Ihsahn vs Taylor Swift: Who has the best cover design?

(Image credit: David Thiérrée/Republic)

Taylor Swift surprise released her new album Folklore on Friday – and the eagle-eyed among you might well have noticed that the cover bears a striking resemblance to David Thiérrée’s design for Ihsahn’s Telemark EP single, Stridig.

Swift’s black and white cover features the vocalist standing in the middle of a misty forest – and it’s caught the eye of Ihsahn who says he likes the design.

Posting the Folklore cover beside the Stridig design, Ihsahn says: “So, anyone check out the new Taylor Swift album yet? Personally, I like the design!”

Designer Thiérrée adds: “Well, folks, I’m not the only one to think that Taylor Swift's new visual is very metal. Even very close to Ihsahn's artworks I made. I could have done it for her, probably for a cheaper price than what she paid.”

The similarities have drawn a mixed response from fans, with one saying: “Now let’s wait for Taylor to appear in public wearing an Emperor t-shirt.”

Earlier this month, Ihsahn released his new track Spectre At The Feast exclusively with Metal Hammer – the first material taken from his upcoming EP Pharos

Ihsahn said: “Telemark was everything that was close to my heart: basic guitar riffing, screaming vocals. I thought, ‘I need to do a sequel where I do the exact opposite’ - things that I don't know how to do, explore sonic territory that I haven't explored.”

Pharos will launch on September 11 and will include covers of Portishead's Roads and A-Ha’s Manhattan Skyline. It's now available to pre-order.

(Image credit: Candlelight)

Ihsahn: Pharos EP
1. Losing Altitude
2. Spectre At The Feast
3. Pharos
4. Roads (Portishead cover)
5. Manhattan Skyline (A-ha cover, featuring Einar Solberg of Leprous)

Scott Munro
Louder e-commerce editor

Scott has spent more than 30 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in the summer of 2014 before moving to the e-commerce team in 2020. Scott maintains Louder’s buyer’s guides, scouts out the best deals for music fans and reviews headphones, speakers, books and more. He's written more than 11,000 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog and has previous written for publications including IGN, the Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald, covering everything from daily news and weekly features, to video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, Marillion and Rush.