Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk

Personnel: Ihsahn (vocals, guitar, synthesizer); Samoth (guitar); Trym Torson (drums, percussion).
Whereas Emperor's debut poured sorrow from every measure, Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk takes a more regal stance by adding a classical influence to the keyboard lines (the album was recorded in the Memorial Hall of Grieg). Not only is the music more complex, it's also a bit more varied and accessible; the vocals don't rely exclusively on death metal's throaty growling and sometimes match the band's scattered passages of melodicism. Less sorrowful than In the Nightside Eclipse, Emperor's bleak outlook is nonetheless intact. This is an album by a band fully intent on realizing its creative potential, displaying no intention of compromise while simultaneously raising the stakes for a genre most fans were starting to think had dried up. The Reverence EP, which preceded the album, is included here in its entirety, featuring a CD-ROM video and an orchestral version of Eclipse's "Inno a Satana." ~ Jeremy Ulrey & Steve Huey