After [Black/White Swirl & Pink 2 LP]

by Ihsahn

Overview

Former Emperor frontman Ihsahn's third solo album is closer to mainstream rock than its two predecessors, but is also a totally unique statement -- and a brilliant one. Opening track "The Barren Lands" features progressive rock riffing, an almost art-funk rhythm, and guitar solos worthy of Living Colour. Faster tracks like "A Grave Inversed" are impeccably produced, abandoning black metal's ultra-trebly screech for an intricate thrash reminiscent of Rigor Mortis' Freaks -- except for the honking, almost free jazz saxophone (!). The ten-minute "Undercurrent" heads into jazz fusion territory, with liquid, almost fretless-sounding bass underneath delicate, repeating guitar figures and drums that fall somewhere between Tool and Opeth's quieter moments. But it gets heavy, whipping into another furious yet utterly controlled art-thrash hurricane. It's not the only ten-minute track on the album, either; After ends with "On the Shores," which is almost Yakuza-esque in the way its guitars roar in aggressive yet majestic fashion while the saxophone skronks and squeals up front. This is a seriously mind-warping manifesto from a guy who helped create symphonic black metal with Emperor; he's now moved into the progressive, post-black metal territory occupied by artists like Nachtmystium and particularly Enslaved. ~ Phil Freeman

Product Details

Release Date:	06/12/2021
Label:	Spinefarm Records
UPC:	0602435404783
Rank:	52949

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Ihsahn   Primary Artist,Vocals
Asgeir Mickelson   Drums
Jorgen Munkeby   Saxophone
Lars K. Norberg   Bass

Technical Credits

Vegard Tveitan   Composer
Ritxi Ostariz   Design
Lars K. Norberg   Bass Engineer
Ihsahn   Composer,Engineer,Producer,Instrumentation
Jens Bogren   Mixing,Mastering
Asgeir Mickelson   Drum Engineering
Heidi S. Tveitan   Photography
Borge Finstad   Engineer