Skyline cover

If you grow up listening to 80s pop music, A-HA would be a familiar name. Take on Me is easily one of those memorable MTV moments. Manhattan Skyline here is their less catchy take on pop fodder with a generous serving of melancholy. 

Fast forward 2020, some 30+ years later, Manhattan Skyline re-surfaces as a cover by, of all people, Ihsahn. It might be an attempt to keep the Norwegian flag flying. It's an interesting metal/ prog slant but the guitar tones here are not my thing; lacking bottom end.

Below expectations

I'll be brief with both, they let me down.

COC hailed this one as a return to form with the re-emergence of Pepper Keenan in the line-up. What I hear is a lot of sludgy compositions better invested in Down rather than this band. To think that 1991's Blind is still the best with Keenan in it... *sigh*

I keep looking up to Ihsahn as the creative wonder who would bring back quality black metal prog to the fore like what Prometheus did when Emperor bowed out. He had been largely experimental in all his releases but this one is trying to showcase some niceness to what would have been bludgeoning metal if things were kept in check. Only two worthy songs here... *sigh*

Ihsahn: Hello from the Aristides

Looks like it's another major departure quake over at the Ibanez camp as Ihsahn joins the Aristide contingent. It speaks volumes about the manufacturer & their commitments to certain acts as artistes are struck off the roster. I do not wish to dwell upon the unknown but wish Ihsahn all the best in his musical journey. He's lethal with whatever guitars he plays. 

Ihsahn: Eremita

Yes, it's the Emperor mastermind himself, Ihsahn, with a new release, Eremita. I look forward to every Ihsahn release, it's the anxiety of listening to a very capable player who transcended genres as a statement of capacity. We'd think that majority of those black metal dweebs couldn't really play guitar (or write decent music for that matter) to save their lives; not for Ihsahn. He had proven his abilities in excess, I'd dare say that.

Eremita is Ihsahn's departure from his previous release but to the careless listeners, you'd ask how could this one be too different from his prior albums- it just sounds too... similar. In fact, I wouldn't ignore its parallels to Emperor's final album, Prometheus... But the departure here is in terms of composition. Eccentric twists & turns aplenty, it's as if this was staple all along. The intensity in terms of it being a metal release is also more pronounced here than the preceding collection. It's some consolation for us Emperor fans because we know the elements of Prometheus are embedded in Ihsahn's current music manifestations, it's all too obvious. But all in all, Eremita is a thinking album, quite the signature of universal prog releases; you know what you are listening to can't be procured through casual composition, lots of thinking is involved. Jeff Loomis lent his guitar mastery in The Eagle & The Snake, quite possibly it's him returning Ihsahn the guest appearance favour (you can hear Ihsahn in Mr. Loomis' latest release, FYI). The saxophone bits were also qualified inclusions, none sounded wrong, all done in good taste.

I really took my time to listen to Eremita, returning to my favourite tracks on bus rides, also re-listening to the slower numbers, in an attempt to understand why down-tempo was chosen to deliver ideas. They say music mastery is the incorporation of restraint when the world expects its absence.

Of Becker & Ihsahn

Yesterday's day-out acquisitions:

• Guitar Player magazine: I've stopped buying guitar magzines a long time ago since there were online versions to refer to but with Jason Becker on the cover, it's a must-buy...
• Got my Ihsahn CD as well, was expecting a July collection but sometimes, the good things do come early :-)

Lessons in black

There's so much to learn just by watching these gentlemen play; in fact, they'd taught me much about riffs variation & harmony incorporation. Samoth & Ihsahn took time to pen down thoughtful riffing, just listen to any Emperor releases & you'd hear two guitars doing justice to a great black metal tune. This is quite the opposite of many black metal acts with two guitar players but very little variety in hand; what you'd hear is two guitars playing the same tune more than half the time.

Ihsahn RGD

Ihsahn, the grand master of dark-side metal, is now an ambassador for Ibanez's RGD model. It might be a natural pick for him because the RGD isn't too removed from his other embrace- the 8-string Ibanez but do take time to reflect this pairing from a commercial stand: I am Ibanez, I know Ihsahn is enjoying his other crowning glory now that his black metal pinnacle has passed. He favours the 8-string but this isn't going to see a major embrace from the buying public- there's purchase issue when it comes to 8-strings (which string manufacturer is offering an off-the-shelf pack to date? is there a healthy selection out there?), the instrument's neck profile & 2 more strings on the fretboard are not commercially viable. I know the 8-string camp is numbered so I need an associate model & what better than the RGD as an alternative enticement.

All in all, the 8-string won't see the light of day for too long. It's a niche preference that won't bring in too much money.

I am the Blackstar Wizard

The latest individual in extreme music to embrace Blackstar amplifiers is the black wizard himself, Ihsahn. According to the master himself, the amp has all his distortion needs for his music & hence its presence at the Inferno fest 2010...

Fractal After

 

For the recording of  After, Ihsahn communicated with guitarist Jeff Loomis (Nevermore) on grounds of common tonal appreciation. Apparently, Ihsahn believes Jeff Loomis & himself have a common liking/ implement in manifesting the heavy tone. We note both guitarists play more than 6 strings & have active pickups in their instruments.

When Ihsahn related to Jeff Loomis about using LINE 6, he was recommended the Fractal pre-amp instead which worked along the lines of the former product but has its own refinements in terms of distortion & clarity. Currently, Fractal products are not available off-the-shelf, online reservations are the way to go.

Ihsahn: After

From the day I started listening to Emperor, I knew Ihsahn is a genius in his turf. He is blessed with exceptional musicianship & the technicalities to manifest his ideas. He is now living a shadow of his former establishment, which was quite a fraction of his true capacity.

After is Ihsahn's 3rd solo adventure since laying down his Emperor cloak. This is the punter's favourite album because it showcases the individual at his best. We all know 'best' is subjective because the materials laid down in After involve trace amounts of his musical past, it's a subsequent development which arguably peaked here. The layperson out there would label this 'progressive' as oppossed to treating it in isolation of preconceived opinions but that is beyond control relating to the nature of the music. After is a peerless effort. The music per se is a melting pot of intensity & exceptional taste. It is also peppered with beautiful quirks- would you expect some saxaphone solos? Or perhaps some chapman stick overtones.? We know Ihsahn recently associated himself with an 8-string guitar (Ibanez) & that makes its presence well heard here. This is a fresh acquisition for me but I've listened to the entire album more than 5x... Hauntingly beautiful.

Goodbye Jackson

Ex-Emperor mainman, Ihsahn, is auctioning off his Jackson- reason being: His guitar collection is growing since he's in the Ibanez camp...

Ihsahn: angL

I've listened to the new Ihsahn release several times after its acquisition & I must say that he's the standard to beat when it comes to the prog concept in metal.

angL isn't quite the departure from his debut release, The Adversary but the album in whole displays added intensity & intricacy. Ihsahn's guitar playing capacity is unquestionably potent both riff & solo-wise. The level of complexity here is made palatable by catchy phrases; you can be uber prog in your music but it means nothing if it's forgetable.

It is also good to know that Ihsahn is backed by the lethal rhythm duo of Asgeir Mickelson & Lars Norberg (Spiral Architect); the drum works here are first class in terms of intensity & precision, the bass isn't about mere accompaniment either, Norberg managed to showcase his fretless prowess on more than one track.

Nevertheless, there would be critics saying Ihsahn had sold out in terms of his black metal commitment but both his releases thusfar were not black metal in their entirety, yes they do contain the BM fundamentals but these are peppered in context.

Ihsahn... anticipations

This is perhaps my most anticipated release this 2008 not because it's a consolation in lieu of Emperor's absence but because it's a product of one of the most intelligent musician in the black metal circle.

Release date: May 27th...