Ihsahn - After Review

Ihsahn
After
Candlelight records
january 2010


Ok so many people within my inner circle including my wife know very well how much I dislike emperor.While they are undisputedly one of the most relevent black metal acts to ever grace the extreme music scene,i still was never able to get into them.Ok so enough about that.After is the Ihsahn 3rd solo outing and maybe it was out of curiosity that i even checked out his first 2 releases,THE ADVERSARY and ANGL.I thought both of them were very solid records in their own right.I have a unique fondeness for the first albums diversity and skillful songwriting,as that was something i never doublted about him.The guy can fucking play.So now to AFTER and also the introduction of 8 string guitars.It is a noticable difference in my eyes.Opener THE BARREN LANDS showcases what may seem as a whole new sound,but somehow he manages to make it undeniable his own.This album manages to blend,classical,prog,even '80's metal references into a beautiful head fuck of an album.Track 2 is easily my favorite track on the album,opening with it's rapid fire bm riffs and blasts that ihsahn is well known for before the album takes a turn into the weird.Certain folk know my love for bizare music(i.e Fantomas,Mr Bungle) so anytime a saxaphone makes an appearence over hyper fasts riffs and blast,that shit gets me psyched.Ihsahn again shares the glory with his rhythmn section drummer Asgeir Mickelson (Spiral Architect), bassist Lars K. Norberg (Spiral Architect) who have recorded with him on all 3 albums and the tightness as a unit shows,both of them easily blow away his former companions in emperor.How mickelson is underrated still is beyond me as i am blown away by his performance yet again!!Simply fantastic!Trk 3 features a guest appearence from jonas of katatonia(i am a katatonia fanboy) so this just adds to what is already a brilliant album!!!If Ihsahn had made albums like this from the beginning instead of introducing us to the horrible world of symphonic black metal,then all would be right with the world.I really like this album alot and think that it has elements that would appeal to any musician or casual fan.Definately a must listen!!!

                                                    9/10
                            Review By:Bastard Son Of God