The Downbeat Podcast - Ihsahn (Emperor)

My guest on the podcast this week is Ihsahn of the legendary black metal band Emperor. He also makes amazing solo albums under the same name. We talk about how his music and opinions have evolved since starting Emperor as a teenager, as well as revealing some great stories and outlooks on life.
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[@markd7933]

Ihsahn classy as always. Its amazing to see the OGs making podcast appearances.. metal podcasts in general have been sorely lacking for years now. Imagine a conversation between giants like Terrence Hobbs and Trey Azagthoth or Hellhammer and Fenriz, in 4k and in some nice office with good lighting?? Why is it that all we have are lame interviews at Wacken or backstage at some festival for decades now?

[@reynlord666]

i’m tryin!

[@misterbaker9728]

I agree. I’m almost 48 and grew up with the death metal rise. There’s barely any good footage of let’s say Death recordings or interviews. Imagine talking to Chuck now wow or even Sean Reinert

[@WhereYouGoinCityBoy]

A Fenriz discussion might put me in a beautiful coma

[@WhereYouGoinCityBoy]

By the way, check out the Thomas Erikson (sp?) podcast. He talks to a lot of the black metal greats.

[@FrankCreature]

On one hand I agree with you, but speaking from the opposite side of the matter, it's not that easy. Especially inviting legends like f.e. Hellhammer and Fenriz. If you don't have platform that well know as Downbeat, it's mostly impossible to invite a touring musician outside the venue before the show. So then you have no other chance to do an interview before the show in the venue or at a festival backstage, including shitty light, weird sound noises etc.. What I'm trying to say is that what Craig is doing is absolutely top notch, but hey, not all backstage interviews from venues and festivals are shite.

[@rareformx]

Loving the black metal guests!

[@SlipsJDR]

ngl Craig, ad segments that go on tangents/are relatively unscripted are one of the few ways to get me to sit through an ad

[@blutos]

Love seeing the fanboy in you coming out here! Getting big enough to finally interview Ihsahn and ask him about the owl noise is a top 10 Downbeat moment. Next up has to be "so Nergal, who do you imagine lives on Christgrinding Avenue?"

[@Holy_Frakula]

Damn that would be a good one. Craig could definitely handle it

[@DecrepitGaming]

The most important man in black metal. Excellent interview Craig

[@WhereYouGoinCityBoy]

Fuck yes, Craig. More black metal!

[@robcusack8248]

I'm only two minutes in and I am in love with Ihsahn's voice

[@AerialPriestess]

@@robcusack8248 - I was just thinking the same. It’s late at night while I’m watching this and his voice is like a warm blanket. If I wasn’t so interested in listening, I’d be tempted to close my eyes and nod off.

[@henrywalton5967]

I was extremely lucky to have met all of Emperor including Ihsahn after their show in Glasgow earlier this year. 10/10 performance just like when I saw them the first time in London. He's such an awesome guy and amazing musician/performer, my respect is even higher for him after he took 5 minutes to stop and talk to me and another fan that night. So glad I travelled all the way from south west England for that show! 🤘 Thanks Craig for this epic episode!

[@ceceliataylor84]

Surprising guest indeed!, thanks Craig!

[@drumurrrgh]

started listening in my car and immediately stopped it because i knew i HAD to watch this

[@JSMCalder]

Watching now. Great pull and what a guy. Nice one Craig 👍🏻 I never thought I hear someone ask Ihsahn if he’d ever raw dogged a cow 🤣👌🏻

[@KvltKrist]

You picked one hell of a guest. This guy has a catalog that spans decades. He started making music in his early teens and still creates unique music.

[@TinnyHidge]

As well as being a tremendously experimental and explorative musician, Ihsahn is such an interesting and engaging person. A veritable musical genius. I love that he's not afraid to be different. 🤘🙂👍

[@shootstraightandspeakthetruth]

How I love this man

[@floralfire]

I loved this interview, he seems like a great guy!

[@AdamBlaikie]

Unbelievable interview, as someone who is starting to get into black metal this interview was an amazing insight into the artistry and people behind the music, keep these interview coming Craig 🤘🏻🖤

[@kappalauzius1273]

Now that you had Ihsahn on, you gotta get someone from Leprous, preferably Baard of course!

[@oyepvokadub6522]

Craig blessing us with legends. Thank you Craig!!!

[@AndrewJShirley]

What a fucking great interview man. This was a instaclick as soon as I saw it come up.

[@Ro700Repeater]

Cracking podcast! I could listen to Ihsahn talk about anything.

[@Squiddy97]

Ihsahn is class in it's purest form. 🤘

[@kaynemcveigh9002]

This is insanely sick

[@ChrisS602]

THIS is ONE HELL of a guest! Awesome!

[@alfieshaw2931]

What a great episode. What a pioneer of Black Metal. Very insightful stuff. The effort you go to in these episodes are nothing short of admirable, Craig! Legend!

[@zacharyseibert6788]

Wow, this is the best ihsahn interview I've ever seen. Fantastic! 😎🤘👍

[@ASMR_Historian]

Such a legend, been a fan since I was 15. Top musician, top guy.

[@Holy_Frakula]

Man. I dont want to say best episode ever beause even the lesser known guests are always thoroughly interesting and entertaining but lets be real..best episode yet. I did really enjoy you BSing with your tattoo artist as well. This show runs the spectrum my lord.

[@derjeniche5409]

Looking forward to hear this :)

[@smoked-old-fashioned-hh7lo]

great guest. would love to see james eubanks from knoll on the podcast.

[@front-crook]

knoll is one of my favorite bands. they are amazing.

[@neilforbes819]

Fantastic interview, cheers.

[@thatskevinsito2421]

Wanted to learn I Am The Black Wizard on guitar 🎸 and then I stumbled upon this interview… Thank You Sir!!!

[@dan0nada754]

Holy sheit, now thaaaaat is a guest!

[@ralphhardyman1148]

the wire reference solidified this dude as one of the all time goats

[@Pygmyer]

Can't wait to watch it all after work. Love the Downbeat and Ihsahns voice and way of speaking are incredibly calming. Thank you for this!

[@willsi]

Excellent interview, man. This is why I subscribed: Quality.

[@bymyenemy]

Thank you for covering emperor! Now your cooking my guy

[@havoc_theory]

He’s soo chill

[@quadblaster69420]

HOLY SHIT! I'm 8 days late and I feel ashamed. I'm looking forward to this!

[@Veeto]

"fire breathing... as you do." yup!

[@OsmonArtist]

Awesome chat ✨

[@rareformx]

Craig’s reaction to the simplified explanation of “it’s just stacking sevenths” cracked me up hahaha

[@jonasbauer8133]

Been PSYCHED for this since you mentioned it with Aaron!!!!🔥

[@godlessralphie]

I liked this video before the interview even started 🤘🏻 How about having Nicke Andersson on the show? There’s some death metal history right there. Thanks for the great show, Craig!

[@TNTMNM]

Legend

[@wildxseven]

amazing interview as always! the best podcast.

[@9wizen9]

I let out a loud ohohoho, very nice!

[@WarunkiMedia]

I CAN NOT "LIKE" THIS ENOUGH!!!!!!!!!! \m/ \m/

[@WarunkiMedia]

but wait a minute... all that time and no in-depth chat about the man, the myth, the legend: Trym??? 😳

[@DreadedMetal]

Make the intro short... Then proceed to talk about spilling Bolognese on your walls 🤣 this is the best intro for new comers to the pod

[@GreatBeardofWisdom]

My man looking more and more like Jonathan Davis' doppelganger.

[@WhereYouGoinCityBoy]

Except this guy is talented

[@GreatBeardofWisdom]

​@@WhereYouGoinCityBoy Well, that's just, you know, your opinion, man.

[@WhereYouGoinCityBoy]

​@@GreatBeardofWisdomjust kidding, gotta respect Korn.

[@GreatBeardofWisdom]

​@@WhereYouGoinCityBoyAppreciate the positivity 👌

[@eden2esthar]

Jonathan wishes.... No disrespect to korn

[@colt.thrower]

Ihsahn my 🐐

[@Jorgetime]

So classy, amazing guest!

[@jkh3959]

Best music podcast in the world 🙌

[@Metal_Vault]

This is great!

[@downtempos]

I didn't even know he was part of Emperor. Only heard him from his solo work. His album After from 2010 is one of my all time favorite albums. clicked so fast when I saw the name, what a great episode

[@thus_spake_the_nightspirit]

HELL YES

[@olemartinthoresen8806]

Best podcast

[@Prometheus_666]

really nice interview! Of course I couldn't but imagine Ihsahn doing yoga. Sorry there, mate! And at the end, it was really funny how he mocked the I am the black wizards riff.

[@NickLangridge]

Great listen!

[@WhereYouGoinCityBoy]

Can someone please show Ihsahn Batushka? I have a sneaking suspicion that he'd like it quite a bit.

[@DazzzTube]

Fucking awesome episode. Fenriz on the pod would be insane!

[@richardjack295]

Oh hell yeah!!!!!!!!

[@captainhindsight5903]

Great stuff👌

[@floralfire]

LETSS GOO

[@SuperFear83]

Came across the podcast a few years ago and binge listened all the catalogue - I'm not an OG but still feel so happy for Craig as he gets bigger and bigger guests...Lars 2025?? Fingers crossed!!

[@beardcog1267]

Ihsahn is my Trent Reznor

[@jaredd1144]

Bro, those exercises will have me trippin balls

[@AdamScotland]

This was the BEST two truths and a lie. Ihsahn saying "I would never play a ukulele" and you both cracking up was gold. Great episode.

[@KevinHeiderich]

Siiiiiiick!!!!!

[@danfos9053]

We have a frozen lake 🤣

[@blainetidwell7446]

Oh fuck yeah, the Born Again mention was not expected but I am here for it

[@i_like_metal_music]

What are you bringing to your stranded island? This posdcast

[@__aaron__drums___]

Holy balls!!!

[@StormofSteelWargaming]

He's misremembering, it was Bradford in 1993, not Birmingham. At the 1 in 12 club after it was moved from the Queen's Hall.

[@bennyjones2373]

I think the most important shout out has to really be to Craig's 90's goatee.....strong look!

[@bennyjones2373]

Oh no, I take it back, it's just the lighting! Sorry Craig!

[@misterbaker9728]

Next guest suggestion. Drummer from Slaughter to Prevail. Much love and respect from Cleveland

[@saintluciaofficial2019]

IHSAHN!!!!!

[@haydenmcallister6647]

Do patrons get Stray presale codes when yall tour out of curiosity?

[@IavsjsUVsajacmava-h2n]

Lee Larry Smith Gary Hall Amy

[@UroboricNate]

Christopher Hitchen’s takes on religion are still relevant today, maybe even more so, to insinuate that reading Hitchen’s is something that you grow out of as you mature doesn’t make much sense to me. That’s the vibe I got, forgive me if I got that take wrong or misunderstood.

[@reynlord666]

i def meant more dawkins view on it i grew out of

[@tormento_666]

dude are you jonathan haggerty's more buff brother? yall look similar

[@CorridorOfChameleons94]

How in the fuck did you get Jonathan Davis's black metal counter part on here?

[@ScottBrunelleMusic]

LOL WHAT

[@EueyrSueon]

Robinson Dorothy Thomas Brian Taylor Sarah

[@TheStirke]

when ya getting Varg on?

[@ripandtear595]

keep ads in the beginning of video plz

[@reynlord666]

pay me

[@grobifarnsworth]

Don't want to be That Guy but... Misspelled the name in thumbnail and video title.