Q: Clearly, you didn't want to use programmed drums.
Ihsahn: "No. I pre-programmed though; I wrote all the songs with programming the drums. But then Asgeir Mickelson [BORKNAGAR, SPIRAL ARCHITECT] is a very talented guy and he could play live a better version of what I programmed. He was the perfect guy for the job because he didn't change things. In some parts I may have had drum patterns that I felt essential to the song, which was very playable, but not necessarily the way a drummer would think. He could interpret what I programmed and just do exactly what I needed. He's been valuable for this project. He's a great guy to work with as well."