[DDDorian]

So, a few weeks back I made contact with Ihsahn asking if he'd be interested in doing an interview for the site and he just replied - he mentioned that he was familiar with ss.org and would love to do an interview, so here we are! He's on vacation right now apparently, so we've got a good month to come together with a bunch of questions, so post away!

For those unfamiliar with Ihsahn and his music, a brief overview: Ihsahn formed the black metal band Emperor in 1991 with fellow guitarist Samoth (now of Zyklon). They rose to prominence as part of the infamous Norwegian black metal scene, with their debut In The Nightside Eclipse being released in 1994. Despite Samoth being incarcerated for arson, they managed to record and release Anthems To The Welkin At Dusk in 1997, followed by the albums IX Equilibrium in 1999 and Prometheus: The Discipline Of Fire And Demise in 2001; these albums saw a shift from the rawer black metal of their debut to a more progressive, symphonic style that laid the foundation for bands like Cradle Of Filth and Dimmu Borgir. At this point in time Ihsahn wanted to go in a more progressive/symphonic direction and Samoth wanted to pursue a more brutal, straightforward sound, so Emperor disbanded. Since then, Ihsahn has released several releases under the name Peccatum with his wife Ihriel and has more recently recorded two solo albums in the progressive metal vein under his own name. He's been playing Ibanez sevens since Prometheus and used an eight-string on his recent solo album, angL. Enough talk, have some clips:


"I Am The Black Wizards" from In The Nightside Eclipse


"Thus Spake The Nightspirit (live)", from Anthems To The Welkin At Dusk (clip taken from the Imperial Live Ceremony DVD)


"An Elegy Of Icaros" from IX Equilibrium


"In The Worldless Chamber" from Prometheus: A Discipline Of Fire And Demise


Title track to the Peccatum EP The Moribund People of 2005


"Called By The Fire" from the King Diamo... err, debut Ihsahn album of 2006, The Adversary


"Unhealer" from the recent solo album angL (featuring Mikael from Opeth on guest voals)

[The Dark Wolf]

Was this cleared with Chris?

[DDDorian]

^^Yup Once this one's done I'll be spent for a while, heh.

[elrrek]

Gah, I posted some question but there has been a FAIL in the intuhrnetz it appears.

* is he still using Line 6 gear?
* now that he's endorsed by Engl does he use it for his main tone or the Line 6?
* what prompted the swap from his long term used Jackson to Ibanez?

[Mr. S]

SICK! you sir... RULE!!

A few from me:

What made him use sevenstrings exclusively on Prometheus and do they get much use in his solo work?

He was featured in Ibanez's promo video for the RG2228 but in a recent video of his studio he didn't appear to have one, was this ever used for angL and if not what why was this decided against.

With Emperor the music was always heavily symphonic, not only in terms of keyboard parts but on guitar also, with the guitars rarely playing the same parts, was he inspired alot by classical music and if so what were the biggest influences in his writing here?

His lyrics seem to be driven by the writings of Friedrich Nietzsche and Greek Philosophy, is this something he has a deep interest in? and what else inspires his lyrics and music.

The Emperor Tab book was fantastic and really in depth, any chance of him doing one for The Adversary and angL?

Ihsahn has become a huge influence for me in recent years and Prometheus is probably my favorite album ever , cheers for this!

[cow 7 sig]

does he feel the 8 string has developed/helped his style a lot more or not?

[Guitarwizard]

What gear is he using, still Line6?

[Nyte]

Sweet! Ihsahn rocks, I've got, pretty much, all of Emperor's and his solo albums, and he's a great influence on my guitar playing style. Anywho, questions:
-----------------------------------------------
What advice would you give an up and coming solo musician/composer to successfully break into the music industry?

When composing, what do you to avoid mental blocks or outside distractions, and are there any points where you've gotten discouraged from writing music (and if so, how did you overcome it)?

And finally, if you weren't able to pursue music as a career any longer (any aspect), what would you do?

[Shaman]

Finally! Ihsahn is one of my biggest influences when it comes to songwriting and overall. Prometheus and Anthems are are masterpieces of extreme music, and rank very high at the list of my all time favourite albums.

Some things I would love to know:

-He mentioned that he is inspired by 70's progressive, are there any specific bands that he really likes? And since his material has always been very progressive, how does he feel about the progressive scene today?

-He has recorded and mixed a lot of material at his own studio, has he ever taken classes or is he self taught when it comes to studio work?

-What inspired him to take on the 7-string, and what was his first one?

[distressed_romeo]

Holy fucking shit!!!!!!!!

1) Will there be a new Emperor album at some point in the future?

2) It's unusual for the vocalist in a band to be the designated lead player most of the time. Do you ever have issues co-ordinating your singing and guitar playing?

[TheHandOfStone]

I'm new to Ihsahn's works (just recently been getting into Emperor and his solo stuff), but nonetheless I am stoked!

[Pauly]

AMAZING! I think Ishahn is a fucking legend for so many reasons, the songs, the riifs, his vocal range and delivery. Emperor have always been totally inspiring for me to listen to, I get goosebumps with a few tracks!

Can't wait!!! Can't think of any other questions either, haha. Well, ok here's one.

Have many people told him they found In The Nightside Eclipse a really relaxing, almost therapeutic album to listen to? Rather than pummel it sort of washes over like a dark and ethereal wave of sound, I can't think of many other black metal albums that have done that too me.

[kung_fu]

Originally Posted by distressed_romeo

Holy fucking shit!!!!!!!!

1) Will there be a new Emperor album at some point in the future?

2) It's unusual for the vocalist in a band to be the designated lead player most of the time. Do you ever have issues co-ordinating your singing and guitar playing?

+1 Excellent questions.

3) Are there other musical genres that you haven't explored much via sideprojects that you would like to get into?

4) What are your thoughts on modern black metal bands?

Are there any new bands/musicians (black metal/metal or non metal) that you are listening to?

[Shaman]

Actually, I think the question concerning a new Emperor album is really not a good idea, since that is a question he gets asked in pretty much every interview he does. The answer is always the same: I doubt it.

I would love to see a new Emperor album, since I am a huge fan, but I really doubt Ihsahn wants to answer the same question over and over again.

Just my opinion though!

[kung_fu]

Originally Posted by Shaman

Actually, I think the question concerning a new Emperor album is really not a good idea, since that is a question he gets asked in pretty much every interview he does. The answer is always the same: I doubt it.

I would love to see a new Emperor album, since I am a huge fan, but I really doubt Ihsahn wants to answer the same question over and over again.

Just my opinion though!

You could always ask it last so he can give a quick "No" as he leaves

[Baphomet_Reich]

1. What were your first thoughts about hearing the original drummer, Faust, stabbing a man in Lillehammer?

2. Any more plans with Mikael from Opeth? You two sounded fantastic on your track "Unhealer" from the angL album.

3. If you were to form the ultimate black metal band with anyone from any band, which people would you pick and why?

[Drage]

1) What inspired you to go a "Progressive" direction? Did you get into bands like Dream Theater, Fates Warning etc.

2) Any new ideas you have in mind for your next solo release?

3) Any hobbies outside music?

[zimbloth]

"Prometheus" was in my opinion one of the most epic, unique, and underrated metal albums of our time. What was your mindset when writing that record? There's so much beauty and lushness along with the brutality, what emotions were you trying to convey?

[Abhorred]

Originally Posted by Baphomet_Reich

1. What were your first thoughts about hearing the original drummer, Faust, stabbing a man in Lillehammer?

I'm going to vote against this one. It happened 16 years ago; Ihsahn has moved on, Bård has moved on, and the subject has been dragged through the streets, both in interviews and general speculation, so many times before.

Personally, I'd prefer seeing the interview focus on his newer material and gear issues. All of the "inner circle" stuff has been documented to death, and it's pretty clear that most of the guys involved just want to let it go. Here's an opportunity to talk tech with the guy - I'd say use it for that purpose, and not try to re-hash the questions he's already had so often.

As an aside - I interviewed Ihsahn after their Montreal show back in '99. I was 16 at the time, and saving for my first seven string, which I had determined to be a 7420/7620. At one point, he mentioned how he was hoping to get an Ibanez seven string some time soon, and I remember getting all goofy, fan-boy "Ohhh, I like Ibanez, too, Mr. Skinny Norwegian!" for a while. I must have seemed like a total tool... I suppose that little has changed.

[Naren]

^ I would hate to see that question in the interview.

Originally Posted by Nyte

And finally, if you weren't able to pursue music as a career any longer (any aspect), what would you do?

That's a good question.

[Zepp88]

Judging from Immortals reaction in a recent Guitar World interview the inner circle and any of the other incidents is a touchy subject, I agree it probably shouldn't be discussed.

[distressed_romeo]

Originally Posted by Abhorred

I'm going to vote against this one. It happened 16 years ago; Ihsahn has moved on, Bård has moved on, and the subject has been dragged through the streets, both in interviews and general speculation, so many times before.

Personally, I'd prefer seeing the interview focus on his newer material and gear issues. All of the "inner circle" stuff has been documented to death, and it's pretty clear that most of the guys involved just want to let it go. Here's an opportunity to talk tech with the guy - I'd say use it for that purpose, and not try to re-hash the questions he's already had so often.

As an aside - I interviewed Ihsahn after their Montreal show back in '99. I was 16 at the time, and saving for my first seven string, which I had determined to be a 7420/7620. At one point, he mentioned how he was hoping to get an Ibanez seven string some time soon, and I remember getting all goofy, fan-boy "Ohhh, I like Ibanez, too, Mr. Skinny Norwegian!" for a while. I must have seemed like a total tool... I suppose that little has changed.

This has been covered to death in various books and magazines. Besides, this is a guitar forum, so it would probably be better to focus on the muso-type questions that he doesn't get asked so much.

[Esp Griffyn]

Originally Posted by Zepp88

Judging from Immortals reaction in a recent Guitar World interview the inner circle and any of the other incidents is a touchy subject, I agree it probably shouldn't be discussed.

Damn right, its boring and childish crap anyway, who cares about a bunch of lads poncing around in facepaint in the 90s, ask him if Ibanez are going to make him a custom 8 string!

[Ze Kink]

Originally Posted by Shaman

Finally! Ihsahn is one of my biggest influences when it comes to songwriting and overall. Prometheus and Anthems are are masterpieces of extreme music, and rank very high at the list of my all time favourite albums.

Some things I would love to know:

-He mentioned that he is inspired by 70's progressive, are there any specific bands that he really likes? And since his material has always been very progressive, how does he feel about the progressive scene today?

-He has recorded and mixed a lot of material at his own studio, has he ever taken classes or is he self taught when it comes to studio work?

-What inspired him to take on the 7-string, and what was his first one?

+1 on those, I'd also love to know if he has any special/weird/whatever methods while recording? I know he didn't do any layering on The Adversary, apparently it was just 2 tracks of guitar. And how does he usually record?

Also, how does he compose all those complex riffs?

Do you still find yourself improving on guitar and learning new things?

Any funny/weird studio experiences with Emperor and his solo stuff?

[Abhorred]

Originally Posted by Ze Kink

Also, how does he compose all those complex riffs?

He sort of addressed this in the guitar world interview. The long and short of it is that his training in counterpoint plays a huge influence. On their own, each of the guitar lines isn't all that impressive (compared to the unified whole), but when joined with a well-balanced secondary line, everything really comes to life.