Product Description

Elegant and brutal, the latest offering from former Emperorvocalist Ihsahn is brilliantly executed, experimental dark metal. Extremely well-structured, ANGL is an album made especially for fans of true musicianship, as Ihsahn incorporatesa cool and refreshing ambiance within an overall black soundscape, more evidence that his primary goal here is to create something brand-new. While some passages hark back to Emperor's blistering majesty, others sound as if Ihsahn is now leaning towards Opeth's brand of progressive death rock. In fact, Opeth frontman Mikael kerfeldt makes a guest appearance, performing lead vocals on "Unhealer". Ultimately, ANGL is Ihsahn's HEARTWORK.

Track Listing

1. Misanthrope
2. Scarab
3. Unhealer
4. Emancipation
5. Malediction
6. Alchemist
7. Elevator
8. Threnody
9. Monolith

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #44361 in Music
• Released on: 2008-01-01
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .23 pounds

Customer Reviews

the emperor returns and what a beast
ihsahn's second solo outing "Angl" (Angel) revisits many of the same facets from his magnificent debut "the adversary" although this is a much more heavier beast with alot more guitar solos (yes) soaring majestic melodies and progressive chord structures,there are melodic traits and a mix of vicous growls and mature clean vocals,his guitar playing excels and the opeth comparison is enhanced even more with a guest appearance from mikael akerfeldt (opeth) on the exhilarating duet track "the unhealer".Angl is so far one of the best albums of 2008.
GET IT !

Great follow up.
This had been one of my most highly anticipated releases for 2008 and it definitely hasn't disappointed. OK, it's not as immediate as The Adversary, but now on about my fifth listen to the album I am equally impressed. There are many layers to the sound which can be uncovered with each listen and there is much more guitar work and fewer clean vocal passages then it's predecessor. This will definietly be fighting against Opeth's Watershed for attention on my ipod this summer. Now I can only hope they will play Bloodstock Open Air together, particualrly because Opeth's Mikael Akerfeldt performs lead vocals on Unhealer, the third track on AngL.

More Guitar Than The Adversary....
Still getting to grips with this, it's a less immediate album than Ihsahn's previous, The Adversary (2006).
What has struck me is that there is more guitar work here and the album has a harder edge than it's predecessor (although it's still not the ferocity of classic Emperor!). Ihsahn's vocal work is a little deeper/lower pitched/more growling with less of the King Diamond style high pitch vocals that we heard last time.
The Classical influences are still abundant but the synths/keyboards are more integrated with the guitars, rather than dominant as before.
The album at 47 minutes is maybe a little shorter than might have been hoped for??
The songs ain't grabbing me totally as yet BUT sometimes slow burners are the best...4 Stars as I believe these songs WILL reveal all!
Must mention the teaming with Opeth's Mikael Åkerfeldt on track 3, The Unhealer - Really good with cool vocals from the Death Metal man (Both Clean and REALLY, REALLY brutal growls!) A very atmospheric & deeply dark song.
Special word for the lyrics; still occult based but intelligent, mature and devoid of cliches!