Review: Ihsahn – After (2010)

Ahhh yes, the beginning of the 2010 season of metal, and oh what a year will it be! Let me start with the latest release from Ihsahn, the self titled project of Ihsahn (who is most famous for his participation with Emperor).

Having not listened to Ihsahn’s first couple of albums, I was interested to hear how Ihsahn had progressed from his work with Emperor, to this solo effort which I had read was a much more adventurous undertaking, and clearly a departure from his past work. As soon as After began, I knew I was going to expect something that was far different than anything I had heard Ihsahn do prior. Clearly inspired by the works of Opeth (this is most transparent on the song “A Grave Inversed”), and other modern progressive metal acts, it’s clear that Ihsahn has moved on with the times adapting to the changing landscape of the metal scene. This in no way translates to Ihsahn selling out, but After clearly doesn’t make any effort to challenge the established sounds with a more avant garde bend that he has undertaken in projects such as Peccatum and Thou Shalt Suffer, which I think benefits new listeners as well as established ones who maybe are looking for a more traditional metal sound. After is an album that I really do appreciate, because for all the avant garde projects Ihsahn has been involved with over the years (including Emperor), he is most adept at writing more hard ritting riffs that are much more in tune with the metal spirit if you will.

Now, I don’t want to readers to think that After is just some ripoff album aimed at taking advantage of current trends, because its not. Finding inspiration in the current musical current doesn’t mean that Ihsahn is attempting to appeal to any type of fan. It is true that this is music that most in the current metal scene will probably enjoy on some level with its highly progressive feel, combined with a extreme yet melodic metallic sound, but its not a carbon copy of anything out there right now.

Some will fret (as well as embrace) that this isn’t another Emperor album, or even black metal for that matter, but then again, if you are a big Emperor and Ihsahn fan, you probably have more experience with this particular project than I. Nonetheless, it is worth mentioning that After is not a black metal album, nor does it really have much influence from black metal; this is a fairly mainstream sounding  extreme progressive metal record, but a really good one at that. I’d say After is a great lead in album to those who aren’t really fond of black metal and other darker types of metal, because while this isn’t necessarily abrasive in terms of true black metal, it provides an excellent way to appreciate heavier forms of music that require a bit more dedication to understand.

I highly recommend this album to virtually any metal fan, especially those newer fans who are getting into the more high brow side of extreme metal with the likes of Opeth and Between the Buried and Me.

VERY GOOD

Similar Artists: Opeth, Between the Buried and Me, Green Carnation, Amorphis

1.    The Barren Lands
2.    A Grave Inversed
3.    After
4.    Frozen Lakes On Mars
5.    Undercurrent
6.    Austere
7.    Heavens Black Sea
8.    On the Shores

Ihsahn – Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards
Asgeir Mickelson – Drums
Lars Koppang Norberg – Bass
Jorgen Munkeby – Saxophone

Candlelight Records

http://www.ihsahn.com/

http://www.myspace.com/ihsahnmusic

Review by CODY