Customer Reviews

IX Equilibrium

5 star:		(50)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

I would have to say that metal these days is doing very well with a ridiculous amount of bands churning out one good CD after another. Emperor is one of the very best of these bands yet it is a shame that they probably never will receive the accolades they deserve so much. Their mastery over their art is apparant as they write music of a complex and rather technical nature that still manages to show raw power through it all and create a strong atmosphere of darkness. While one could argue the merits of their three albums for some time without ever deciding which one is the best I myself would have to say that IX Equilibrium deserves the honor. This could be, if for nothing else, the amazing songwriting (easily some of the best i've ever heard) and just how tight they can play (considering the nature of the music and the overall speed at which it is played, that is quite impressive). However to those looking for a band who are incredible musicians and songsmiths and whose music has no real fault then Emperor is the band you should be listening to.

Brilliant production and great musicianship lead to the best album of Emperor's career. Plenty of fire still left in the tank on their 3rd full length and the band works in harmony to create a superb symphonic black metal record. The music is plenty technical and will give you numerous listens to fully hear everything presented in rich full bodied splendor. This is an essential purchase for any fan of extreme metal!

I have no idea why people say this is Emperor's worst album. I have "In the Nightside Eclipse" and "Athems to the Welkin at Dusk" and "Prometheus"- and personally I think this is their best album. The production is so much better than in "In the Nightside Eclipse" and "Anthems to Welkin at Dusk". The music is very full and majestic...as it is in other Emperor albums also...but it just goes to show their touch has not been lost. Just overall it is very beautiful with much clearer production and some improved vocals. I highly recommend this album.

emperor changed quite a bit. my first emperor album was "anthems" and i must say, i love the album, but it took me a long time to really get into it. this one is a lot heavier and intense, yet more accessible. it has a more classic thrash metal sound, and even has some amazing halford-like wails inserted into the mix. if you want a very hard hitting, yet enjoyable album, get this. you will not be dissappointed!

Emperor's low point is still far better than most other metal pretenders. This band owned black metal. Yet it's hard for me to think of IX Equilibrium as more than a stepping stone, a transitional period, between the landmark Anthems and the ultra-progressive Prometheus. The guitar tone is very, very brittle. I really dig the operatic vocals, and the lyrics are as well-done as we've come to expect from Ihsahn. While being quite a good album on its own, this record does pale in comparison to both the one which preceded it and the one which follows it. Nonetheless, its good outweighs its bad, and it is worth your listening time.

This was my first Emperor cd, but it won't be my last! It is very heavy, very brutal, and very symphonic/melodic at the same time. Ihsahn's black cvocals are scary as hell, but I still think the only black metal vocalist who should be aloud to do the clean voice is Vortex (Dimmu Borgir, ex-Borknagar)My copy had three bonus tracks: a short instrumental, a remix of Curse you All Men, and a very industrial sounding track i didn't recognize. I'd recommend this album to fans of all types of black metal, as well as to fans who listen to vicious death metal. It was a wonderful listen.

This is still a great album overall. Personally, I'm not that huge a black metal fan, but Emperor is definitely a very solid band. Ihsahn has some of the best black metal vocals, and even though I've read some reviews about how his vocals suck on this album (his clean vocals I'm assuming), I think they are pretty good (and he barely uses them throughout the album). The overall musicianship and production is definitely a step up from their previous work, and the lyrics are very elegant/ poetic. Overall, this is a solid album and it deserves a listen.

Great great extreme metal release. The songs are hard and fast with very poetic lyrics. The concepts of the songs are amazing. It reminds me of a symphony with many layers of sounds, that form together very beautifully. The vocalist sings very loud and dramatic, sort of reminds me of the romantic opera. Every time I listened to this CD i liked it more and more. My favorite tracks are 1,2,3,6, and 8, but the other ones stand out as well. The songs are also very intense with imagery, and while you listen and follow the melody, you get mental pictures of the action. Most of the songs deal with humans and their relationships, their hate, love, battles, triumph, dedication, and evolution. Over all a very rewarding CD not just with great music, but great lyrics and concepts that engage your mind. This is no top 100 pop teen love feast, this is for serious music lovers with open minds to a different style of genre. Recommended. 5 stars.

Okay, my last two reviews were of Christian albums, now it's time to review something eeevil! When it comes to black, evil music, Emperor is the best there is. And these guys aren't just pretending, they're the real thing. They really are practitioners of dark rituals. Now, regardless of what you may think about that, I think it's still quite admirable that they stand up for what they believe in.

I know what you're thinking, evil music is just bad. Well, if you can overlook that, these guys are excellent musicians who make really cool music. It's heavy, dark, violent, and even melodic. Everything a black metal band should be. The drums and guitar are very impressive, and Ihsahn's vocals are just too cool. So cool, they're cold! {Warning: Bad black metal pun}

If you like black metal, buy this. A lot of people say it's commercial, but I never heard this on MTV (not that I would if it were). This is just excellent, well-made music, and those who appreciate such things will like it.

As with Anthems and Eclipse, this album is way beyond what metal is considered today (i.e. limp bizkit, (hed) pe) Emperor create a unique sound made from combining speed and thrash metal, doom metal, and melodic metal (in my opinion thats what its made of). Emperor will always be one of the greatest black metal bands around, and i am saddened to hear that they are breaking up after the release of Promethius.
Back to the album. Ihsahn amazes me by singing so well AND playing incredibly fast on the guitar. Plus he makes up great keyboard sounds to go right along with the music. Samoth plays tons among tons of beautiful solos on Equilibrium. Trimm is the best black metal drummer i have ever heard. He plays not only blinding fast double-bass drums, but his drumming is also very complex. Buy this and be amazed!