emperor

another thing comin

Eventually there comes a time when the hype on a band becomes superfluous, and their status alone speaks volumes. Such is the case with Emperor, the black metal gods hailing from Telemark, Norway, who are without doubt the most influential and respected band within their genre, having launched a scene that is now beginning to burn its way out of the underground charnel pit and engulf mainstream metal culture in the blackest of flames.

Beginning life as a trio in the spring of '91 with Samoth (drums/vocals), Ihsahn (guitar) and Mortiis (bass). The band quickly recorded and circulated the now legendary "Wrath of the Tyrant" demo. It was this that brought them to the attention of the then still fledgling Candlelight record label . A deal was inked, Samoth moved to guitar and Bard Faust was recruited for the now vacant drum stool. By the end of the year the band had been once more into the studio to record their half of the "Emperor / Enslaved" split CD which was to eventually surface early in the following year. Mortiis departed for the band, and was after a while replaced by Tchort.

The press response was justifiably excellent and by the summer of '93 Emperor were record once more, but this time working on their debut full length "In the Nightside Eclipse". By the time of the albums release in 1994 they had become without doubt the most important band in the genre, gathering world wide critical acclaim and a rabid fan base to match.

In autumn of '93 a series of headline grabbing events (which are now quite sufficiently documented. For further reading check "Lords Of Chaos". Emperor would suffer the temporary loss of Samoth and the permanent loss of Faust, due to prison-sentences. However, before Samoth has to do time, the band managed to put together a new line-up, with new bass-player Alver, and a session-drummer.

Even though the band was seriously disturbed by the unpleasant confrontations of the imprisonment's and line-up difficulties, the entity of Emperor came out even stronger in the end. By the time Samoth was paroled, Trym (ex. Enslaved) had joined the band on a permanent basis, and the bones of what would become their most epic and majestic material to date were taking shape.

By the end of '96, now fully prepared and rehearsed, they were back in the studio. First firing off the "Reverence" EP to announce their return to the fold and then following up in early '97 with what is without doubt the single most ambitious and important black metal release to date......"Anthems To The Welkin At Dusk" . An album of epic savagery. Not only beautiful but bestial in it's wide ranging scope. The press agreed, not only did "Anthems.." feature in just about every "album of the year poll" in all 4 corners of the globe but they actually won the album of the year in both England's Terrorizer AND the U.S Metal Maniacs.

Since the release of the genre defining "Anthems.... " things have moved on again in the Emperor camp. Fresh from triumphant appearances at Dynamo and Milwaukee Metalfest the band announced that bass player Alver would be leaving once all live commitments had been fulfilled. As a result of this, all bass dutes on their latest masterpiece "IX Equilibrium" have been handled by Ihsahn.

The album itself is their single most breathtaking vision to date. Surpassing even the mighty "Anthems..." for it's sheer scope of diversity. Emperor have now moved so far ahead of the field that it would be unfair to even consider them a black metal band any longer. Utilising elements of their more traditional metal roots, operatic vocals and of course their trademark symphonic riffing the band have created an album so mature that it may well take the rest of the competition years to catch up... That's of course if they ever do!

Edited press-sheets from Candlelight/ Century Media

Tracklist:

I AM THE BLACK WIZARDS
WRATH OF THE TYRANT
NIGHT OF THE GRAVELESS SOULS
COSMIC KEYS TO MY CREATIONS & TIMES

Title: Emperor
Split CD (w/ Enslaved) MLP/ MC (Candlelight Records 1993) Recorded December 1992
Line-up: Samoth - guitar. Ihsahn - vocals, guitar, synth. Mortiis - bass. Faust - drums.
US-license by Century Black (first CD edition misprinted with red cover).
Eastern Europe MC license by Carrion Records and Mystic Productions

Tracklist:

INTRO
INTO THE INFINITY OF THOUGHTS
THE BURNING SHADOWS OF SILENCE
COSMIC KEYS TO MY CREATIONS & TIMES
BEYOND THE GREAT VAST FOREST
TOWARDS THE PANTHEON
THE MAJESTY OF THE NIGHTSKY
I AM THE BLACK WIZARDS
INNO A SATANA

Title: In the Nightside Eclipse
CD/ LP/ PIC. DISC/ MC (Candlelight Records 1994) Recorded July 1993
Line-up: Samoth - guitar. Ihsahn - vocals, guitar, synth. Tchort - bass. Faust - drums.
US-license by Century Black.
Australian license by Modern Invasion Music.
Japanese Lisence by Toy's Factory. Featuring "Emperor" as bonus.
Eastern Europe MC license by Mystic Productions.

Tracklist:

THE LOSS & CURSE OF REVERENCE
IN LONGING SPIRIT
OPUS A SATANA (instrumental)

Title: Reverence
MCD (w/ video on CD-ROM)/ 12"EP/ 7"EP (Candlelight 1997) Recorded October 1996
Line-up: Samoth - guitar. Ihsahn - vocals, guitar, synth. Alver - bass. Trym - drums.

Tracklist:

AL SVARTR (THE OATH)
YE ENTRANCEMPERIUM
THUS SPAKE THE NIGHTSPIRIT
ENCORCELLED BY KHAOS
THE LOSS & CURSE OF REVERENCE
ACCLAMATION OF BONDS
WITH STRENGTH I BURN
THE WANDERER (instrumental)

Title: Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk
CD/ LP/ PIC. DISC/ MC (Candlelight Records 1997) Recorded October - January 1996-97
Line-up: Samoth - guitar. Ihsahn - vocals, guitar, synth. Alver - bass. Trym - drums. US-license by Century Black. Featuring "Reverence" (w/ CD-ROM) as bonus.
Japanaese Lisence by Toy's Factory. Featuring "Reverence" as bouns.
Eastern Europe MC license by Mystic Productions. Featuring 2 tracks from "Reverence" as bonus.

Tracklist:

EXRDIUM (Emperor)
AERIE DESCENT (Thorns)
I AM (Emperor)
AERIE DESCENT (Emperor)
THUS MARCH THE NIGHTSPIRIT (Emperor)
MELAS KHOLE (Thorns)
THE DISCIPLINE OF EARTH (Thorns)
COSMIC KEYS (Thorns)

Title: Emperor
Split CD (w/ Thorns) CD (Moonfog Productions 1999) Recorded summer 1998
Line-up: Samoth - guitar & bass. Ihsahn - vocals, guitar, synth, bass & programming. Trym - drums & Perc.

Tracklist:

CURSE YOU ALL MEN!
DECRYSTALLIZING REASON
AN ELEGY OF ICAROS
THE SOURCE OF ICON E
SWORN
NONUS AEQUILIBRIUM
THE WARRIORS OF MODERN DEATH
OF BLINDNESS & SUBSEQUENT SEERS

Title: IX Equilibrium
CD/ LP/ DIGIPAK (Candlelight Records 1999) Recorded during autumn/winter 1998
Line-up: Samoth - Rhytm Guitars. Ihsahn - vocals, Lead Guitars, Bass, Synth. Trym - drums & Perc.

DEMO'S & 7INCH:

WRATH OF THE TYRANT - Demo
Recorded and released in the spring of '92
Line-up: Samoth - drums. Ihsahn - vocals, guitar. Mortiis - bass.

AS THE SHADOWS RISE - 7"EP
(Nocturnal Art Productions 1994)
Recorded December 1992 (same recording session as "Emperor")
Line-up: Samoth - guitar. Ihsahn - vocals, guitar, synth. Mortiis - bass. Faust - drums
Limited edition: 1000 copies

RE-RELEASES:

WRATH OF THE TYRANT - MC
(Wild Rags Records 1994)
With new intro & outro + two bonus tracks from the "As the Shadows Rise" 7"EP)

WRATH OF THE TYRANT - LP
(Head Not Found 1995)
Limited edition: 1000 copies (666 copies handnumbered, including a poster)

WRATH OF THE TYRANT - Picture Disc LP
(Damnation Distribution 1997)
Limited edition: 500 copies

WRATH OF THE TYRANT - MC
(East Clan/ Pagan Folk 1997)
Limited edition: 500 copies (for Polish territory only)

EMPEROR / WRATH OF THE TYRANT - CD
(Candlelight/ PHD 1998)
Mini album re-mastered w/ "Wrath" demo as bouns

IN THE NIGHTSIDE ECLIPSE - CD
(Candlelight/ PHD 1998)
Re-mastered w/ two bonus tracks; covers tracks by Bathory & M. Fate

ANTHEMS TO THE WELKIN AT DUSK - CD
(Candlelight/ PHD 1998)
Including 3 bonus tracks; the two non-album tracks from "Reverence" + one live track

OFFICIAL COMPILATIONS

CANDLELIGHT Compilation CD
(Candlelight Records 1995)
"Night of the Graveless Souls" (from "Emperor" Split-CD)
"Inno a Satana" (from "In the Nightside Eclipse" CD)

BLACKEND Compilation Volume 1 DCD
(Blackened/ Plastic Head 1994)
"I am the Black Wizards" (from "In the Nightside Eclipse" CD)
"Cosmic Keys to my Creations & Times" (from "In the Nightside Eclipse" CD)

BLACKEND Compilation Volume 2 DCD
(Blackend/ Plastic Head 1996)
"The Burning Shadows of Silence" (from "In the Nightside Eclipse")

BLACKEND Compilation Volume 3 DCD
(Blackend/ Plastic Head 1997)
"Thus Spake the Nightspirit" (from "Anthems to the Welkins at Dusk" CD)

IDENTITY II Compilation CD
(Century Media 1997)
"I am the Black Wizards" (from "In the Nightside Eclipse" CD)

IDENTITY FOUR Compilation CD
(Century Media 1998)
"Ye Entranemperium" (from "Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk")

NORDIC METAL - A TRIBUTE TO EURONYMOUS CD
Necropolis Records 1995)
"Moon over the Kara-Shehr" (exclusive 4-track recording featuring Hellhammer & Sverd)
"The Ancient Queen" (from "As the Shadows Rise" 7"EP)

A TRIBUTE TO CELTIC FROST CD/ MC
(Dwell Records 1996)
"Massacra" (Guest appearence on drums by Dirge Rep (ex-Gehenna, now Enslaved))

A TRIBUTE TO MERCYFUL FATE CD
(Listenable Records 1997)
"Gypsy" (Guest appearence on keyboards by Charmand Grimlock (Tartaros/ The Thrill))

FEUERSTRUM Compilation DCD
(Century Media 1997)
"With Strength I Burn" (from "Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk" CD)

FIRESTARTER Compilation CD
(Century Black 1997) "Thus Spake the Nightspirit" (from "Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk" CD)

GODS OF DARKNESS Compilation CD
(Nuclear Blast 1997)
"The Loss and Curse of Reverence" (from "Anthems to the Welkins at Dusk" CD)

IN CONSPIRACY WITH SATAN - BATHORY TRIBUTE CD
(Hellspawn Rec. 1998)
"A Fine Day to Die"

BLACK METAL LILIITTO comp. CD
(Spinefarm 1998)
"Thus Spake the Nightspirit" (from "Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk" CD

DARKTHRONE HOLY DARKTHRONE tribute CD
(Moonfog 1998)
"Cromlech"

VIDEO

THE LOSS AND CURSE OF REVERENCE - CD-ROM, AVI, & MPEG on Reverence MCD
Also featured on:
A DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE compilation video
(Century Media 1997)

BOOTLEGS

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM - CD 1995
Live from the Fear of a Black Metal Planet mini tour in UK (w/ Cradle of Filth) 1993.
Line up: Ihsahn, Samoth, Tchort, Faust
Very bad sound quality & artwork.

WITCHES SABBATH - 7"EP
(Black Hearts Records 1997)
Witches Sabbath (from "As the Shadows Rise" 7"EP)
The Ancient Queen (from "As the Shadows Rise" 7"EP)
Limited edition: 200 copies.

CELTIC FROST/ HELLHAMMER/ BATHORY/ EMPEROR CD 1997
Featuring, among diverse classic material from Bathory, Celtic Frost, and Hellhammer, one rehersal track from 1992 of Emperor covering Celtic Frost's "The Usurper".
Line-up: Ihsahn, Mortiis, Samoth

WRATH OF THE TYRANT - CD 1996
Same version as the cassette version released by Wild Rags Records, the cover even state that it's released by Wild Rags, but it is in fact released by another label.

LIVE IN FROSTLAND - CD 1999
A new bootleg we just found out about thanks to a fan (big thank you). Recorded in Finland (you can hear some people talking that weird language n it ;-) during the Winter of 1997. I (the webmaster) have gotten my hands on this one and I have to say the quality isn't fair at all to Emperor's music. Mostly everything's just a big blur with Ihsahn's vocals being the only thing you can recognize without to much effort. Includes Bathory cover-song of "A Fine Day To Die", a Hellhammer cover-song "The Usurper", & 2 bonus tracks! Nicely packaged import from Mexico.

IHSAHN - Main Lead guitars, all vocals, synth

Ihsahn has been in the band from the start back in 1991. 1999 will be a busy year for Ihsahn, releasing albums with Emperor and his other band, Peccatum. Where he teams us with his wife Ihriel and her brother Pz.

Ihsahn's discography:
THOU SHALT SUFFER "Open the Mysteries of Your Creations" 7"EP (Distorted Harmony Records 1991) - Ihsahn: guitar, synth & vocals

EMPEROR "Emperor" Mini album (Candlelight Records 1993) - Ihsahn: guitar, synth & vocals

EMPEROR "In the Nightside Eclipse" (Candlelight Records 1994) - Ihsahn: guitar, synth & vocals

EMPEROR "As the Shadows Rise" 7"EP (Nocturnal Art Prod. 1994) - Ihsahn: guitar, synth & vocals

ILDJARN "Det Frysende Nordariket" CD (Norse League Prod. 1995) - Ihsahn: session vocals on some tracks

WONGRAVEN "Fjelltronen" CD (Moonfog Prod. 1995) - Ihsahn: session synth

ZYKLON-B "Blood Must Be Shed" MCD (Malicious Records 1995) - Ihsahn: session synth + one guitarsolo

EMPEROR "Wrath of the Tyrant" LP (Head Not Found 1996 - '92 demo released on vinyl) - Ihsahn: guitar & vocals

THOU SHALT SUFFER "Into the Woods of Belial" CD (Nocturnal Art Prod. 1997 - '91 recordings!) - Ihsahn: guitar, synth & vocals

EMPEROR "Reverence" EP (Candlelight Records 1997) - Ihsahn: guitar, synth & vocals

EMPEROR "Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk" CD (Candlelight Records 1997) - Ihsahn: guitar, synth & vocals

PECCATUM "Strangling from Within" CD (Candlelight Records 1999) -Ihsahn: vocals, all instruments & programming

EMPEROR "Thorns vs Emperor" CD ( Moonfog Productions 1999) - Ihsahn: guitar, vocals, bass, synth & programming

EMPEROR "IX Equilibrium" (Candlelight Records 1999) - Ihsahn: Lead Guitar, Vocals, Bass & Synth

TRYM - Drums & Percussion

Trym became a member of Emperor in 95, replacing Faust behind the drum-kit. Prior to that he played in Enslaved but is now a big part of the Emperor Horde.

Trym's discography:
ENSLAVED "Hordanes Land" Mini album (Candlelight Records 1993) - Trym: Drums & Perc.

ENSLAVED "Vikingligr Veldi" CD (Deathlike Silence Prod. 1993) - Trym: Drums & Perc.

ENSLAVED "Frost" CD (Osmose Productions 1994) - Trym: Drums & Perc.

EMPEROR "Reverence" EP (Candlelight Records 1997) - Trym: Drums & Perc.

EMPEROR "Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk" CD (Candlelight Records 1997) - Trym: Drums & Perc.

EMPEROR "Thorns vs Emperor" CD ( Moonfog Productions 1999) - Trym: Drums & Perc.

EMPEROR "IX Equilibrium" (Candlelight Records 1999) - Trym: Drums & Perc.

ZYKLON "World ov Worms" (Candlelight Records 2001) - Trym: Drums


				*another thing comin* *emperor*



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