EMPEROR frontman Ihsahn will release "Telemark", the first of two new five-song EPs, on February 14 via Candlelight. The effort will represent the heavier side of Ihsahn's music, while the companion EP — to be released at a later date — will show his more progressive side. "Telemark" track listing: 01. Stridig 02. Nord 03. Telemark 04. Rock And Roll Is Dead (LENNY KRAVTIZ cover) 05. Wrathchild (IRON MAIDEN cover) The official music video for "Stridig" can be seen below. "Having released full-length records nearly every second year since I was 16, I felt it might be time to try something else," Ihsahn, whose real name is Vegard Sverre Tveitan, told U.K.'s Prog magazine. "Also, I wanted to approach what I do in a way that felt natural but also to try to adapt it to the way that music is now performed and experienced. I have seven solo albums out now, so the first EP is like a small recap, in a way. I did touch on some of the same thematics with 'Arktis', but this time it's closer to home, both musically and, dare I say, culturally." He continued: "The plan is to then follow up this EP with its aesthetic and musical counterpart, wherein I can distil all those more progressive, experimental and mellow elements of my music. Ultimately, it's all a means for me to get some of those ideas out of my system, giving myself space before I delve into the next album." Regarding the "Telemark" title, Ihsahn said: "It's the county I grew up in and still live in, so the whole thing is situated there and very much inspired by that. So you could say it's a roots-orientated album. I decided early on that I wanted this to be very purely related to black metal aesthetics. I wanted to distil the basic, bare bones black metal influences of my musical roots, given the overall concept, writing something for and from Telemark. I decided to do Norwegian lyrics for the first time, too. It feels very much closer to home in many ways." Ihsahn spends most of his time touring and recording as a solo artist, while continuing to support EMPEROR's legacy with live reunion shows every few years, His seventh solo album, "Ámr", came out in May 2018 via Candlelight/Spinefarm.
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