Emperor - IX Equilibrium
After an unsettling pre-Thrash girly scream intro, this kicks into high gear. But their symphonic Black Metal art has been tempered with strong Traditional Metal and Thrash influences. I’m extremely tempted to call that a trendy move. And although the intensity is still quite high and the speed is there, where are the majestic “epic” keyboards? Yeah, they poke their head through every so often, but it’s hardly the same effect. But maybe I shouldn’t complain. After seeing them at the 1998 Milwaukee Metalfest sans keyboards, I decided that they don’t really need them, and apparently they agree. This is a common problem a band faces: Change too little from album to album and you risk stagnation, but change too much too fast, and you risk cries of “sellout” and general disrespect. It’s a fine line to have to walk, and after quite a few listens to IX Equilibrium, I have decided that what really matters is whether or not this album kicks ass, and it most certainly does - just in a different way than the classic In the Nightside Eclipse. I can’t blame anyone for wanting to try out some new ideas, especially when they all work out this well.
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