Defenders Of The Faith, le forum Metal

Candlelight Records today confirmed January 26th as the North American rlease date for After, the new album from former EMPEROR vocalist/guitarist IHSAHN.

Recorded during the first half of 2009, After completes the musician’s planned trilogy of initial recordings. The album showcases the Norwegian icon with drummer Asgeir Mickelson (SPIRAL ARCHITECT), bassist Lars K. Norberg (Spiral Architect), and saxophonist Jorgen Munkeby (SHINING).

"This is my first album written with 8-string guitars as basis which has been both challenging and inspiring,” he comments when discussing the creative process. “I also decided early on that I wanted to mix this album with Jens Bogren (OPETH, KATATONIA) and recorded the album with that in mind. Asgeir and Lars have again delivered superb performances. I've always wanted to implement the saxophone in my music; Jorgen’s contributions truly added a silver lining to the album."

Again working at his own Symphonique Studio, with additional work at Toproom Studio (co-engineered by Borge Finstad), After was meticulously laid out over an eight month period. The intensity of the project has more than paid off with early listenings already proclaiming it to be the most poignant creations of his solo efforts. “I have felt more confident and more at ease with the material,” relays Ihsahn. “In letting the songs themselves lead the way I just followed the natural impulses."

After the demise of Emperor in 2001, Ihsahn continued his work with PECCATUM, the band he formed in 1998 with life-partner Ihriel (Heidi Solberg Tveitan). After the release of 2005’s mini-album, The Moribund People, his first writings of solo material began. Ihsahn’s first recording,The Adversary, found the musician composing and performing all instruments and immediately struck a chord with his hordes of fans worldwide. The album afforded Ihsahn the opportunity to embrace more expansive sonic textures previously untouched in Emperor. The album also saw a return of his various lyrical muses.

"Icaros, Lucifer, Prometheus, Zarathustra are all persons of history who challenged commonly accepted, most often enforced 'truths,' despite civilization's persecution of them and their followers,” he comments. “Their stories are inspirational."

AngL would follow in 2008, and featured a musical collaboration with Opeth’s Mikael Akerfeldt for the song 'The Unhealer'.

Spellemann (Norwegian Grammy) Award Nominee Ihsahn (born Vegard Tveitan) began playing music at a very early age. As a teenager, his friendship with Tomas Haugen (a.k.a. Samoth) would trigger the start of his music career - one that to date includes over fifty individual recordings, five high-profile Emperor European tours (the band reaching US shores on only three occasions) and the respect of fans and peers worldwide.

In mid-2009, Ihsahn gave his first live performance selecting material from his first two solo albums; the performance in Oslo supporting Opeth. Early discussions in regards to After are indicating more live activities but where and when currently remains a secret.

Confirmed tracklisting for After is:

'The Barren Lands'
'A Grave Inversed'
'After'
'"Frozen Lakes On Mars'
'Undercurrent'
'Austere'
'Heavens Black Sea'
'On The Shores'

Norwegian progressive metal upstarts LEPROUS will once again serve as legendary EMPEROR frontman Ihsahn's backing band for his upcoming appearances at the Wacken Open Air and Brutal Assault festivals in Germany and the Czech Republic, respectively.

LEPROUS's debut album, "Tall Poppy Syndrome", was recorded, mixed and mastered by Jonas Kjellgren at Black Lounge Studio and The Abyss in Pärlby, Sweden during August 2008 and is was released in April 2009 through Sensory Records.

Hailing from the town of Notodden — home to such metal luminaries as EMPEROR, ZYKLON, IHSAHN and PECCATUM — LEPROUS formed in 2001 and features within its ranks Einar Solberg (synth/vocals; touring member of EMPEROR), Tor Oddmund Suhrke (guitar), Halvor Strand (bass), Øystein Landsverk (guitar) and Tobias Ørnes Andersen (drums). With an eclectic list of influences ranging from KING CRIMSON, TOOL, MASSIVE ATTACK and PECCATUM to DEVIL DOLL, THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, MR. BUNGLE and Chopin, and ages ranging from just 18 to 23 years, the young quintet has already made itself visible on the Norwegian prog and metal scenes as two-time finalists in the prestigious Norwegian Rock Championship.