By: AvNatten

Posted: Jul 5, 2006

After a month's break, the Scandinavian metal classics feature is back, this time with some of Norway's proud sons. Emperor's demo "Wrath Of The Tyrant" and their following EP "Emperor". Both releases are classics within black metal, or perhaps even within metal in general and both have influenced heaps of bands. The original releases are quite hard to get ones hands on these days, though Candlelight Records has released both releases on one CD, so they are both obtainable and quite mandatory in every black metal fans' collection.

AvNatten: The roots of Emperor, one of the best known and loved of the Norwegian black metal scene started their formation a decade and a half ago when a young Samoth who was then known as Samot grew tired of his band at the time, Thou Shalt Suffer, and decided to depart and embark on a musical journey that would let him explore new territories. With him he also brought Ihsahn who called himself Ygg at that time and who was also a member of Thou Shalt Suffer, they soon recruited a bass player known as Mortiis. With this line-up they recorded their legendary demo "Wrath Of The Tyrant" with Ihsahn on guitars and vocals, Samoth on drums, and of course Mortiis thumping the strings on the bass. They recorded their demo on a four track recording machine and although the sound quality was relatively poor the band was soon snatched up by Candlelight Records. Since the recording was done with only a four track some elements that we instantly think of when the name Emperor is mentioned such as the double guitar attack and the grand keyboards are missing save for a keyboard intro.

As "Wrath Of The Tyrant" kicks off the first thing you hear is a spooky keyboard intro that was penned by Samoth that leads into the first track 'Ancient Queen', it's a good mid-paced track to start things off with and has some heavily distorted guitar that provides some worthwhile riffing. One might note that on this recording the guitars were tuned down to drop D which is often used by death metal bands and others to achieve a thicker sound. Never again would Emperor tune their instruments this low. Other black metal releases that were coming out at around the same time did not have quite as much low end churning as is heard on "Wrath Of The Tyrant". One of the first things that you notice is the vocals, Ihsahn's shrieks and screams are loud with some echo thrown in and in your face. The following track, 'My Empire's Doom', offers a lot more dexterity in the composition and layering of the instruments. This track is a roller coaster ride with many turns and spins although it is a rather short tune.

The demo closes with the title track, 'Wrath Of The Tyrant', it blasts forth with a ripping riff only to go into a slower mid- paced tempo and then its back to breakneck speeds. This track alone will give you a taste of the rawness that is possessed on this demo and the dark albeit thin atmospheres that Emperor would later reap the benefits of after they perfected their sound.

The following year, 1993, Emperor set forth at releasing their first EP aptly titled "Emperor". Rather short as it contains only four tracks, but those four tracks are legendary in their own right. A line-up change was also acquired with Samoth switching over to guitar and Faust stepping up to take the throne behind the drums, Ihsahn and Mortiis maintained their positions as guitarist/vocalist and bassist respectively. It opens with 'I Am The Black Wizards' a track that a lot of fans find to be the bands greatest accomplishment as of yet. They upped the production on this recording yet the guitars are still rather thin and the bass isn't mixed in at the appropriate level but that doesn't really matter when you examine the style that emperor were playing, true unadulterated black metal. Some may call the production quality bad and 'necro' but for those who understand that these songs are based on atmosphere and feeling instead of just flashy musician skills will have no problem digesting these tracks. 'I Am The Black Wizards' has blistering guitars that churn out a lot of good riffs, as time grew on one of the most memorable elements of Emperor's sound has been their penchant for hammering out killer riffs and leads.

Although the production values did increase the guitars still possessed the buzz of an angry swarm of bees but there is also some clearer more audible riffing that gets intricate at times thrown into the mix. Ihsahn's vocals remained shrieks of torment, tortured and cutting through the instruments to spit forth his raspy vocals. Faust's drumming is as it should be, lightening fast and thundering, threatening to break your bones beneath its pressure if you happen to wander to close. The keyboards are also clear and offer the beginnings of what would become a very majestic element of the Emperor sound.

"Wrath Of The Tyrant" from the aforementioned demo of the same name is re- recorded and reworked here, offering fans to take a look at the bands 'new' sound and compare it to that of the past and see how the band has progressed. 'Night Of The Graveless Souls' which is also another rework from the "Wrath Of The Tyrant" demo gets a facelift as well, especially from Faust's pummelling drums that make the track even more hard-hitting improving an already good song. Closing the EP we have 'Cosmic Keys To My Creation And Times', it has an overall 'epic' feeling and gives a glimpse as to the direction the band were heading towards. It's a speed driven track but hits a tempo change towards the end which slows the pace, a complex track indeed and a highlight of the EP.

Both of these recordings are essential for those who hold affection for latter day Emperor and those who crave the pure chaotic elements that the early Scandinavian black metal scene was comprised of. This is a band who took black metal to new and great heights with their superb musician skills, grand majestic keyboards, and the scathing yet melodic vocals that Ihsahn is now known and admired for. They have now obtained the legendary status that they deserve but fans should also turn back and venture into these early recordings to explore the growth and progression of the band and to get lost in the atmospheres and frenzy of these two offerings that helped to shape the black metal scene to become what it is today.

Tordah: When it comes to black metal Emperor is one of the biggest names in the genre, there's no question about it. Even though many purists generally prefer black metal without keyboards Emperor seems to be one of the exceptions to this rule. Having released some legendary albums and helped shape the sound of the black metal genre Emperor has rightfully earned their respect among metal-fans all over the world.

"Wrath Of The Tyrant" was the band's first demo and it features a raw and unpolished sound. The music is uncompromising and reckless. The muffled guitars pummel on and on while Ihsahn shrieks and screams with his distinct voice. Unfortunately the guitar-sound is too poor to create a powerful impact on you. The drums are almost impossible to hear and it drags down the overall experience too. It sounds like Samoth is drumming in another room with the door closed while the rest of the band is recording. The vocals are actually the best part of this demo. Ihsahn sounds evil and grim as always. Keyboards are non-existent here and weren't introduced until the self-titled EP that came out the following year. Luckily the EP also features a much better production where you can hear each instrument easily. The actual compositions and song-writing is not bad here though. Even without the trademark keyboards you can hear hints of later Emperor stuff.

The "Emperor" EP only contains 4 tracks but those tracks are some of the best Emperor songs ever written. 'I Am The Black Wizards' is an eternal classic that will never be forgotten. Featuring one of the catchiest and most memorable guitar-lines in black metal history it's almost impossible not to like it. 'Cosmic Keys To My Creations And Times' is also one of my personal favorites even though I prefer the "In the Nightside Eclipse" versions of both these songs. Still, it's fun to listen to if you want to hear what the band sounded like in their early days before they had developed and perfected their trademark sound. All hail Emperor!

Anders: Emperor, much loved and hated within circles of metal and black metal. A band that started out within the ethics of black metal and later on expanded the term and perception of what could be categorized as black metal, as the legacy of the band's members always have recognized the band with the second wave of black metal, even though they expanded way over those borders as they developed as a band.

Their demo "Wrath Of The Tyrant" offers dark and sinister black metal, Celtic Frost has always been a big influence for many second wave black metal bands, and on this demo, the inspirations from the Swiss band are very evident, not that Emperor copies the band directly, the musicians have always been too good to be copycats, though healthy inspirational sources are always good. The compositions are good, even though the production is as demos often were back then, dark and rather noisy and doesn't compliment the music that well, the songs stand out and makes their messages clear for the listener. And even though the sound is raw and noisy, I actually find it very fitting and charming, though the instruments have a tendency to drown out, and the only thing that stands really clear in the sound picture, is the sick screams from Ihsahn, insanely covered in a thick layer of reverb.

The sound on the "Emperor" EP is somewhat better and is the "real" beginning of what the band would become in the future. The grandiose melodies, the epic atmospheres and bombastic elements are now present and one is listening while being awe-struck and enchanted. 2 songs are re-recorded from the demo, 'Wrath Of The Tyrant' and 'Night Of The Graveless Souls' and then the 2 "to become all time classics" 'I Am The Black Wizards' and 'Cosmic Keys To My Creations And Times'. This is also the demo where the band incorporates keyboards for the first time, and the results are amazing and generate a special and more eerie atmosphere to the songs. The band has also developed a lot as songwriters within the short time between the demo and the EP, and Ihsahn has found his characteristic scream and utilizes that with a huge effect on "Emperor".    

Emperor had part in setting the Norwegian black metal scene off, and they have a big part in developing the black metal scene in general, a legacy they never will be able to escape. Though the picture of them being a clean cut and "nice" band is all wrong, something that is easy to find out, if one cares to dig in their past. Though one could also let the music do the talking and take some good listens to "Wrath Of The Tyrant" and "Emperor", to get a listen to how one of the most legendary bands of today sounded in their beginning, back when they delivered raw and brutal black metal, and how they sounded when they started to incorporate keyboards and grandiose atmospheres, but still possessed a quite raw and brutal sound. Emperor is one of the bands that never has made any compromise, especially not artistically, and that might have disappointed some, as they became quite an experimenting band with they years, and lost touch with their past, in some eyes, that is. Other thinks they have kept their past alive, while expanding the boundaries of it a bit beyond the limits. I'll let you be the judge of those questions, and to be able to judge the band properly or simply to understand them well enough, to comprehend all their music, you need to listen to "Wrath Of The Tyrant" and "Emperor" as those 2 releases are very essential to the universe of Emperor and all that surrounds it!

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