Emperor - In The Nightside Eclipse 1994 (NOr)
Rating: 95
Emperor has awlays been one of the pioneers in Norwegian Black Metal. In The Nightside Eclipse is one of the classic Black Metal records that everyone should own. It's Emperors first LP, released when 3 out of 4 members were in jail. Drummer Faust in jail for 14 years for stabbing a homosexual to death and for arson, guitarist Samoth in jail for arson and church burnings and bassist Tchort in jail for knife assault, burglary, & desecration. The first track, "Into The Infinity Of Thoughs", is a great atmospheric song with alot of "a-choir". The sound quality isn't good at all but it suites the music, it makes a special feeling over the whole record they wouldn't have gotten in otherways. "Cosmic Keys To My Creations & Times" is another classic Emperor tune and one of my favorites togheter with "Night Of The Graveless Souls" (From "Wrath Of The Tyrant" MLP) and "I Am The Black Wizards" which seems to be the favorite song of most Emperor fans. With fast, atmospheric riff, brutal but yet melodic, the awesome melody line must some of the best riffs ever in extreme metal! Ishan got an great voice although its realy hard to hear what his singing, even if you got the lyrics in front of you. I can't find any reason why you shouldnt buy this if you like Black Metal, without doubt - a masterpiece! "As the Darkness creeps over the Northern mountains of Norway and the silence reach the woods, I awake and rise... Into the night I wander, like many nights before, and like in my dreams but centuries ago"

Emperor - Reverence 1997 (Nor)
Rating: 90
This is an 7 inch whit only two songs. "The Loss And Curse Of Reverence" (Video Mix), the production is way better than "In The Nightside Eclipse", infact this is the only record that isn't recorded in Akkerhaugen studios - its recorded in the memorial hall of Grieg. The song is also featured on the forthcoming record "Anthems To The Welkin At Dusk" although this is a remix. Cool song, could have fittet perfect on the "ITNsE" record if it hadn't been for the production. They got a new drummer, Trym, since Faust was still in jail. The also got a new bass player, Alver. The other song, "In Longing Spirit", is actually a progressed version of an old Emperor song descending from the 1992 era. Its quite unusual Emperor song, slow doomish song but its cool. Since its just two songs on the Reverence EP and one of them is also featured on a album I quess this is more for the hardcore fans, eventhough the music is great.

Hosted by www.Geocities.ws

1