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Images via Tinseltown / Shutterstock.com and Taylor Swift / Amazon

“I’m sorry, the old Taylor can’t come to the phone right now. Why? Oh, ’cause she’s dead!” the pop singer proclaimed in her 2017 track, Look What You Made Me Do. And it looks like the dark Taylor Swift has returned for her 2020 album, folklore.

The album’s release left Swifties shell-shocked, as her eerie black and white cover art of scraggly trees in the woods is a trademark aesthetic of black metal, a genre worlds apart from her own. Incidentally, it’s nearly indistinguishable to the cover of black-metal legend Ihsahn’s single, Stridig, from his 2020 Telemark EP.

The remarkable similarities were first publicly pointed out by graphic artist David Thierree, who designed the Stridig artwork. “Well, folks, I’m not the only one to think that Taylor Swift’s new visual is very Metal…” he responded. “I could have done it for her, probably for a cheaper price than what she paid.”

Ihsahn, the founding frontman of black-metal legend group Emperor, saw Thierree’s post and shared it on his end. “So, anyone check out the new Taylor Swift [album] yet? Personally, I like the design,” Ihsahn replied.

In their posts, followers are shown side-by-side comparisons between both cover illustrations. For the uninitiated, they might as well have been the same artwork, if not for the obscure view of Swift’s back in the folklore cover.



Is anyone else getting How I Met Your Mother Robin Sparkles/Robin Daggers vibes from this astonishing aesthetic jump?

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So, anyone check out the new @taylorswift yet? Personally I like the design🤯😂 #Repost @davidthierree ・・・ 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 😁😅 #taylorswift #taylorswiftfolklore #folklore #blackmetalart #telemark #davidthierree #darkarts #metalcovers #artist #artwork #metalartist #owlstrollsanddeadkingsskulls #blackmetalmusic #blackmetalcovers

A post shared by Ihsahnofficial (@ihsahnofficial) on Jul 25, 2020 at 11:07am PDT

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Telemark II. Pencil, 2019. One of the drawings made for next IHSAHN release "Telemark", out soon. Please notice that this piece is available for your collection, under special conditions. #davidthiérrée #darkarts #owlstrollsanddeadkingsskulls #artwork #artist #blackmetalmusic #blackmetalcovers #blackmetalart #metalartist #metalcovers #pencil #pencilwork #ihsahnofficial #emperorband #ihsahn #telemark #norway

A post shared by David Thiérrée (@davidthierree) on Dec 18, 2019 at 12:38pm PST

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Most of the things I had planned this summer didn’t end up happening, but there is something I hadn’t planned on that DID happen. And that thing is my 8th studio album, folklore. Surprise 🤗Tonight at midnight I’ll be releasing my entire brand new album of songs I’ve poured all of my whims, dreams, fears, and musings into. I wrote and recorded this music in isolation but got to collaborate with some musical heroes of mine; @aarondessner (who has co-written or produced 11 of the 16 songs), @boniver (who co-wrote and was kind enough to sing on one with me), William Bowery (who co-wrote two with me) and @jackantonoff (who is basically musical family at this point). Engineered by Laura Sisk and Jon Low, mixed by Serban Ghenea & Jon Low. The album photos were shot by the amazing @bethgarrabrant. Before this year I probably would’ve overthought when to release this music at the ‘perfect’ time, but the times we’re living in keep reminding me that nothing is guaranteed. My gut is telling me that if you make something you love, you should just put it out into the world. That’s the side of uncertainty I can get on board with. Love you guys so much ♥️

A post shared by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift) on Jul 23, 2020 at 5:00am PDT

[via Consequence of Sound, cover image via Tinseltown / Shutterstock.com and Taylor Swift / Amazon]

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