The music doesn't quite sit too well with most people in the '90s either, as it falls somewhere between death metal and Iron Maiden style "twiddly twiddly" metal, often with a high pitched singer screaming like an angry grandmother.
Despite such a negative public view of the scene, Emperor, with its new release "IX Equilibrium," has created a collection of black metal music that defies the restraints of the genre and at the same time embraces its best aspects. The group attacks
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Emperor's choice of calling the album "IX Equilibrium" is apparently a reference to some dark and cryptic supernatural significance where the number nine is the held in highest regard. The group sufficiently lives up to this notion of reaching a high level with this release.
Singer and guitarist Ihsahn sounds more intense here than he has on previous releases. Guitar riffs on "IX Equilibrium" are also among the harshest and melodic the band has ever come up with. The riffs are delivered with sinister precision by Ihsahn and rhythm guitarist Samoth.
The group has also expanded its sonic assault with the addition of more keyboard lines on this release. Although the addition works well in carrying on Emperor's well established knack for the use of keys to heighten its already dark sound, on several songs the instruments get overused. Several already powerful guitar riffs on the album were more than capable of conveying Emperor's sinister moods and get smothered with unnecessary keyboard notes.
Despite the minor keyboard excess by the group, "IX Equilibrium" is an album full of winners in a scene full of lyrical and musical gloom. Yes, Emperor is indeed a black metal band, they do wear corpse make up, they do sometimes pose with swords and big wrist spikes, but after a listen to the brilliance of "IX Equilibrium," no one's laughing.
04-20-99
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