His first solo effort was good, but Angl is even better. The songs are better and more focused, while still retaining a lot of diversity. There are still a lot of progressive elements, but Ihsahn increases the black metal quotient on this one along with sprinkling in gothic, death and traditional metal. He weaves the varied genres into a cohesive package, and the CD has excellent flow.
Ihsahn's vocals are a combination of melodic singing and harsh growls. Akerfeldt's contributions on "Unhealer" makes it a standout and very memorable. In addition to the vocals, Ihsahn's guitar talents are also pretty good as he breaks off some excellent solos. Angl is an elegant CD with a lot of depth and complexity, but it also has a dark underbelly that gives it balance.
(released May 27, 2008 on Candlelight Records)
