Emperor Legend Ihsahn Plays His Favorite Riffs 

I love how this man has made some of the noisiest, most brutal music ever and he speaks at approximately -12dB

Songs he plays: 0:33 - I Wanna Rock, by Twisted Sister 1:32 - Moonchild, by Iron Maiden 3:35 - Master of Puppets, by Metallica 4:15 - Welcome Home, by King Diamond 5:08 - Thus Spake The Nightspirit, by Emperor 6:40 - I Am The Black Wizards, by Emperor 7:31 - The Loss & Curse of Reverence, by Emperor 7:43 - Invocation, by Ihsahn 8:35 - Until I Too Dissolve, by Ihsahn 9:14 - Frozen Lakes On Mars, by Ihsahn 10:15 - Stridig, by Ihsahn * thanks for all the likes buds

5:44 "More or less" he says like he didn't absolutely nailed it. Humbleness: Sign of a real artist

The melody bit of "I am the Black Wizards" should be the Norwegian national anthem - it's so freaking iconic!

he talks like his kids are sleeping in the next room.

The skill level difference between Emperor and many BM bands in his era is staggering. Most the other early 90s BM bands were tremolo picking four chords. Emperor was light years ahead.

Anyone else notice how humble Ihsahn is? When he busts out the Emperor stuff, it's like it's not even him. It's BUTTER. Insane. Great guy. Like turkey sandwiches. Fact.

Only Ihsahn can speak softly, play classic and brutal riffs, all while wearing a Batman shirt! Legendary!!

Such a gentle voiced and reserved man, in stark contrast to the genre he's known for.

His solo albums are phenomenal

Emperor is one of the finest black metal bands ever, they saved a whole wave of black metal from falling into a gimmicky childish genre, their level of musicianship and taste for classical and symphonic music is outstanding. All hail the EmpEroR. Cheers from Morocco.

He is an incredibly nice and polite man. I had the chance to have a conversation with him when I saw Emperor and Peccatum long before some of this channel's viewers were born.

He looks like a more civilized version of Jonathan Davis

Ihsahn ASMR Channel coming soon. Soft whispers of progressive Hungarian minor scales and alternate tunings 🎸

I love how soft-spoken he is, despite the kind of music he makes.

Black wizards riff is one of my favourite riffs ever

Met him at the local shop the other day! really cool dude!

“Them” by King Diamond is my favorite record of all time so to that was a treat hearing Ihsahn playing the intro to Welcome Home

Seeing him play that riff from "Thus Spake the Night Spirit" is juuuust spectacular.

That Night Spirit Riff is beyond insane. I mean, I knew the song since 1998 but never seen it broken down or being able to look at his fingers that close. WOW!

He seems like a calm and nice guy🤘

Suck a huge crime how underrated King Diamond band is, so cool to see black metal majesty Ishan paying tribute to the one and only King Diamond, man the album The eye for example is a whole thrill, one of the coolest heavy metal records ever made, dark, eerie, heavy with a great storyline. Those who don't know king diamond (if theres any) go and check his discography you won't regret it specially my personal favorite: The eye.

I'm glad he likes the Frozen Lakes riff so much. That's a super underrated riff and is probably one of the best hooks I've heard on 8 string -- catchy as hell and doesn't sound like Meshuggah.

Seventh son of a seventh son was a huge part of my musical influence and I also love Black Metal. I think it's Maiden's darkest album and it had a great impact in the Norwegian metal scene of the 90's.

"Anthems To The Welkin At Dusk" is and will always be Black Metal's Magnum Opus. I have listened to it thousands and thousands of times and it will never get boring. Like a tornado, the most hypnotic, ecstatic, powerful, mysterious album ever written.

Long live the legend of EMPEROR! Some of black metal's finest.

Darkest home studio around the web

"Emperor .... always big sunglasses" - Fenriz Love the guitar style!

That purple guitar is a beauty, and I know it's an understatement but he's a fucking great musician, wow

Seeing a Black Metal legend wearing a Batman shirt and telling some of his stories is wunderbar

The Living Legend who has composed some of the Absolute best Black Metal Riffs OF ALL TIME. Mad Eternal Respect to this Genius

I see Ihsahn, I click

When he said I wanna rock, I thought to myself, "I'm a goofey goober !"

Man - King Diamond is definitely one of the bands whose riff/melody combos really had an impact on me. Abigail/Them are just absolutely killer start to finish.

This has to be one of the best plays favourite riffs you guys have done. Mainly due to Ihsahn actually plying and not just talking. Well done Ihsahn and thank you for your talent 🤟

Love that Batman shirt he's wearing haha!

Gear factor has to be the best video series I've seen recently, as a guitarist myself it's been really fun to watch

5:00 “more or less” haha ihsahn is a legend. What an insanely good guitar player.

O saw Ihsahn at last Emperor's tour in Brazil and It was so great! Can't wait to see hum Live in solo career. He's one of the greatest!

Emperor forever!

The funny thing is the most difficult parts of Thus spake the nightspirit are all after that. It really is an incredible song on guitar, learning to play it currently, very challenging but fun.

Welcome Home by King Diamond was amazing!!!! Ihsahn is a genius, everything that he does is unbelievable \m/.... my favorite is Thus Spake The Nightspirit.

Twisted sister were covered by dimmu borgir, and influenced ihsahn playing. That's why i love metal.

Honestly I've been a thrash guitarist most of my life. The band that got me into black metal was Emperor. To this day as a thrash guitarist this kind of playing is so refreshingly alien to me.

Was expecting "Are you ready"

King Ihsahn. Greetings from Norway.

What a great surprise was this video, I wish Ihsahn did more guitar videos

until I too dissolve is one of the most fun songs to play on the guitar. the main riff is so jammable, you just don't get tired of it even after the 800th time :D

Master mind! Ihsahn is an incredible musician.

The 3 songs on the Telemark EP are some of the best stuff he's ever done. I was blown away by it; it has a kind of deep, lower-gain heaviness that sounds incredible

Amazing how he has come from founding a band that has reinvented and refined heavy-metal to being an artist who can bravely explore other avenues of music and make incredible genre-defying records from those influences.

Nothing more awesome than humble genius.

Such a nice tone, so jucy. I love it!

Excellent video. I never knew that Ihsahn was so soft-spoken!

I Wanna Rock was one of my first songs that had big impact on me!! 🤘🏻🤘🏻Awesome!!

I love how Ihsahn is another guitarist that plays melodic solos and proves you don't need to be that flashy to have sick music.

This is super dope! One of my fave riffs that Ihsahn has been a part of is the intro to "Cosmic Keys to My Creations & Times"

The black metal maestro of all time he is a musical Genius 🤘i really miss emperor early days

"I know James Hetfield does that down picking but I won't attempt it here today" Even the black metal legend himself won't mess with James😁

I have waited for him!!!

Whoa his riffs are amazing, I must check out his music..

Such a clean guitar, love it.

I will never get enough of the 'Until I Too Dissolve' riff.

One of my favorite guitarists

Excelente Maestro!! mis respetos para Ihsahn

I love him and Emperor

There can never be enough Ihsahn.

Awesome, love the After album, especially the Undercurrent intro with those open ringing notes that you do a lot.

My beloved favourite rock star, and favourite musician, componist!! Sincerely, Erlend, North Norway!! \m/ :)

Geez, I want Emperor back so bad. :( Noone writes such music anymore, even not Ihsahn himself.

Perfect taste !

Damn, that guitar is beautiful!

Thought it was Jonathan Davis when I first saw the thumbnail lmao

*Unleashes literal hell by playing the most absurd, badass, extreme riff achievable in E standard tuning* - "more less 🥺👉👈"

This man needs his own YT channel. Do it!

I want to like this video 100 times bro, for real.

That tone is beautiful

Absolutely great man!! After 10 seconds in I knew this is gonna be black metalish

His music (with Emperor that is) is chilling in a brutal way, and his speaking voice is chilling in an ASMR way. Pretty wild.

I’ve never seen a black metal guy play rock so well. It probably adds to his sensibilities in metal. Always loved emperors guitar riffs. Very well rounded musical palette!

That last purple guitar he played looks awesome

As an Emperor fan who plays mostly thrash metal and only buys telescasters it was nice to see Ihsahn playing one.

He reminds me of Hopkins when he played Hannibal in Silence of The Lambs, complete with the quiet voice and the slicked back hair

Legend!! 🔥🤘🏼

ihsahn is just the coolest

Thanx Ihsahn, Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk great greaaaat album, I was listening to read Lord of the Rings, it was amazing days.

I freaking love Emporor! You rock that guitar buddy

Bro's a legend in the metal fan community in New England. I bought Scattered Ashes and the commemorative set of Emperor (with the black CDs/DVDs) & saw them for a reunion tour at BB King's in NYC. He's very cool in person to talk to. Salve Norge!🤘😈🤘

That guitar has a fantastic tone!!

Legend. I nearly shat myself the first time I heard I Am The Black Wizards 🤘 He’s got insanely good taste of course as well!

Thank you for releasing whatever the fuck you want and giving us a lot of gems. Imagine not getting one of his solo albums because he’s restrained by how he’s supposed to sound because you know, Emperor. This guy is creative af and im all here for it. Metal or not, he has my money.

He sounds like such a nice and down to earth guy. I see so much personality resemblance between him and Jonathan Davis of Korn.

Those Emperor riffs are sick even today!

5:08 i fucking love this! i mean i heard the damn song many times but hearing it like that, what a killer riff. true master!

Note: He downpicks MOP for the first bit at 3:39. As a guitar player myself, Ihsahn has some serious chops. i have the scattered ashes tab book and some of the stuff in there would be impossible to figure out. it's high level stuff (black metal wise). strumming across 3 to 5 strings for chord qualities to come through really works out the strumming hand and endurance is king. now think about singing at the same time!!!! great interview. the master of puppets thing, he can do downpicking if he wanted to but just didn't want to do it. he is an alternate strum player.

Ihsahn is probably my biggest inspiration as a musician along side Steve Vai, Killswitch Engage and Neil Young. One of the best for sure.

I love this guy's music and playing. He writes so interesting stuff that I sometimes forget to be excited about his riffs and guitar playing just to admire his melodies and vocals. But a killer player too and riff writer. And handles wide variety of music styles too, would've never guessed from hearing Emperor. Some of those chords on Adversary really made me try to figure out the album! The arpeggiated chords particularly. So unfamiliar sounds to me, it was like "I recognize this style but it's completely different from what I know". It's like your traditional rock gone for a huge sidespin and almost transforming to a different thing. Frozen Lakes on Mars is a song that's been haunting me for years ever since I found it, it's so ugly at first and then turns to one of the most beautiful things I've heard and particularly the vocals in chorus. The great construction of emotional contrast is also something I really enjoy from his music.

Love u ihsahn❤

Haven't seen Loudwire videos for a minute, too many in my Watch Later 2 playlist. Looked into "sax metal" and found a reddit post featuring Ihsahn. This is kinda new, yet it took a damn reddit post and a thought about "sax metal" to find this video. Yep, checked the bell, was already set to "All."

Jeez! Ihsahn making a Batman concept album is something that needs to happen