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EMPEROR BIOGRAPHY
Emperor is a seminal Norwegian black metal band who represent a symphonically laden yet brutally aggressive and chaotic part of the genre, something quite different from the minimalism of other originators of the Norwegian black metal sound, e.g.Darkthrone.
The band was formed around the core members Samoth (Thomas Thormodsæter Haugen, now member of Zyklon), Ihsahn (Vegard Sverre Tveitan, Peccatum) and Mortiis (Håvard Ellefsen) in 1992, and released their critically acclaimed and widely influential debut In the Nightside Eclipse in 1994 after being joined by drummer Faust (Bård Eithun, Aborym, Blood Tsunami, Scum) and having replaced Mortiis with Tchort (Terje Vik Schei, Blood Red Throne, Carpathian Forest, Green Carnation) on bass.
Around the same time as the release of the debut, most of the band are arrested on various accounts (drummer Faust on murder and arson, guitarist Samoth on arson and bassist Tchort on burglary).
Two years later, after Samoth's parole, the band releases what many consider to be their landmark achievement, Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk, having invited Enslaved's Trym Thorson (Kai Jonny Mosaker, now also with Zyklon) manning the drums.
Emperor goes on to release two more albums before splitting up in 2001. They reunited in late 2005 for selected festival appearances throughout 2006 (most notably Inferno in Norway and Wacken Open Air in Germany) with Secthdamon (Zyklon) as session bass.
The last concert took place in Astoria, London on the 28th of October.
But they are already planned for festivals in Spring 2007 in France.
Band members:
Current members:
* Ihsahn (Vegard Sverre Tveitan) - Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Keyboard - (1991-2001, 2005-)
* Samoth (Tomas Haugen) - Guitar (Drums) - (1991-2001, 2005-)
* Trym Torson (Kai Mosaker) - Drums - (1995-2001, 2005-)
Former members:
* Alver (Jonas Alver) - Bass - (1995-1998)
* Tchort (Terje Schei) - Bass - (1993-1994)
* Mortiis (Håvard Ellefsen) - Bass - (1991-1992)
* Faust (Bård Eithun) - Drums - (1992-1993)
Live and session members:
* Secthdamon (Odd Tony) - Bass (2006) - (Zyklon, Myrkskog)
* Einar Solberg - Keyboards (2006) - (Leprous)
* Charmand Grimloch (Joachim Rygg) - Keyboard (1998-2001) - (Tartaros)
* Tyr (Jan Erik Torgersen) - Bass (1998-2001) - (Borknagar, Vintersorg)
* Ildjarn (Vidar Vaaer) - Bass (1993) - (Ildjarn, Thou Shalt Suffer)
* Hellhammer (Jan Axel Blomberg) - Drums (1992) - (Mayhem, Arcturus, Winds, Age of Silence, ex-Immortal, Antestor, Dimmu Borgir)
Discography:
Full Length:
1994 - In the Nightside Eclipse
1997 - Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk
1999 - IX Equilibrium
2001 - Prometheus: The Discipline of Fire & Demise
Live Albums:
2000 - Emperial Live Ceremony
Compilation Albums:
1998 - Wrath of the Tyrant
2001 - Emperial Vinyl Presentation
2003 - Scattered Ashes: a Decade of Emperial Wrath
Split Albums:
1993 - Emperor / Hordanes Land - Split with Enslaved
1999 - Thorns vs. Emperor - Split with Thorns
2000 - True Kings of Norway - Split with Immortal, Dimmu Borgir, Ancient and Arcturus
Singles/EPs:
1993 - Emperor
1994 - As the Shadows Rise
1996 - Reverence
Demos/Promos:
1992 - Wrath of the Tyrant
Bootlegs:
1995 - A Midsummer Night's Dream
1997 - Conquering Europe
1999 - Live in Frostland
Videography:
1997 - The Loss and Curse of Reverence [Promo Video]
2000 - Emperial Live Ceremony [VHS/DVD]
2001 - Empty [Promo Video]
EMPEROR GENRES
Symphonic Black Metal (early), Symphonic Extreme Metal (later)
EMPEROR LYRICAL THEMES
Satanism (old), Nature, Mythology, Mysticism
EMPEROR ORIGIN
Norway (Notodden), formed in 1991
EMPEROR CURRENT RECORD LABEL
Candlelight Records
EMPEROR STATUS
Active
EMPEROR CURRENT LINE-UP
Ihsahn (Vegard Sverre Tveitan) : Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Synths/Keys (Zyklon-B (Nor), Peccatum, Thou Shalt Suffer, Wongraven, Ildjarn, Embryonic, Hardingrock)
Samoth (Tomas Thormodsæter Haugen) : Guitars, Drums on "Wrath of the Tyrant" (Zyklon, Thou Shalt Suffer, ex-Gorgoroth, Satyricon, Zyklon-B (Nor), Ildjarn, ex-session for Burzum, Arcturus (Nor), Scum (Nor), Embryonic, Xerasia)
Trym Torson (Kai Johnny Mosaker) : Drums (ex-Enslaved (Nor), ex-Imperium (Nor), Shadow Season, Tartaros (Nor), Zyklon, Paganize, Ceremony)
Live Musicians:
Secthdaemon (Odd Tony) : Bass (2005-) (Myrkskog, Odium (Nor), Zyklon, Kill All)
Einar Solberg - Synths/Keys (2005-) (Leprous)
EMPEROR PREVIOUS LINE-UP
Bass:
Mortiis (Haavard Ellefsen) (Vond, Cintecele Diavolui, Fata Morgana (Nor))
Tchort (Terje Vik Schei) (Blood Red Throne, Carpathian Forest, Green Carnation, Satyricon)
Jonas Alver (Dødheimsgard)
Drums:
Faust (Bård Eithun) (Thorns (Nor), Zyklon, Impostor/Death Fuck, Aborym (Ita), Scum (Nor), Decomposed Cunt, Blood Tsunami, Stigma Diabolicum (Nor), Hesperus Dimension)
Live musicians:
Tyr (Jan Erik Torgersen) : Bass (1998-2001) (Borknagar, Vintersorg, Thornbound)
Charmand Grimloch (Joachim Rygg) : Synths/Keys (1998-2001) (Tartaros (Nor), Souls Domain)
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