Anthems is one of those albums that I took to under the right scene and setting. I went walking in the park after the lights were closed on a winter night with nothing but the moon shining down. It was magnificent. So some albums require that certain something. Just like Transilvanian Hunger is an album where if you hear it in the broad daylight of your bedroom it loses all power.

If only we would all try and be more like them...

I did not realize that Faust was repentant of his actions. Is it because he thinks that he overreacted and killed someone in cold blood, or is it because he had to sit his ass in jail?

Still, how many of us are proud of killing someone? That make you a truer black metaller at heart? Would you want Varg to try and burn another church instead of writing a new album? I don't give a fuck about the criminal activities of teenagers, I give a shit about the quality of their output. If Waking The Cadaver had burned some churches and released their utter garbage I would still call them shit.

Great demo, I heard it when I was first introduced to black metal (through Emperor). Night of the Graveless Souls sounded so evil to me, such a great atmosphere on that album. Although I think I'd have to say I prefer Yggdrasil demo by Enslaved when it comes to 2nd wave BM demos.

Haha pretty nicely put
Except that in WTC's case they would have raped and butchered couple innocent women walking in streets at night and then release Perverse Recollections Of A Necromangler...it would've definitely given them more attention.

This is way off topic, but ME! The fucker deserved it so I feel no remorse.

Not everyone acts in a way to be perceived as brutal or kvlt.

Besides Wrath of the Tyrant/split w- Enslaved, and In The Nightside Eclispse, Emperor mean very little to me. I liked Anthem....when it came out, but it has not stayed with me or grown in anyway, as opposeed to Mayhems only good album "De Mysteriis...." which still grows on me after every listen....

Ihsahns solo work is utterly cringeworthy too, though he looks so damn cool

edit: who in Emperor raped someone?

Excluding In The Nightshade Eclipse, Emperor are overrated. But In The Nightshade Eclipse is the perfect Symphonic Black Metal album. Fuck, that album should be everyones introduction to Emperor.

you wrote a great review, hellhippie.

i don't mind their symphonic elements on Nightside Eclipse, because it adds so much more to the cold atmosphere of the album. it begins to get out of hand later on, but Anthems still has some pretty memorable tracks (Ye Entrancemperium, for one).

i'd say everything up to Nightside (although i include Anthems) is for the black metal fan. everything afterward is for the symphonic metal fan.

The beginning of "Ancient Queen" from the As the Shadows Rise EP should explain everything. Every black metal fan needs to hear that little release, excluding maybe the ridiculous third track. Songs from the demo with production of the first full length, what's not to love?