Listen: Wild New Jam From Ihsahn’s ‘Das Seelenbrechen’

On his last two solo albums, ex-Emperor frontman Ihsahn used some unusual instruments. On his forthcoming fifth, his whole vibe is unusual; Das Seelenbrechen puts his greatest-ever emphasis on the “avant” in his dark avant-metal. Not progressive, but experimental. And Ihsahn has explained that this came from a decision to depart his comfort zone. We ask you — does that freak you out?

See, it’s those “decisions” that can give us pause. We wonder, Does an artist set out to make a specific kind of record as a result of wishful thinking? Is this defined idea only something they’d “like to do someday,” or maybe just a shake-up to their samey discography? Does this set them up for a lot of half-hearted contrivance?

Or can it be a good thing, a form of true inspiration? Do they set parameters and abide guiding principles as a way to keep focus on what they grasp tenuously? Is it merely an expression of something that will come to exist?

Well, in the case of Ihsahn and Das Seelenbrechen, those questions are easy to answer. Check out the album’s third new track, the haunting, wild “Tacit,” at Loudwire. The only thing cooler than its second act is its first act! And its disorienting sister jam, “Tacit 2,” which arrives with the rest of Das Seelenbrechen on October 22.

Pre-order Das Seelenbrechen here.