Emperor is an influential Norwegian black metal band that represents a synth laden, progressive 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 (Tomas Thormodsæter Haugen) and Ihsahn (Vegard Sverre Tveitan) of the death metal band Thou Shalt Suffer and bass player Mortiis (Håvard Ellefsen) in Notodden, Norway, 1992.

They released their critically acclaimed and widely influential debut In the Nightside Eclipse in 1994 after being joined by drummer Faust and having replaced Mortiis with Tchort on bass.

Around the same time as the release of the debut, most of the band's members are arrested on various accounts (drummer Faust for murder and arson, guitarist Samoth for arson and bassist Tchort for burglary).

Two years later, after Samoth's parole, the band released what many consider to be their landmark achievement, Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk, having invited Enslaved's Trym Torson (Kai Jonny Mosaker) to man the drums.

Emperor went on to release two more albums (IX Equilibrium in 1999 and Prometheus: The Discipline Of Fire and Demise in 2001) before splitting up in 2001. A live album titled Emperial Live Ceremony was also released in 2000 as both video (VHS / DVD) and CD. And, in addition, a "best of" double CD titled Scattered Ashes: a Decade of Emperial Wrath was released in 2003.

They reunited in late 2005 for selected festival appearances throughout 2006 (most notably Inferno in Norway and Wacken Open Air in Germany) with Secthdamon of Myrkskog and Samoth's new band Zyklon as session bass player and Einar Solberg of Leprous on keyboards. In April of 2009 they released both the Inferno Festival and Wacken Open Air concerts as the Live Inferno album.

The last concert took place in Astoria, London on the 28th of October. Ihsahn stated that there might be yet another Emperor full-length release in the future, but from now on the band will be a side-project.


Band members:

Final recording line-up:
* Ihsahn (Vegard Sverre Tveitan) - Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Keyboard - (1991-2001, 2005-), later of Peccatum and Hardingrock
* Samoth (Tomas Haugen) - Guitar (Drums) - (1991-2001, 2005-), later of Zyklon
* Trym Torson (Kai Mosaker) - Drums - (1995-2001, 2005-), later of Zyklon

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)
* Einar Solberg - Keyboards (2006)
* Charmand Grimloch (Joachim Rygg) - Keyboard (1998-2001)
* Tyr (Jan Erik Torgersen) - Bass (1998-2001)
* Ildjarn (Vidar Vaaer) - Bass (1993)
* Hellhammer (Jan Axel Blomberg) - Drums (1992)


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
2009 - Live Inferno

Compilation Albums:
1998 - Emperor / Wrath of the Tyrant
2001 - The 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]
2009 - Live At Wacken Open Air 2006 [DVD]

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