The extreme-metal visionary Ihsahn likes to play with expectations — in fact, he delights in upending them. In a career spanning three decades, Ihsahn has subverted expectations in every project that bears his name, Emperor and Hardingrock among them. It's a desire to make something grand, make something new.
His sixth album, Arktis, is particularly perverse: It's got an industrial raver, a ballad and this song, "Crooked Red Line," a smoove-jazz number aided by Shining frontman Jørgen Munkeby on saxophone. It's slicked back like Ihshan's hair, until it turns doomy and majestic about halfway through.
Arktis comes out April 8 on Candlelight.
Copyright 2016 NPR. To see more, visit NPR.![](http://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=Viking%27s+Choice%3A+Ihsahn%2C+%27Crooked+Red+Line%27+&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDE1MTIxMDg0MDE0MDQ3NTY3MzkzMzY1NA001))
![](http://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=Viking%27s+Choice%3A+Ihsahn%2C+%27Crooked+Red+Line%27+&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDE1MTIxMDg0MDE0MDQ3NTY3MzkzMzY1NA001))
300x250 Ad
300x250 Ad