This self-titled conceptual release will see the Norwegian black metal legend unveil a prog metal record as well as a fully symphonic accompanying album on February 16 via Candlelight. The idea, he says, came from wanting to 'raise the bar tenfold' for his eighth LP. 'At the heart of what I do is black metal, extreme distorted guitars and screaming, but since the earliest Emperor recordings you'll hear the keyboard parts influenced by classic soundtracks by the likes of Jerry Goldsmith, John Williams, Bernard Herrmann, John Carpenter and so on', Ihsahn explains. 'So, I approached the writing with the intent to present the material in its full-blown metal expression, but also to arrange the orchestral parts in such a way that they would work independently'.
Track Listing:
1. Cervus Venator (Orchestral Version) - Ihsahn (1.22)
2. The Promethean Spark (Orchestral Version) - Ihsahn (4.53)
3. Pilgrimage to Oblivion (Orchestral Version) - Ihsahn (4.21)
4. Twice Born (Orchestral Version) - Ihsahn (3.38)
5. A Taste of the Ambrosia (Orchestral Version) - Ihsahn (4.2)
6. Anima Extraneae (Orchestral Version) - Ihsahn (1.38)
7. Blood Trails to Love (Orchestral Version) - Ihsahn (5.07)
8. Hubris and Blue Devils (Orchestral Version) - Ihsahn (7.56)
9. The Distance Between Us (Orchestral Version) - Ihsahn (4.2)
10. At the Heart of All Things Broken (Orchestral Version) - Ihsahn (9.1)
11. Sonata Profana (Orchestral Version) - Ihsahn (1.51)
Year of Production: 2024
