Ihsahn covers A-ha and Portishead on new EP

Ihsahn spreads his musical wings on new EP Pharos, which includes surprising covers of A-ha and Portishead. The EP will be released through Candlelight records on September 11. Ther new EP represents a more ethereal, progressive side to Ihsahn's music after Telemark, released in February, concentrated on his metal roots.

Leprous singer Einar Solbgerg, once a member of Ihsahn's backing band in his black metal days, guests on a cover of A-ha's Manhattan Skyline, said to be "a delicate but true-to-the-original version". Elsewhere Ihsahn turns his attention to a haunting version of Portishead's Roads.

“Telemark was everything that was close to my heart: basic guitar riffing, screaming vocals,” says Ihsahn. “I thought, ‘I need to do a sequel where I do the exact opposite’ - things that I don't know how to do, explore sonic territory that I haven't explored.”

Ihsahn has already released one track, the haunting Spectre At The Feast, which you can listen to below.

Pre-order Pharos.

Writer and broadcaster Jerry Ewing is the Editor of Prog Magazine which he founded for Future Publishing in 2009. He grew up in Sydney and began his writing career in London for Metal Forces magazine in 1989. He has since written for Metal Hammer, Maxim, Vox, Stuff and Bizarre magazines, among others. He created and edited Classic Rock Magazine for Dennis Publishing in 1998 and is the author of a variety of books on both music and sport, including Wonderous Stories; A Journey Through The Landscape Of Progressive Rock.