EMPEROR — Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk (review)

EMPEROR — Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk album cover Album · 1997 · Symphonic Black Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
UMUR
Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk is the 2nd album by Norwegian black metal act Emperor. The album was released by Candlelight Records in July 1997. It´s been re-released several times since then with different bonus tracks and other features. My version is the 2004 re-release which includes 3 bonus tracks, an interview with Finnish TV and some live clips from 1997-1998. The band´s debut full-length studio album In the Nightside Eclipse was released in 1994 but because of guitarist Samoth´s arson conviction and his 16 months jail sentence and drummer Faust´s murder conviction and long jail sentence it took a couple of years before the band started recording Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk. For the recording of the album new drummer Trym and new bassist Alver were brought in to complete the lineup.

The music on the album is fast-paced raw yet quite symphonic keyboard driven black metal. The musicianship is excellent and you´ll hear no sloppy old school black metal drumming here. The vocals are raspy and occasionally clean. Upon first listen the music can seem a bit chaotic. Mainly because of the synths in the music which gives the music lots of atmosphere but also work as a confusing element. The music is mostly fast paced with blast beat drumming but there are a few calmer sections on the album too. While the synths play a dominant role on the album this is not as such symphonic black metal. Parts of the sound could be labelled that but Emperor have their own unique sound and they are a bit more raw than you usual symphonic black metal act.

The vocals are very low in the mix which to my ears is a production flaw, but it´s probably how it´s supposed to be. I´m not fond of it though. Other than that the production is allright, but as on many other black metal releases there´s not much bass and the guitars sound a bit thin.

I have always had great respect for Emperor´s compositional skills and their great musicianship, but their music has yet to really captivate me. I find it intriguing though and some day I might be won over. Until then I can´t give a full 4 star rating. 3.5 stars are warranted.
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