His early musical influences include Michael Schenker, Uli Jon Roth, Yngwie Malmsteen, John Norum and George Lynch.

Marcel Jacob, founder of Talisman, held auditions in 1992 to find a new guitar player after Jason Bieler left them to play with Saigon Kick; the 19-year-old Åkesson was selected for the position.

On 17 May 2007, the progressive death metal band Opeth announced that Åkesson would replace departed guitarist Peter Lindgren.

Åkesson's first album with Opeth was Watershed (2008) in which he co-wrote the song "Porcelain Heart" with Mikael Åkerfeldt.

The album Heritage was released in September 2011, also with one song (the bonus track "Pyre") co-written by Åkesson.

[6] Since joining Opeth, Åkesson switched to PRS Guitars with Marshall JVM 410 amps and cabs.