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
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Chronicles of Chaos | 7/10[2] |
Eduardo Rivadavia of AllMusic describes the album as a "sonic onslaught of nearly impenetrable proportions".[1] He noted that 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."[1]
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."[1]
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
References
- ^ a b c d Rivadavia, Eduardo. "IX Equilibrium - Emperor : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards : AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
- ^ Rocher, David (19 May 1999). "CoC : Emperor - IX Equilibrium : Review". Chronicles of Chaos. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
 | This 1990s black metal album–related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |