IX Equilibrium

Untitled

IX Equilibrium is the third studio album by the symphonic black metal band Emperor. The band had stated that they were to "return to their roots", and the music presented showcases some of the band's darkest and most vicious material, as well as their cleanest production at the time. Still, it is quite different from earlier releases, featuring a mix of clean and black metal vocals, soothing symphonic interludes and unrelentingly crushing guitar work.

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic

Eduardo Rivadavia of Allmusic describes the album as a "sonic onslaught of nearly impenetrable proportions. Drummer Trym doesn't so much keep time as pummel his kit incessantly, while guitarists Ihsahn and Samoth contribute an equally oppressive wall of sound laced with keyboard textures so demonic they were seemingly concocted by the great horned one himself."

He concluded, "Far from a masterpiece, but hardly a stinker either, IX Equilibrium falls quite short of the group's earlier albums through sheer lack of diversity, and will prove indigestible to all but the most committed black metal fans. But that was most certainly Emperor's goal in the first place."

Track listing

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Curse You All Men!"	4:41
2.	"Decrystallizing Reason"	6:23
3.	"An Elegy of Icaros"	6:39
4.	"The Source of Icon E"	3:43
5.	"Sworn"	4:30
6.	"Nonus Aequilibrium"	5:49
7.	"The Warriors of Modern Death"	5:00
8.	"Of Blindness & Subsequent Seers"	6:48
9.	"Outro" (Hidden track)	0:28
10.	"Curse You All Men!" (Bonus track, live at The Astoria, London July 1999)	4:34
11.	"Sworn" (Bonus track, remixed by Ulver at Endless Studios)	5:39

Credits

• Ihsahn – vocals, lead guitars, synthesizers, bass guitar
• Samoth – rhythm guitars
• Trym – drums, percussion