50/50 work with a bright future

Norwegian metal sensation Ihsahn just released a 2018 addition to his extensive catalog. Pursuing solo work since 2006s The Adversary, Ihsahn has managed to find an eclectic balance between power metal, black metal, and grand orchestral backings. In an effort to further his solo footprint, Ihsahn presents us with Ámr.  

Ámr is a tad different from some of Ihsan’s other work. The LP integrates more of an electronica vibe in some instances, which has proven successful in the metal genre for a few acts. Bands like Babymetal and Born of Osiris recently began integrating electronic dance elements into their song structures, which nicely couple with breakdowns to push forward a very industrial theme. Ihsahn hits on this theme right off the bat in the album opener, “Lend Me The Eyes of Millenia.”

“Lend Me The Eyes of Millenia” leans on synths to create a nice backdrop for the song. This is not only something different for longtime Ihsahn fans, but it brings something else to the table after many years of similar formulaic approaches to songwriting from Ihsahn. Although synths take up a small amount of this full album, they create a dynamic song-to-song differentiation. These sounds are prevalent on a few other tracks, namely “In Rites of Passage” and the album closer, “Wake.”

The full song list on Ámr contains a variation of style which is a welcome progression for evolving musicians. A few disappointing efforts on the album are nestled in its core, however. “One Less Enemy” and “Where You Are Lost And I Belong” are certainly both efforts by Ihsahn to create moody atmospheres and creeping progressions. Yet, both songs verge on boring and cheesy as they each drag and plateau throughout.

One of the things Ihsahn should be absolutely commended for on this album, though, is his ballads. “Samr” and “Twin Black Angels” are two epics, voiced beautifully by Ihsahn. The instrumentation also has an exceptional build-up in both tracks, evoking emotion with every new phrase and every lyric. If there’s anything to re-listen to Ámr for, it is those two slow-burn songs.

“Arcana Imperii” may be the most approachable song on Ámr for metal fans and Ihsahn fans in general. It is completely enjoyable and introduces many of the black metal and power metal themes Ihsahn fans are used to. Executed well, “Arcana Imperii” is definitely the album’s standout track.

There is a lot to take in from a first listen of Ámr. The album fluctuates between exciting to boring, to emotional and industrial in such a short time. The nine-track LP is a work that combines multiples genres and some new efforts from Ihsahn to progress in his songwriting. The nail was not quite hit on the head, but it will be exciting to see how he takes this work and uses it to evolve his next full-length album.