EMPEROR IX Equilibrium

CANDLELIGHT ApriL 1999

Ahead of a brace of Metal

Hammer-sponsored UK dates from the Norwegians, reviewer Malcolm Dome blew a gasket over Emperor’s third album, suggesting that IX Equilibrium saw the fathers of black metal “throw off the shackles” of “church burnings, sensationalism and silly make-up” to reinforce a place “among the very best of the genre”. Awarding it nine out of 10, Malcolm called the album “awesome”, suggesting that its contents retained “all the power and dark overtones of the past”, adding “a severe implacable focus”, “with a sound so massive it threatens to tear the speakers apart”. In summation Malcolm observed: “It’s the music that matters, and IX Equilibrium is awesome.” He was right, too.