Trivium‘s Matt Heafy has released the first single from his new project Ibaraki.
The song features Heafy teaming up with Ihsahn, guitarist and vocalist of the Norwegian black metal band Emperor. It’s called “Tamashii No Houkai,” which Heafy explains means “the breaking of the soul,” or “soul collapse.”
“It’s a Japanese term that didn’t exist before, but one we forged to reflect the song’s meaning,” notes Heafy, who was born in Japan to a Japanese mother and an American father. Ibaraki is the name of a Japanese demon of legend.
Heafy adds that Ihsahn has been “a longtime influence and mentor to so much that I do in music,” and says, “The writing of this song was the turning point for Ibaraki — it summarized everything from the past, present, and future of what I thought black metal was, is, and could be.”
Heafy notes, “‘Tamashii No Houkai’ is the perfect summary and representation of everything that Ibaraki is… and will be.”
Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.