siLLy puPPy Even though black metal in 1992 was still in its nascent form, EMPEROR was following in the footsteps of Mayhem and demonstrating that they could be fully possessed by the demons that spewed their sonic venom like deranged derelicts along with likes of contemporaries Darkthrone, Mayhem and Immortal in the earliest part of the second wave of Norwegian black metal. This is so early on that you can hear them transitioning from the thrash and death metal into the newer more evil sounds that were emerging as a distinct subgenre.

If there was any black metal demo that truly sounds like it was recorded in the depths of hell, this one might be it. It is clear from this muddy lo-fi first demo that EMPEROR were extremely good musicians who didn't need to rely on the better production values that would come on their major releases. The frenetic energy and absolutely insane performances are top notch here making this some of the scariest music i've ever heard. I have a weakness for these early black metal releases and when the musicianship is this topnotch it's hard not to get shivers when I hear the horrific sounds of Ihsahn (listed as Ygg on this one), Samot and original bassist Mortiis raising the dead in the night of the graveless souls.