorded by A-ha...

SINGLE FEATURES EINAR SOLBERG FROM LEPROUS

NEW EP PHAROS OUT SEPTEMBER 11 VIA CANDLELIGHT RECORDS

Shapeshifting progressive metal pioneer IHSAHN has once again pushed the boundaries of unconstrained creation — this time with the release of his striking single/video tribute to Norwegian pop pioneers A-HA.

He has shared the video for his cover of the band's "Manhattan Skyline," which appears on his new EP, Pharos, out September 11 via Candlelight Records. The version features the phenomenal vocal talents of Einar Solberg of Leprous.

"Manhattan Skyline" was originally released by A-HA in 1986 and reached number 13 in the UK Singles Chart. With a refresh for 2020, IHSAHN has produced a delicate but true-to-the-original tribute, combining a soft, ballad-like verse that explodes into a bombastic rock chorus featuring all the melodramatic grandeur of the original. 

Directed and filmed by Troll Toftenes, the video sees IHSAHN at his most passionate. With the breathtaking landscape of Norway as the backdrop, IHSAHN plays his Aristides T/0 Lilac Pearl Satin Guitar atop Gaustatoppen, the highest mountain in Norway, at sunset while Solberg's earnest and emotional vocals soar to otherworldly levels of brilliance.

IHSAHN admits that his love of A-HA is not new, saying, "There are some hints of A-HA even on the second Emperor album!"

This revelation may frustrate followers of the orthodoxy present within extreme music. But for IHSAHN, he has never worried about being confined to certain expectations.

"I never wanted to be as one-dimensional [with] this black metal image," the artist explains. "When I turned 40, I stopped caring. But if you start out playing black metal when you're 16, it's hardly because you want to be everybody's favorite."

Pharos is another triumph for IHSAHN, a polymathic composer who has already leant his iconoclastic spirit to rule-breaking bands and projects. He has yet again woven intricate, sonic landscapes that cement his status as a true musical alchemist. Recorded at his home studio, with additional drums by Tobias Solbakk at Jukes Joint Studio, Pharos is musically and conceptually a reverse image of Telemark — the first of the two linked EPs, released back in February of this year.

The light to Telemark's dark, Pharos features three original compositions and another cover, which is the haunting "Roads," which was originally done by British trip-hop collective PORTISHEAD

ABOUT IHSAHN:

Since 1991, IHSAHN has defied expectations and pushed boundaries. Launching his solo career in 2006 with The Adversary, he has sought to maintain the black metal blueprint that he helped devise with the world-shattering EMPEROR, while mischievously exploring progressive dreamscapes, avant-garde jazz, electronica, darkwave, ear-crushing tech-metal and ambient meditations. Each full-length album has had an element of surprise and delight, where the architect plays out his creative vision by building on an unwavering zeal for the shock and awe that keeps his listeners on their toes.

IHSAHN Online:

http://ihsahn.com

https://twitter.com/ihsahn_official

https://www.facebook.com/ihsahnmusic

https://www.instagram.com/ihsahnofficial/

Spotify

IHSAHN TO RELEASE PHAROS

Pre-order new EP Pharos now. Get it here: https://Ihsahn.lnk.to/Pharos http://vevo.ly/u8Ej7a

 THE SECOND OF TWO COMPANION EPs, ON SEPTEMBER 11

INCLUDES COVERS OF A-HA AND PORTISHEAD 

Shapeshifting progressive metal pioneer IHSAHN will release Pharos, the second of two contrasting-yet-intertwined EPs, on September 11, 2020 via Candlelight Records.

Recorded at the artist's home studio, with additional drums by TOBIAS SOLBAKK at Jukes Joint StudioPharos is musically and conceptually a reverse image of Telemark, the first of the two linked EPs which was released back in February of this year.

Pharos is another triumph for one of the proud initiators of black metal. This polymathic composer, who has already leant his iconoclastic spirit to rule-breaking bands and projects, has yet again woven intricate, sonic landscapes that cement his status as a true musical alchemist.

Indeed, Pharos is the light to Telemark's dark. It features three original compositions and two covers: A delicate but true-to-the-original version of "Manhattan Skyline" by Norway's own pop progenitors A-HA (featuring LEPROUS frontman EINAR SOLBERG on vocal duties) and the haunting "Roads," originally recorded by British trip-hop collective PORTISHEAD.  

Pre-orders for Pharos, including t-shirts, hoodie, and limited-edition vinyl bundles, are available here. [[ADD LINK] 

IHSAHN Online:

http://ihsahn.com

https://twitter.com/ihsahn_official

https://www.facebook.com/ihsahnmusic

https://www.instagram.com/ihsahnofficial/

Spotify