Ihsahn – angL

Releasedate: 26-05-2008; Label: Candlelight Records
By: Sabine van Gameren

The ex-singer of the Norwegian black metal band Emperor, Ihsahn, comes with a second solo album called: “angL”.
Ihsahn is an experienced metal vocalist, seen by the many years he was the vocalist of Emperor since 1991 and the project Peccatum in which he worked with his wife and her brother.

On the album “angL” you hear Ihsahn setting down some solid black metal, with grunt vocals which are accessible and lyrics which are open for your own interpretation. In some songs there are also clean vocal styles used which give a refreshing touch to the songs. Also, the album contains a collaboration with Opeth singer Mikael Åkerfeldt. The first songs on the album are the most aggressive ones on the album, the second half of the songs give more space for the melodic part of the music.
Ihsahn choose to give the listeners of his album a wide variety of possibilities. For those who like it melodic and for those who like it aggressive there is always something that suits you. Though, he does set his own identity to the front with his own pigheaded way of bringing it all together.

I like the diversity of this album, it gives you a bridge to the old work of Emperor, but you have a choice to see Ihsahn himself as well. Although many people will always associate Ihsahn with Emperor, with “angL” you don’t have to. If you don’t know the rest of the music where he was involved, or pretend that you don’t know it, Ihsahn showed himself with this album. You get to know him, by listening to the lyrics and the other various ways he expresses himself. This is Ihsahn, “angL” is Ihsahn!

Links:
Ihsahn MySpace