𝗜𝗵𝘀𝗮𝗵𝗻 — 𝗘𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗮 (2012)

𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐑𝐘𝐏𝐓𝐒 - 𝐂𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐀𝐋𝐁𝐔𝐌 𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄𝐒 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘 𝐨𝐟  𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐃 𝐑𝐎𝐂𝐊 & 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐘 𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐋…

11 years ago today, this “Arrival” proved that there was “Something Out There”!

On this day (June 19) in 2012, Ihsahn released his fourth full-length solo studio album “Eremita” via Candlelight Records.

The album features guest appearances by several notable musicians, including Devin Townsend and Jeff Loomis of Arch Enemy & (then) Nevermore.

(𝙹𝚎𝚏𝚏 𝙻𝚘𝚘𝚖𝚒𝚜)

Background:

“Eremita” is Ihsahn's first solo outing since the conclusion of the conceptual trilogy encompassing his first three albums, “The Adversary”, “angL”, and “After”. Ihsahn said that “Eremita” was the product of an intentional contrast with “After”. He described “After” as "a very desolate, bleak landscape. There were no signs of life in any of the lyrics," while, for “Eremita”, the atmosphere is "much more introverted, much more paranoid and kind of schizophrenic. I tend to bring up many of the same themes, but lyrically it comes from a different perspective."

The album's sense of introversion, paranoia, and schizophrenia is represented in the album cover, with which Ihsahn's ongoing interest in Nietzsche turned to Nietzsche's mad final years. Nietzsche is represented in the cover, which features an upside-down image of his face from later in his life, when he was on the verge of insanity. As Ihsahn explained, “Eremita” is "a reflective album that’s filtered through the eyes of a madman." He elaborated upon the connection, explaining that "There's an escapism to this album, there's a paranoia, a lot of issues that are dealt with, and these pictures of Nietzsche are from very close to when he tipped over into madness."

Guest Appearances:

“Eremita” also featured a guest appearance by Devin Townsend. Previously, Ihsahn had guested on Townsend's album, “Deconstruction”. Jens Bogren, who mixed “Deconstruction”, was also tapped to mix “Eremita”.

(𝙹𝚎𝚗𝚜 𝙱𝚘𝚐𝚛𝚎𝚗)

Ihsahn noted that;

"Devin and I have very different personalities. I am much more of a quiet type, and Devin is a very energetic individual. I've met him on a few different occasions, and he's just a really awesome guy. In spite of our contrasting personalities and our musical expressions being very different, I can relate to and understand the way he works. I think it's because we share the same level of passion to create music, regardless of where it takes us. He also has his own studio where he does whatever it takes. If he has to bring in musicians or do it all himself...it doesn't matter. Like myself, his key focus is getting the music done. I admire his very honest expression through his music...he has no problem daring to be who he really is, and I truly respect that."

(𝙳𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚗 𝚃𝚘𝚠𝚗𝚜𝚎𝚗𝚍)

Eremita’s Concept:

The title is Latin for "hermit", which Ihsahn identified as a critical term in his intellectual and musical development; "Well, throughout my career I have turned to mythological figures, who went away from conformity and the collected to make up their own mind about stuff, to put it in a bit of a mundane way. It's more of a scenario and also very much an escape from conformity and the collected. Nietzsche has been a huge influence on me, in particular during the years that I've been doing my solo stuff. He was a hermit, he wrote about hermits and I guess I do this in a kind of hermit-like way myself. I am here in my hermit’s cave, a studio, doing my stuff alone. On different levels it just reflects aspects of the album itself and probably aspects of how I see things and how I work."

Continuing, Ihsahn elaborated on his connection to mythological hermits as follows; "It's the symbolism of the hermit. I've associated myself with it for a long time. Not just because of the solo stuff, but because of the whole solitary figure who stands out in regular society and does things in a different way.

Throughout my whole career I've come back to this image as a logical figure — whether it's Prometheus, or Icarus, or any of these solitary figures, you kind of represent those that break away from what is publicly accepted. It's about going away from everything else. For me, that's intellectually but also artistically just something that I find very natural and beautiful. It sums up all of the ideology I involve myself with."

Critical Reception:

“Eremita” received rave reviews from critics, with AllMusic’s Eduardo Rivadavia stating; “This open-minded vision was already quite evident on prior Ihsahn solo albums, of course, but on “Eremita” it arguably flowers more confidently than ever before…”, Rivadavia concludes his review by saying; “…unless “Eremita's” title refers to an artist digging deeper within himself to uncover heretofore unknown ideas and feelings, consider it a misnomer, because these songs instead showcase an Ihsahn who's finally comfortable enough in his chameleon's skin to let his versatility flourish, and black metal's dark shadow be cursed.”

Kerrang! praised Ihsahn by saying; “"Just as Emperor expanded and grew with each album, becoming ever more grandiose and sophisticated, so it is with Ihsahn's solo material that he never repeats himself.”

While Natalie Zina Walschots at Exclaim! states; “As compositionally complex as “Eremita” is, it's the hunger of the album ― the elemental and animal simplicity of the tone ― that gives it strength.”

Pitchfork’s Grayson Haver Currin wrote; “Eremita” feels not only particularly unbridled but exceptionally rewarding, too, with most of its twists and tangents working as near-complete surprises”, while concluding with; “Ihsahn occasionally reveals his more savage roots while succeeding by and large with shocking routes. Sure, maybe Eremita is sometimes awkward, chintzy, or melodramatic, but for 52 minutes, Ihsahn mostly allows the listener to have a blast, if occasionally and arguably at his own expense.”

Links to Artists, Albums, and Music Videos:

Click this link to listen to “Eremita” via Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/eremita/1443806215

Click this link to follow Ihsahn on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ihsahnmusic

Note: The reviews shared here are for historical reference. The views and opinions expressed within are not always supported (in full or in part) by Into the Wells. — E.N. Wells

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