Emperor
When attention first focused on Norway's almost cartoonishly violent black metal scene in the mid-'90s, Mayhem were dubbed its godfathers, but most of the critical accolades were bestowed upon Emperor, whose musical innovations have had more impact on the genre than any other band. Norwegian black metal was rife with anti-Christian sentiment, but Emperor found novel ways of expressing it in their music; while their music could be furious and violent, the group was also influenced by the darkly majestic melodies of Norwegian folk and classical music, which very effectively supported their lyrical subject matter (even if it was frequently unintelligible). Emperor evoked not only Satanic horror, but also the frigid loneliness of bleak Scandinavian winters; additionally, images of pagan nature worship recalled an ancient, idealized pre-Christian past in which Scandinavian culture was one of the world's most dominant (resulting in the sound being tagged "Viking metal" by some). However, even as Emperor's music garnered world-wide acclaim in the heavy metal community, legal difficulties and lineup shifts ensued when a number of bandmembers became involved in the anti-Christian activism and general violence that characterized Norway's underground metal scene at the time.
Emperor's original lineup featured vocalist/guitarist/keyboardist Ihsahn, bassist Mortiis (who has been credited with the band's initial interest in Norwegian folk), and drummer Samoth; this trio recorded a demo, Wrath of the Tyrant, in late 1992, and soon added drummer Faust (born Bard G. Eithun), with Samoth switching to guitar. The quartet recorded a split EP with the band Enslaved titled Hordanes Land, after which Mortiis was forced to leave the group -- and the country -- for unspecified reasons; he moved to Sweden and pursued a solo career, often appearing costumed as an elf. New bassist Tchort signed on for Emperor's full-length debut, In the Nightside Eclipse, which earned critical praise and an international cult following upon its release in 1994. However, around the same time, Samoth was convicted of arson after burning down a historical wooden church; Tchort was sentenced for burglary, knife assault, and desecration; and Faust was locked up for arson, burglary, and murder, stabbing a homosexual acquaintance 14 times outside the Olympic Park in Lillehammer after the man made a pass at him.
After Samoth's parole, Emperor regrouped with new bassist Alver and former Enslaved drummer Trym. A three-track EP, Reverence, was recorded in late 1996 as a precursor to 1997's acclaimed Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk, which refined and expanded on the accomplishments of the debut. Alver departed afterwards, leaving Ihsahn and Samoth to split bass chores on record; session bassist Tyr and keyboardist Charmand Grimloch began touring with the group to fill the holes. Emperor's third album, IX Equilibrium, followed in 1999, and the following year the group issued its first concert recording, Emperial Live Ceremony.
© Steve Huey /TiVo
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Discography
144 album(s) • Sorted by Bestseller
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A Taste of Hope (Remixes)
Dance - Released by UKF on 24 feb. 2022
Available in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
Box Cutter EP
Drum 'n' bass - Released by Critical Music on 3 dec. 2018
Available in24-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
Saved Me / Rangefinder
Drum 'n' bass - Released by Drum&BassArena on 20 nov. 2020
Available in24-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
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Saved Me
Drum 'n' bass - Released by Drum&BassArena on 4 dec. 2020
Available in24-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
Rangefinder
Drum 'n' bass - Released by Drum&BassArena on 20 nov. 2020
Available in24-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
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Anthems To The Welkin At Dusk
Metal - Released by Candlelight on 5 dec. 1997
Available in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
In The Nightside Eclipse
Metal - Released by Candlelight on 21 feb. 1994
Available in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
Prometheus: The Discipline Of Fire & Demise
Metal - Released by Candlelight on 21 okt. 2001
Available in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
In The Nightside Eclipse (20th Anniversary Edition)
Metal - Released by Candlelight on 21 feb. 1994
Available in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
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Emperor / Wrath Of The Tyrant
Metal - Released by Candlelight on 28 sep. 1998
Available in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
These Days / Still
Drum 'n' bass - Released by UKF on 23 sep. 2020
Available in24-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
Thorns vs Emperor
Metal - Released by Peaceville Records on 1 jul. 1999
Available in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
Sunder
Drum 'n' bass - Released by Vision Recordings on 17 jul. 2020
Available in24-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
Live At Wacken Open Air 2006 - A Night Of Emperial Wrath
Metal - Released by Candlelight on 20 apr. 2009
Available in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
Scattered Ashes: A Decade Of Emperial Wrath
Metal - Released by Candlelight on 25 mrt. 2003
Available in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
Emperial Live Ceremony
Metal - Released by Candlelight on 15 mei 2000
Available in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -