Emperor
Formed: 1991
From:
Telemark,
Norway
Last Known Status: Disbanded
Background
Beginning life as a trio in the spring of '91 with Samoth (drums/vocals), Ihsahn (guitar) and Mortiis (bass). The band quickly recorded and circulated the now legendary "Wrath of the Tyrant" demo. It was this that brought them to the attention of the then still fledgling Candlelight record label . A deal was inked, Samoth moved to guitar and Bard Faust was recruited for the now vacant drum stool. By the end of the year the band had been once more into the studio to record their half of the "Emperor / Enslaved" split CD which was to eventually surface early in the following year. Mortiis departed for the band, and was after a while replaced by Tchort.
In autumn of '93 a series of headline grabbing events (which are now quite sufficiently documented. For further reading check "Lords Of Chaos". Emperor would suffer the temporary loss of Samoth and the permanent loss of Faust, due to prison-sentences. However, before Samoth has to do time, the band managed to put together a new line-up, with new bass-player Alver, and a session-drummer.
Even though the band was seriously disturbed by the unpleasant confrontations of the imprisonment's and line-up difficulties, the entity of Emperor came out even stronger in the end. By the time Samoth was paroled, Trym (ex. Enslaved) had joined the band on a permanent basis, and the bones of what would become their most epic and majestic material to date were taking shape.
By the end of '96, now fully prepared and rehearsed, they were back in the studio. First firing off the "Reverence" EP to announce their return to the fold and then following up in early '97 with what is without doubt the single most ambitious and important black metal release to date......"Anthems To The Welkin At Dusk". An album of epic savagery. Not only beautiful but bestial in it's wide ranging scope.
Emperor have now moved so far ahead of the field that it would be unfair to even consider them a black metal band any longer. Utilising elements of their more traditional metal roots, operatic vocals and of course their trademark symphonic riffing the band have created an album so mature that it may well take the rest of the competition years to catch up.
Latest Emperor News
Below is our complete Emperor news coverage, including columns and articles pertaining to the band. Some articles listed may be indirectly related, such as side projects of the band members, etc.
Note: We began associating news directly with bands in late 2003. Therefore, earlier band news may not be listed on this page.
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70000 Tons Confirms First Third Of 2025 Lineup
There are your standard Heavy Metal festivals – and then there’s 70000 Tons Of Metal.
Envision this: Lounging on a Caribbean island, soaking up the sun on a pristine white beach. Later on, you feel the warm wind blowing in your face, now sitting in a hot tub on a giant luxurious cruise ship, in front of The Pool Deck Stage, The World’s Biggest Open Air Structure to Ever Sail the Open Seas. Surrounded by Metal fans from all across the globe (known as the United Nations of Heavy Metal at Sea), you headbang to your favorite band. Sounds perfect? Well, it is. Get ready for 70000 Tons Of Metal 2025!
The thirteenth edition of 70000 Tons Of Metal will take place from January 30th to February 3rd, departing from Miami, Florida – Cruise Capital of the World – to Ocho Rios, Jamaica and back aboard the Independence of the Seas.
This unique festival will once more see 60 Heavy Metal bands from various subgenres taking the four stages on board, with 3000 metalheads from around the world in attendance. Every band will play twice during the trip, ramping the total amount of shows played up to 120! 70000 Tons Of Metal has revealed 20 of the 60 bands for the 2025 lineup: More...
Brutal Assault Unveils 23 Additional Bands
Legendary death metal act Carcass is set to make a triumphant return to the Fortress after a five-year hiatus. Joining them is Cytotoxin, promising an onslaught of toxic and brutal death metal. Death/goregrind force from Belgium Aborted will join the lineup alongside Sweden's Dark Tranquillity, renowned for their signature Gothenburg melodic death metal sound. Vltimas, the apocalypse riders, will complete this imaginary death metal circle.
American band Escuela Grind will bring chaos with their grindcore, followed by Misery Index and Rotten Sound, known for their mixes of death and grind genres. The onslaught will culminate with Pig Destroyer.
Representing the black metal genre are American act Akhlys, underground sensation Yellow Eyes, and folk psychedelic ensemble Hexvessel.
From the gothic scene, the lineup will welcome industrial favorites Deathsars and the post-punk-tinged Unto Others. Finnish melodic outfit Kalmah will arrive from the dark swamps, and heavy-rock-metal band Soil will come from overseas. Cynic, known as "tech metallers," will present a special Focus set in celebration of the re-release of their iconic debut album. Additionally, acts like Master Boot Record, with their 8-bit computer sounds, and the brutally honest post-hardcore group Svalbard will offer their unique musical perspectives.
Prepare for some hardcore action as Madball makes a comeback to Brutal Assault, after six years, promising a lively moshpit. Also making their debut at BA are established bands like Cancer Bats, Show Me The Body known for their innovative musical identity, and This Is Hell, recognized for their intense and energetic live performances in the metal punk scene.
Newly Announced Bands: More...
Ihsahn Premieres New Single & Music Video
Ihsahn has unveiled another preview from his upcoming studio album. The self-titled album is set for release on February 16th, and the latest single, "Twice Born," has been recently released online. A music video was filmed for the track, helmed by Shaun Hodson, who previously directed the video for the album’s initial single, “Pilgrimage To Oblivion.”
Ihsahn's new record embraces a dual nature, featuring "two melodically interlinked versions of the same album: one metal, one fully symphonic," as described in the official listing.
Ihsahn himself shared his thoughts on the track: More...
Ihsahn Premieres New Single & Music Video
Ihsahn's eponymous studio album "Ihsahn" is set to be released on February 16th via Candlelight Records. The renowned progressive Norwegian black metal artist, known for his time in Emperor, has unveiled the music video for the album's first single, "Pilgrimage To Oblivion", directed by Shaun Hodson.
Ihsahn shared his thoughts on the release: More...
Brutal Assault Announces First Bands For 2024
Behemoth headlines the first announcement of bands for Brutal Assault's 27th edition. Other bands include Emperor, Architects, Brutus, Ufomammut, Motionless In White, Bodysnatcher, Left to Die and Legion of the Damned.
The Czech Republic based metal festival will take place August 7-10 at Josefov Fortress.
Emperor and Lamb Of God Added To Mexico Metal Fest
With already having a stacked line-up, Mexico Metal Fest decided it STILL wasn't enough. Virginia extreme metal legends, Lamb Of God and Norwegian black metal pioneers, Emperor, will join this years' festivities.
Mexico Metal Fest will take place on November 10 & 11, 2023 in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Tickets are available now on their website. More...
Ihsahn (Emperor) Premieres New Single
Emperor singer/guitarist, etc. Ihsahn premieres a first single titled "Contorted Monuments" off his upcoming new EP “Fascination Street Sessions”, due out March 24th. That outing consists of tracks Ihsahn recorded with producer Jens Bogren (Sepultura, Katatonia) at his Fascination Street Studios in Örebro, Sweden.
Katatonia‘s Jonas Renske guests on a song named “Dom Andra“ from the effort. Check out now "Contorted Monuments" streaming via YouTube and Spotify for you below.
Tells Ihsahn: More...
Ibaraki (Trivum, Emperor) Premieres New Track
Trivium mainman Matt Heafy premieres the new single “Ronin” from his black metal project Ibaraki.This particular song finds My Chemical Romance frontman Gerard Way guesting. Ibaraki features production and input from Emperor‘s Ihsahn.
The record also features guest appearances by Behemoth vocalist/guitarist Nergal and Ihsahn. A May 06th release has been scheduled for the debut full-lenth “Rashomon”.
Ibaraki (Trivum, Emperor) Premiere Music Video
Trivium vocalist/guitarist Matt Heafy announce a May 06th release date via Nuclear Blast for his Ibaraki project's debut studio full-length “Rashomon“. The black metal-inspired project finds Heafy joined by Ihsahn (Emperor) taking over producer/contributor duties.
Behemoth's Nergal guests on their latest single and music video “Akumu“, streaming via YouTube now below.
Comments Heafy: More...
Ibaraki (Trivium, Emperor) Premiere Single & Video
Trivium vocalist/guitarist Matt Heafy's side project Ibaraki premiere their debut single and video “Tamashii No Houkai“. The track was co-written by Ihsahn of Emperor.
Explains Heafy: More...
Emperor Postpones Latin American Tour
Norwegian black metal icons Emperor has confirmed that their scheduled tour of Latin America has now been pushed back to May of 2022. To get a taste of the current Emperor lineup live, you can check out the band's recent livestream show below.
The new tour dates are as follows:
May 13 - Auditorio Blackberry, Mexico City, Mexico
May 15 - Royal Center, Bogotá, Colombia
May 18 - Teatro Caupolicán, Santiago, Chile
May 20 - Audio Club, São Paulo, Brazil More...
Emperor Announces Livestream Show
2021 marks 30 years since the formation of extreme metal pioneers, Emperor.
Formed in 1991, their game-changing debut "In The Nightside Eclipse" (1995) set the template for symphonic, bombastic, melodic black metal, whilst their follow-up record, "Anthems To The Welkin At Dusk" (1997) became an instant hit.
Emperor were a force to be reckoned with as underground, experimental and extreme forms of music twisted expectations throughout the end of the 20th Century.
2001 saw the end of Emperor with their fourth album, the ambitious and labyrinthine "Prometheus: The Discipline Of Fire & Demise."
Scheduled plans for a celebratory concert have changed shape to suit to times; instead there will be an exclusive livestream event, aptly performed in the Notodden Theatre of their hometown, Telemark.
The setlist will feature tracks from the entire catalogue, as well as very special guest appearances from original bass player Mortiis, who appeared on the "Wrath Of The Tyrant" demo, As the "Shadows Rise" EP and Emperor mini album, and ex-drummer Faust, who appeared on the As the "Shadows Rise" EP, Emperor mini album, as well as the landmark album "In the Nightside Eclipse."
Emperor frontman, Ihsahn, says; "2021 marks 30 years since the formation of Emperor. With the current state of the world, it’s been impossible to go ahead with scheduled plans. We now welcome you to join us in an exclusive streaming event. The show will take place at Notodden Theatre, 23rd of May."
Hosted by Munin Live, you can get your livestream tickets here: www.munin.live
"A Night of Emperial Wrath 2021" will take place on May 23rd 2021 @ 7pm GMT (8pm CET).
Green Carnation (Ex-Emperor) Premiere New Single
Kristiansand, Norway-based band Green Carnation - featuring ex-Emperor bassist Tchort, ex-In The Woods… multi-instrumentalist Stein Roger Sordal, and ex-Subterranean Masquerade vocalist Kjetil Nordhus - premiere their new standalone single titled "The World Without a View". The track is now available on all major platforms.
Tells Tchort: More...
Ihsahn (Emperor, Etc.) Premiere New Track “Nord”
Ihsahn‘s (Emperor etc.) new song “Nord” has premiered online and is streaming for you below. The song is from the first of the pair of EPs he has planned to release this year. This first one called “Telemark“, is more influenced by his black metal roots and finds him using Norwegian lyrics for the first time in his career. It will be out in stores next Friday, February 14th, through Candlelight Records.
Seven More Names Added To 70000 Tons Of Metal
The organisers of the 70000 Tons Of Metal cruise has announced a further seven names for the event, which will be setting sail in less than a week. Joining the already impressive roster are death metal pioneers Possessed, along with traditional metal outfit Striker, groove metal outfit Once Human featuring former Machine Head and Soulfly guitarist Logan Mader, jazz fusion metal combo Without Waves, Boston power metal ensemble FirstBourne, Colombian death metal group No Raza and Belgian thrash/metalcore band Spoil Engine. This brings the number of bands up to fifty seven, with sixty in total to perform. The ship will set sail to Cozumel, Mexico on January 7th and return to Fort Lauderdale, Florida on January 11th.
The lineup is now as follows:
Aborted
Aeternam
Aether Realm
Archon Angel
At The Gates
Atheist
Axxis
Bloodbound
Brujeria
Candlemass
Carach Angren
Cattle Decapitation
Cruachan
Devin Townsend
Edenbridge
Einherjer
Emperor
Epica
Exodus
Finntroll
FirstBourne
Flotsam And Jetsam
Ghost Ship Octavius
Grave Digger
Haggard
Havok
Ihsahn
Incantation
Kampfar
Kissin' Dynamite
Leaves Eyes
Michael Schenker Fest
Moonsorrow
No Raza
November's Doom
Omnium Gatherum
Once Human
Origin
Orphaned Land
Possessed
Ross The Boss
Seven Witches
Soen
Sortilège
Spoil Engine
Stam1na
Striker
Suffocation
The Agonist
The Faceless
Toxik
Trollfest
Venom
Vio-Lence
Whiplash
Without Waves
Wintersun
Five More Bands Confirmed For 70000 Tons Of Metal
The lineup for next year's edition of the 70000 Tons Of Metal cruise draws ever closer to completion with the announcement of four more acts for the floating festival. Joining the already stacked lineup are two American thrash metal veterans, Toxik and the recently reunited Vio-Lence, the Mexican cartel of deathgrind Brujeria will also be dealing some brutality, while former Manowar guitarist Ross The Boss will also be on board, along with Canadian metal outfit, Aeternam. This brings the number of bands up to fifty, with sixty in total to perform. The ship will set sail to Cozumel, Mexico on January 7th and return to Fort Lauderdale, Florida on January 11th.
The lineup is now as follows:
Aborted
Aeternam
Aether Realm
Archon Angel
At The Gates
Atheist
Axxis
Bloodbound
Brujeria
Candlemass
Carach Angren
Cattle Decapitation
Cruachan
Devin Townsend
Edenbridge
Einherjer
Emperor
Epica
Exodus
Finntroll
Flotsam And Jetsam
Ghost Ship Octavius
Grave Digger
Haggard
Havok
Ihsahn
Incantation
Kampfar
Kissin' Dynamite
Leaves Eyes
Michael Schenker Fest
Moonsorrow
November's Doom
Omnium Gatherum
Origin
Orphaned Land
Ross The Boss
Seven Witches
Soen
Sortilège
Stam1na
Suffocation
The Agonist
The Faceless
Toxik
Trollfest
Venom
Vio-Lence
Whiplash
Wintersun
Exodus And Seven Witches Confirmed For 70000 Tons
The organisers of the 70000 Tons Of Metal cruise have announced the addition of thrash metal legends Exodus and power metal veterans Seven Witches. This brings the number of bands up to forty five, with sixty in total to perform. The ship will set sail to Cozumel, Mexico on January 7th and return to Fort Lauderdale, Florida on January 11th.
The lineup is now as follows:
Aborted
Aether Realm
Archon Angel
At The Gates
Atheist
Axxis
Bloodbound
Candlemass
Carach Angren
Cattle Decapitation
Cruachan
Devin Townsend
Edenbridge
Einherjer
Emperor
Epica
Exodus
Finntroll
Flotsam And Jetsam
Ghost Ship Octavius
Grave Digger
Haggard
Havok
Ihsahn
Incantation
Kampfar
Kissin' Dynamite
Leaves Eyes
Michael Schenker Fest
Moonsorrow
November's Doom
Omnium Gatherum
Origin
Orphaned Land
Seven Witches
Soen
Sortilège
Stam1na
Suffocation
The Agonist
The Faceless
Trollfest
Venom
Whiplash
Wintersun
Seven More Bands Confirmed For 70000 Tons Of Metal
The organisers of the 70000 Tons Of Metal cruise have confirmed a further seven bands for next year's edition of the event. Joining the already impressive lineup are The Faceless, Whiplash, Incantation, Havok, Edenbridge, November's Doom and Ghost Ship Octavius. This brings the number of bands up to forty three, with sixty in total to perform. The ship will set sail to Cozumel, Mexico on January 7th and return to Fort Lauderdale, Florida on January 11th.
The lineup is now as follows:
Aborted
Aether Realm
Archon Angel
At The Gates
Atheist
Axxis
Bloodbound
Candlemass
Carach Angren
Cattle Decapitation
Cruachan
Devin Townsend
Edenbridge
Einherjer
Emperor
Epica
Finntroll
Flotsam And Jetsam
Ghost Ship Octavius
Grave Digger
Haggard
Havok
Ihsahn
Incantation
Kampfar
Kissin' Dynamite
Leaves Eyes
Michael Schenker Fest
Moonsorrow
November's Doom
Omnium Gatherum
Origin
Orphaned Land
Soen
Sortilège
Stam1na
Suffocation
The Agonist
The Faceless
Trollfest
Venom
Whiplash
Wintersun
Atheist Confirmed For 70000 Tons Of Metal
American progressive metal veterans Atheist are the latest band to be confirmed for the 70000 Tons Of Metal cruise next year. This brings the number of bands up to thirty six, with sixty in total to perform. The ship will set sail to Cozumel, Mexico on January 7th and return to Fort Lauderdale, Florida on January 11th.
The lineup is now as follows:
Aborted
Aether Realm
Archon Angel
At The Gates
Atheist
Axxis
Bloodbound
Candlemass
Carach Angren
Cattle Decapitation
Cruachan
Devin Townsend
Einherjer
Emperor
Epica
Finntroll
Flotsam And Jetsam
Grave Digger
Haggard
Ihsahn
Kampfar
Kissin' Dynamite
Leaves Eyes
Michael Schenker Fest
Moonsorrow
Omnium Gatherum
Origin
Orphaned Land
Soen
Sortilège
Stam1na
Suffocation
The Agonist
Trollfest
Venom
Wintersun
Three More Acts Added To 70000 Tons Of Metal
The organisers of the 70000 Tons Of Metal cruise has announced a further three bands for next year's edition of the event. Joining the ranks will be Israeli veterans Orphaned Land, Dutch symphonic black metal outfit Carach Angren and deathgrind favourites Cattle Decapitation. This brings the number of bands up to thirty five, with sixty in total to perform. The ship will set sail to Cozumel, Mexico on January 7th and return to Fort Lauderdale, Florida on January 11th.
The lineup is now as follows:
Aborted
Aether Realm
Archon Angel
At The Gates
Axxis
Bloodbound
Candlemass
Carach Angren
Cattle Decapitation
Cruachan
Devin Townsend
Einherjer
Emperor
Epica
Finntroll
Flotsam And Jetsam
Grave Digger
Haggard
Ihsahn
Kampfar
Kissin' Dynamite
Leaves Eyes
Michael Schenker Fest
Moonsorrow
Omnium Gatherum
Origin
Orphaned Land
Soen
Sortilège
Stam1na
Suffocation
The Agonist
Trollfest
Venom
Wintersun