Emperor — IX Equilibrium

How can anyone not give an Emperor CD the full score ? After all, the band is legendary. Especially since the release of "Anthems To The Welkin At Dusk" the black metal hordes have held Emperor in extremely high regards, and many claim that CD to be the best black metal CD ever released. I'm taking a risk here by not giving at least 150 points ! Oh well... maybe that was a bit of an overstatement -but I feel it isn't far besides the truth. So naturally now I will have to explain just why I gave such a 'lowly' score. Sit back and enjoy the ride.

At first listen, is the CD overwhelming and impressive ? Oh, yes sir ! Indeed it is. Is the production crystal-clear and magnificent ? Very much so. Are the lyrics as intelligent as you would want them ? Of course they are. Then... what is wrong ? The true spark of genius is missing.

Of course I'm impressed with I hear the roar of "Curse You All Men!". Of course I enjoy subtle details like a strummed spanish guitar somewhere hidden in a song. But in my opinion Emperor have tried to hard to make their music intelligent and difficult. There is nary a point of rest throughout the CD, especially with Trym most times just trying to show how fast he can drum exactly. The result is just that the songs are impressive, but fail to start to live for me. Every time I put on the CD I can feel that initial bewilderment again, if only for a brief second. -But it never makes place for true awe of what the Emperor-lads have accomplished here. The songs sound too much as though they were put together in such as way as to score the most impact rather than actually create an atmosphere and create something lasting in the way it affects you.

The 4 points I gave this CD are mostly because I can appreciate the attempt to create the sort of intense music, and because the CD still remains good when I put it on. The plain simple fact is, however, that this is very rarely. I grow tired of it with just a few spins, and then it gets put away on the shelves again.