Bow Before the Emperor

"Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk"
Full-length, Candlelight Records
July 8th, 1997

Line up:
Ihsahn : Main Lead Guitars, All Vocals, Synth
Samoth : Lead and Rhythm Guitars
Alver : Bass Guitars
Trym : Drums and Percussion

Emperor's "Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk" is one of the most outstanding records in the history of Norwegian black metal. A bit of a controversial statement but I can boldly proclaim this
opinion with conviction. It seems there are two general camps, those who view this album as Emperor's downfall into over-symphonic fluff and those who view each Emperor album as near masterpieces. I feel I am in a rare minority made up of individuals who see "Anthems" as an amazing counterpart to the debut, an album shedding it's black metal skin but still containing the dark energy and magic apparent on all of Emperor's earlier material. It seems as if many detest this album based on principle. This record was widely praised upon it's release, black metal was in the process of becoming fully commercial, Emperor's egos were expanding at an alarming rate, Ihsahn's sunglasses were finding their way into photo shoots. And just think about the promotional photos accompanying the release of "Anthems!" No one looking sinister, no corpsepaint, Samoth wearing his own band's merchandise(pathetic move). Point is, I can understand what this album symbolizes in a way but let's get serious..photo shoots, post-rave review ego inflation, sunglasses..none of these have anything to do with the compositions on this album so forget about all that shit. If none of this music connects with your soul then you are more than welcome to give this one a big thumbs down...but consider the music on the album. Albums outlive bands and their mistakes, titanic egos, sell out moves, conversions to Christianity and etc.

This was my first black metal album and the first metal album of any kind that really made an impact upon me. In 1997 I had but a few boring death metal cassettes. A bit of Obituary,Cannibal Corpse,Deicide's "Serpents of the Light"..basically whatever extreme looking metal cassettes they had stocked at Sam Goody. I picked up "Anthems" half as an act of rebellion and half out of curiosity. My knowledge of metal was poor and I had no real idea what I would hear upon playing this uncanny looking album. The back cover really made an impression upon me. The four members sit grim faced on wooden thrones,dark wood paneling behind them,their puzzling names in gold text beneath them.
As the cd began to play that night I laid down on my floor in the darkness and closed my eyes. "Alsvatr(The Oath)" is one killer introduction. No meandering around the keyboard,ambient droning or fake medieval battle sound effects to be open the album. Ihsahn speaks to us in croaked whisper,summoning the Nightspirit as the instruments slowly begin to enter the song..the electric guitar, the barely there bass guitar, keyboards and lastly drums. I am hesitant to spend so much time on this particular song but first songs are first impressions and even now when I listen to this album "Alsvatr" really amazes me. The main riff in this song is so fucking sinister it's a wonder it's not my favorite riff on the entire album. The plodding rhythm comes to a close as Ihsahn has completed his pact with the Nightspirit:

"O'Nightspirit
I am one with thee
I am the eternal power
I am the Emperor"

And it's with this proclamation that martial drums begin to beat furiously, blaring keyboard horns provide rousing fanfare and it is then that the listener gets violently sucked out of their surroundings and flung into the utter reaches of chaos.

Chaos is probably one of the best ways to describe "Anthems." Emperor is a skilled band,Samoth and Ihsahn are truly gifted songwriters and musicians and even in their earliest recordings were miles above and beyond many of their peers. However the production job on this album might leave the untrained ear in doubt at first. Recorded in the infamous Greig Hall and produced and mastered by Eirik Hundvin(along with Samoth and Ihsahn themselves) the possibilities of "what could have been" are a bit frustrating. Besides the bass guitar everything is audible. The problem lies in the fact that everything seems to be on equal levels. Sometimes it feels as if there is so much going on you need to pick out one particular instrument and listen intently to it or you will lose it amidst the cacophony. This presents a challenge but what a worthwhile challenge it is. Over a short period of time your ears might grow accustomed. The production isn't as bad as a Moonblood demo for example. You aren't going to still be in awe of the terrible production by the middle of the recording. Beautiful melodies abound alongside absolutely "evil" neoclassical bouts of thrashing madness. These opposing vibes are so well intertwined that you can't help but laugh and mock the thousands of bands that attempt to do this and miserably fail. There is no cut and paste separation. You won't find an aggressive intro riff abruptly succumbing to a twinkling electric piano and operatic vocals with putrid "gothic" undertones. All is one writhing mass,a swirling vortex of melodic distortion.

To delve into each song and pick it apart is something I will only do while driving at night on a long stretch of highway or while lying on my bed in the dark. Not only would that make for one hell of a long review,it would also be boring to read. There are far too many incredible riffs. I could name 4 parts or more to each song that really spark a sense of wonder in me and leave me feeling as if I will never truly be able to play guitar. The drumming on this album is superb as well..playful,progressive and really complimentary to the unruly music. Unlike many black metal albums the keyboards do not try and force any kind of atmosphere upon me. There is enough damn atmosphere to begin with and the keyboards only expand upon it. I do think they are a bit overbearing at times i.e. in "The Loss and Curse of Reverence" but this can be easily overlooked. The keys do play a pretty large role in "Anthems" and I would be an idiot to say that things would be just as good without them. It is nearly impossible to resist the energy and force of this album if listened to with a good set of headphones. Reason being that it just has to be played loud. Not only can you pick out details easier with headphones on but you can get lost in the experience much more quickly. Even if it seems you are running headfirst into a wall of sound I advise you to tough it out because the magic is there, the solid songwriting is there, the passionate execution is there. While departing from youthful aggression of the debut, the vision is not totally separated. I feel the vision is basically the same but a bit more confident, grown up, less entwined in the commitment to define or exclusively play "Norwegian Black Metal."

What is most important in reviewing this album is how it relates to me as a human being. The feeling that it evokes within me while I listen to it and the feeling it leaves me with afterwards. Listening to "Anthems" the first time left me bewildered. The flood gates had opened and there were so many albums I wanted to get my hands on. The listening experience is unique and truly special to me,as it's always been and always will be. I often feel a deep spiritual stirring within me and not only do I forget about my daily life and it's petty worries but all the calamities taking place within the world. It's an album set apart from many other albums which tend to make me focus on my general disenchantment with society as a whole. Standing outside of the world completely perhaps rather than struggling relentlessly against it, waist deep, obsessed with it's filth or redundantly commenting on it's filth. I hear so much beauty and pure freedom within "Anthems." It towers above the copycat hordes of "black metal" bands and records. It's more than a fist in the face of a god, more than a 43:58 minute hymn to nature or a long lost pagan past and more than a mere blasting black metal album lyrically obsessed with a Christian devil. It's my opinion that only the greatest most other worldly albums, regardless of genre, can produce such a strong feeling and transport you to a higher state of mind. Masterpiece is almost an understatement in my book because this album changed my life.

"No peace for me
No peace I seek
My quest goes far beyond..."
-Ensorcelled by Khaos

-Matt