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Ihsahn: After
15/03/10 || Euthanatos
If someone has fucking gonads in this metal world, it’s Ihsahn. See, Ihsahn doesn’t give a shit what you think. He singlehandedly revolutionized black metal with Emperor, which, to me, is a band with a spotless, perfect discography. He then made a shitty, gay side-project with his wife. Do you think he cared if the black metal crowed went into an uproar? He did not fucking care. He felt Emperor’s run was done. He closed up shop. Do you think he fucking cared people were crying and moaning? Do you think he lost sleep over the fact that he didn’t even tour for “Prometheus”? He couldn’t give two shits. Before it was trendy to reunite, he called Emperor in for a few gigs, just for the hell of it. He did not care if anyone thought him a sellout. He did not care for people begging for a new album. Ihsahn, my friends, has a fucking ballsack, and inside it are two watermelons. That is what I’m fucking talking about.
Anyway, Ihsahn now has a solo career, he started it in the right direction with “The Adversary” and “AngL”, but I think with “After”, he has finally reached genius-like level as he was once with Emperor. See “After” is batshit insane. This is King Crimson black metal on acid, driving in a highway with no speed limit. Running over old women. Dogs. Dragons. What the fuck have you. This is scary shit.
It’s almost as metal as Emperor, but not really. Listen to the title-track. It starts ever so soft, so mellow. You’d think Ihsahn was a human being. A gentle, caring human being. He so fucking is not! Listen to “A Grave Inversed”. It’s fucking devious, the work of a demon-haunted man, or the Devil himself. This is evil and diabolical, and no virgin should go near it, for their soul would turn black.
Listen to “Frozen Lakes on Mars”. It’s progressive, metal and distorted. Ihsahn’s signature vocals are, as always present, except I think he’s singing more inwards than outwards by now. He might swallow himself one of these days. But it also features his clean vocals, and he has really come a long way with those. Technique is superb, and the production helps. This is one nicely recorded album.
Asgeir Fucking Mickelson is the drummer on this, and that helps as well. This guy, aside from being in Vintersorg and Borknagar, played in Spiral Architect, for fuck’s sake. You can’t be normal and record that. His drumming is as intense as it is precise, and certainly a high point in this album. Fuck high points, “After” is one unstoppable high. Ihsahn has mastered the guitar, vocals and even keyboards. I can’t hear the bass, but fuck the bass, who the hell cares. Well, I do. Bring in your old buddy Tyr, Ihsahn, and I’ll be one happy camper.
Serious candidate to be one of 2010’s best albums, “After” is shocking, sick, beautiful and haunting. Ihsahn has taken every single influence and musical desire and thrown it all into the blender, grabbed a gigantic fan and hurled into the world. The result is disturbing and majestic.
I am certainly fucking impressed.
The cover: Fine, the cover is kinda shitty, you can’t have everything.
- Information
- Released: 2010
- Label: Candlelight
- Website: www.ihsahn.com
- Band
- Ihsahn: vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards, balls
- Asgeir Mickelson: drums
- Tracklist
- 01. The Barren Lands
- 02. A Grave Inversed
- 03. After
- 04. Frozen Lakes on Mars
- 05. Undercurrent
- 06. Austere
- 07. Heavens Black Sea
- 08. On the Shores
