Review: Ihsahn- After (2010)

So I have been  waiting on Candlelight to drop this record for a minute, and trying to not get too excited. For those of you who don't know, Ihsahn is (debatably) the brains behind Black Metal torche carriers Emperor.  Since Emperor's (apparently final) disbandment, Ihsahn has been working on solo records, as well as playing music with his wife under the name Peccatum, as well as writing a column for Guitar World magazine. Ihsahn's influence by his proggy- sounding Guitar World fellow contributors was hinted at on the last Emperor record Prometheus, and has since been flaunted on his two previous solo records.  Since I am not a fan of guitar wankery (insert picture of Steve Vai with a fan blowing his hair), I was hesitant to even listen to this new record. I also feared massive doses of Ihsahn's singing (which often sounds a lot like Alice in Chains). Most importantly, when a metal guitarist writes songs for a solo project, a lot of times the "Hey dude this riff sounds like shit" talk somehow manages to not happen.

I need to start off by saying that the proggy explorations I feared are all over this record. Yet somehow, Ihsahn manages to package them in a way that I headbang through them and even hold up the preverbrial "horns" during some of them. He also sandwiches them with some balls to the wall grindcore dominated cuts (check out " A Grave Inversed") that remind me a lot of an old Converge. My only complaint is that there are a few times when Ihsahns riffs go into nu-metal land ( see "Frozen Lakes on Mars"). There are a few chantlike singing vocals (a la Opeth), but the record is doiminated by a majority of Emperor-esq Black Metal screeches and guttural blasts. All of Ihsahn's sound is complemented by some serious saxaphone ripping by Jorgen Munkeby.

In short, this record was everything I feared.

And I love it. Let this be a lesson to the pretentious music genre snob inside me to have the open mind I claim to.

This record is not an Emperor record, but it is a fun record to listen to from start to finish, and I forsee it staying in rotation around my house for a long time to come. The highlight that I have been jamming on repeat is "Undercurrent", a 10 minute juggernaut that showcases everything there is to love about this record.

After is available from Candelight Records here. While you are there, check out our homies from Chicago The Atlas Moth, who are new additions to the Candlelight roster

Dope Shows to Ensue

whats up normies, get your goggles on because the meltface crew is about to dump a heaping spoonful of awesome onto the state of tennessee. so tell your friends, bring your mom, and go to everyone of these shows. It does involve going to memphis but you don't anything better to do with your money so...

first off, TONIGHT. get on the bus! we're leaving in a few hours and if you call me RIGHT NOW, you can ride in the van with us smokin that bin laden with Juicy J and DJ paul while eating BBQ and drinkin foeteezz. especially if you're a lady that can twerk it.

NEXT OFF IS THE REALLY REALLY BIG SHOW. THE FREAKING WHIGS, GLOSSARY, & THE ASCENT OF EVEREST @ CLUB 527 on JULY 24th. SERIOUSLY, its times for you nashvillians to learn how the murfreesboroians do and just get of your high horse and drive to where the dope show is at. if I can't convince you maybe this gorgeous piece of hand screen printed fine art by drew binkley of monkey ink design printed at grand palace will convince you...

 PLUS ADDED BONUS TWO SHOWS FOR THE PRICE OF ONE. SHOW AFTER PARTY! at HOUSE PRIDE on memorial dr. Ft COLOSSUS on tour from Raleigh NC, LASER FLAMES, and EVIL BEBOS! METAL + CRUNK + SWEAT BOX = SEXYMETALCRUNKENAWESOMEFEST. when we played with colossus last it was a beer chugging\throwing contest at SXSW and i don't expect any less of them this time around. YOU MUST CHECK OUT THIS BAND there records, myspace, everything doesn't do there show any justice. but fine check out there myspace and talk yourself out of the best night of your life.... www.myspace.com/thecolossuswillcrushyou  

BUT DON't worry if you are to much of a pansy to stay up late with the cool kids you can still catch Evil Bebos destroying someones home in Nashville at The Bohannon House with two fantastically weird bands from Chicago THE ATLAS MOTH (who have a freaking sweet new record that's about to drop any moment now) and WHY INTERCEPT? I can't say enough about these bands or how much fun this show is going to be. This is just one more opportunity for nashvillians to proove they can cram into a house and see a show that should honestly be in a much bigger venue like the marsbar kids do.

aaaaaaaaaand...

THEN FINALLY, THURSDAY AUGUST 6. on tour from new york city, experimental doom riders BLOODY PANDA drop nukes on the END in nashville. with THE ASCENT OF EVEREST, LASER FLAMES, and ACROSS TUNDRAS. Take psychedelic drugs and go to this show, trust me, this is the one. the jammy jam. seriously check it out it's going to blow your minds.

thats all for this broadcast.