I've returned to this album after many years. It's difficult and requires concentration. Groovy riffs are quickly broken by electronic passages, catchy melodies are complicated and twisted... it's great, but it's entirely Ihsahn's album, without some straightforward brutality delivered by Samoth. Pretty close to Ihsahn's solo career now.

This rely .. symphonic black death metal album
great sound ,,, i like it very much ,,,
and yet i cant understand why stop ...
this band a great amazing band ,,,,

To be honest, this is probably my favorite Emperor album. A lot of people say this album is difficult to get into, but for some reason, I found it easier to get into this album than Anthems To The Welkin At Dusk (which is still awesome). That might be because I'm more into progressive-styled metal (this is definitely Emperor's most "proggy" album), than regular black metal (which I still love). The mixing on the vocals is also much better than Anthems. Amazing stuff.

Written by CobiWan1993 on 24.10.2012 at 19:32

To be honest, this is probably my favorite Emperor album. A lot of people say this album is difficult to get into, but for some reason, I found it easier to get into this album than Anthems To The Welkin At Dusk (which is still awesome). That might be because I'm more into progressive-styled metal (this is definitely Emperor's most "proggy" album), than regular black metal (which I still love). The mixing on the vocals is also much better than Anthems. Amazing stuff.

I share the same perspective.

Also, I have no idea how this can be considered plain symphonic black when it's clearly (symphonic) progressive black.

Evidently more experimental than Emperor's previous albums, but none of the intense atmosphere which made those albums has been lost, rather built on to include more complex compositions. Highlights for me would be "Empty", "The Tongue of Fire" and "He who sought the Fire".

Definition of the term "Ending on a high note": Prometheus - The Discipline Of Fire And Demise

Ishan was right we don't need new Emperor album. This was good but a bit away ,,,, band need better song titles, those are like well something not fits
Another album ''new' direction more into avant-garde

This is fine work. I dont like the new direction but its still good music.

Written by BennyMetGer on 31.03.2021 at 00:59

This is fine work. I dont like the new direction but its still good music.

They did not went long whit new direction, for them it was splitting up. Ishsns solo is basically new Emperor sound, if they would stay alive.

Not their best album, but certainly their most underrated at 8.4/10.

Standout songs: The Eruption, The Prophet, Depraved, The Tongue Of Fire, In The Wordless Chamber