IHSAHN (STUDIO)

One of the mavericks of extreme metal, Ihsahn has never really stopped - from leading cult band Emperor to venturing off to a solo career through which he has been able to shatter any preconceived notions of what black metal could be, always bordering on the progressive and firmly cementing himself as one of the most avant-garde, adventurous and innovative musicians of the 21st century. His 2024 self-titled album is the absolute celebration of this idea of Ihsahn, as the ingenious creator has crafted one of the incredibly adventurous and experimental albums of his stellar catalogue - 'Ihsahn' is a fantastic symphonic extreme metal exercise, in which the loose musical boundaries allow for a very natural, efficient and impressive amalgamation of styles.

Inspired by film music, the album is very heavily reliant on symphonic sounds and is in fact framed in-between three shorter instrumental pieces (at the beginning, end and middle of the album), among which the eight main tracks unfold. The record should really be heard in its entirety, as this incredible release stays true to the classic album tradition of having one continuous piece of music that better not be taken apart, otherwise the whole idea goes off. As a modern metal album, 'Ihsahn' sets a high standard as a fiery masterpiece that exceeds all expectations, and knowing how diverse Tveitan's entire catalogue is, this album is something of a crowning jewel, an ambitious summation of everything his music represents. The dark, unexpected, captivating musical passages are present all throughout, and embedded within them are the hellish screams and the flamboyant riffing, topped by a sheen production that is entirely credited to the artist.

The whole album has an otherworldly atmosphere, there is a fantastic and haunting challenge within it, as it becomes difficult to point out to any highlights, since the entire release is a brilliant highlight in the discography of Ihsahn, one that has to be appreciated for its matured and daring vision, for the innovative and excellently well-executed blend of different styles, ever so present on Tveitan's albums.