Trivium’s Matt Heafy Releases First Ibaraki Single Featuring Emperor’s Ihsahn

We’ve been hearing about the new black metal project from Trivium’s Matt Heafy for damn near close to a decade — and now, at long last, it has finally arrived!

Now dubbed Ibaraki, after “a terrifying Japanese demon taken from feudal legend,” the project has released its first single, “Tamashii No Houkai.” Heafy, who is of Japanese heritage, explains:

“‘Tamashii No Houkai’ 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.

“‘Tamashii No Houkai’ is co-written by Ihsahn — the legend behind Emperor and a musician who has been a longtime influence and mentor to so much that I do in music. 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.

“‘Tamashii No Houkai’ is the perfect summary and representation of everything that Ibaraki is… and will be.”

Check out the song below! No word on when/if Ibaraki will release an album, although the press releases promises that the track “is just the beginning.”