Genre(s):
Symphonic Black Metal (early), Symphonic Extreme Metal (later)
Lyrical Theme(s):
Satanism (early), Nature, Mythology, Mysticism
Origin:
Norway (Notodden)
Formed In:
1991
Status:
Split-up
Last known line-up:
Ihsahn (Vegard Sverre Tveitan) - Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Keyboards (1991-2001, 2005-2007) (Embryonic (Nor), Hardingrock, Ildjarn, Peccatum, Thou Shalt Suffer, Wongraven, Zyklon-B (Nor), Satyricon)
Samoth (Tomas Thormodsaeter Haugen) - Guitars (1991-2001, 2005-2007) (also drums on "Wrath of the Tyrant") (Arcturus (Nor), Burzum, Embryonic (Nor), Gorgoroth, Ildjarn, Satyricon, Scum (Nor), Thou Shalt Suffer, Zyklon, Zyklon-B (Nor), Xerasia, Notodden All Stars, The Wretched End, Hagalaz' Runedance)
Trym Torson (Kai Johnny Mosaker) - Drums (1996-2001, 2005-2007) (Ceremony (USA), Enslaved (Nor), Imperium (Nor), Paganize, Shadow Season, Tartaros (Nor), Zyklon, Abigail Williams, Notodden All Stars, Satyricon)
Live members:
Secthdaemon (Odd Tony) - Bass (2005-2007) (Kill All, Myrkskog, Odium (Nor), Zyklon)
Einar Solberg - Keyboards (2005-2007) (Leprous (Nor))
Former/past member(s):
Bass:
Mortiis (Håvard Ellefsen) (1991-1992) (Cintecele Diavolui, Algaion, Vond, Fata Morgana (Nor))
Ildjarn (Vidar Vaaer) (Live 1993) (Thou Shalt Suffer, Sort Vokter)
Tchort (Terje Vik Schei) (1993-1994) (Blood Red Throne, Carpathian Forest, Green Carnation, Satyricon)
Alver (Jonas Alver) (1995-1998) (Dødheimsgard)
Tyr (Jan Erik Tiwaz) (Live 1998-1999) (Thornbound, Borknagar, Vintersorg)
Drums:
Faust (Bård G. Eithun) (1992-1994) (Thorns, Zyklon, Impostor/Death Fuck, Aborym, Scum (Nor), Decomposed Cunt, Blood Tsunami, Stigma Diabolicum, Hesperus Dimension, Mongo Ninja)
Hellhammer (Jan Axel Blomberg) (Session 1994) (Mayhem (Nor), Age of Silence, Antestor, Arcturus (Nor), Carnivora, Covenant (Nor), Den Saakaldte, Dimmu Borgir, Immortal (Nor), Jørn, Mezzerschmitt, Mortem (Nor), Shining (Swe), The Kovenant, Thorns, Tritonus, Troll, Umoral, Vidsyn, Winds (Nor), Death of Desire, Eyes Of Noctum, Endezzma)
Dirge Rep (Per Husebø) (Session 1996) (Gehenna (Nor), Orcustus, Gorgoroth, Enslaved (Nor), 122 Stab Wounds, Desspo Hallelujah, Neetzach, Secht, Aura Noir, Craft, Nettlecarrier, World Destroyer, Nattefrost)
Keyboards:
Sverd (Steinar Sverd Johnsen) (Live 1994-1995) (Covenant (Nor), Mortem (Nor), Satyricon, Arcturus (Nor))
Charmand Grimloch (Live 1996-1999) (Joachim Rygg) (Grimlock (Nor)/Tartaros (Nor), The Thrill, Souls Domain)
Additional notes:
Emperor have sold over 500,000 albums worldwide over the course of their career.
Emperor were one of the bands somewhat involved in the church burnings during the mid 1990s. Samoth was jailed 16 months for taking part in church burnings with Varg Vikernes (Burzum), along with other members of the Norwegian black metal scene. Drummer Faust was jailed for church burning and for the stabbing and murder of a homosexual man in 1992 (he was never suspected for it until 2 years later when he was arrested in 1994).
In December 2002, Ihsahn won the "Notodden Kommunes Kulturpris." This is a cultural prize given by his home city Notodden, which has around 12,500 inhabitants. He won the prize because he is considered the most well known inhabitant of Notodden and a great musician who works as a music teacher and arranges a lot of concerts for unknown bands.
The group disbanded in 2001 because they felt they had lived up to everything they wanted to with Emperor. They have received "legendary" status, toured worldwide, have a large catalog of releases, and they didn't want to be known as another group that "never knows when to quit making music." The band reunited to play at Scream Magazine's anniversary festival and to headline the 2006 editions of Norway's Inferno Festival and Germany's Wacken Open Air. In an interview with UK Magazine Terrorizer, Ihsahn hinted at the possibility of another Emperor album, but stated that Emperor is now a side project.
Emperor participated in the Celtic Frost tribute "In Memory Of... Celtic Frost" released by Dwell Records in 1996 covering the Hellhammer song "Massacra." For this recording the line-up was consisted of Ihsahn (vocals and guitar), Samoth (bass) and Dirge Rep (drums).
In December 2004 Candlelight records re-released Wrath of the Tyrant, In the Nightside Eclipse, Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk, and IX Equilibrium. Each of the releases comes in a slipcase and contains rare never before seen video footage.
Birth dates:
Ihsahn (Vegard Sverre Tveitan) (10th October 1975, Notodden, Norway)
Samoth (Tomas Thormodsæter Haugen) (9th June 1974, Hammerfest, Norway)
Faust (Bård G. Eithun) (21st April 1974, Norway)
Mortiis (Håvard Ellefsen) (25th July 1975, Notodden, Norway)
Tchort (Terje Vik Schei) (May/June 1974, Norway)
Emperor were one of the bands somewhat involved in the church burnings during the mid 1990s. Samoth was jailed 16 months for taking part in church burnings with Varg Vikernes (Burzum), along with other members of the Norwegian black metal scene. Drummer Faust was jailed for church burning and for the stabbing and murder of a homosexual man in 1992 (he was never suspected for it until 2 years later when he was arrested in 1994).
In December 2002, Ihsahn won the "Notodden Kommunes Kulturpris." This is a cultural prize given by his home city Notodden, which has around 12,500 inhabitants. He won the prize because he is considered the most well known inhabitant of Notodden and a great musician who works as a music teacher and arranges a lot of concerts for unknown bands.
The group disbanded in 2001 because they felt they had lived up to everything they wanted to with Emperor. They have received "legendary" status, toured worldwide, have a large catalog of releases, and they didn't want to be known as another group that "never knows when to quit making music." The band reunited to play at Scream Magazine's anniversary festival and to headline the 2006 editions of Norway's Inferno Festival and Germany's Wacken Open Air. In an interview with UK Magazine Terrorizer, Ihsahn hinted at the possibility of another Emperor album, but stated that Emperor is now a side project.
Emperor participated in the Celtic Frost tribute "In Memory Of... Celtic Frost" released by Dwell Records in 1996 covering the Hellhammer song "Massacra." For this recording the line-up was consisted of Ihsahn (vocals and guitar), Samoth (bass) and Dirge Rep (drums).
In December 2004 Candlelight records re-released Wrath of the Tyrant, In the Nightside Eclipse, Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk, and IX Equilibrium. Each of the releases comes in a slipcase and contains rare never before seen video footage.
Birth dates:
Ihsahn (Vegard Sverre Tveitan) (10th October 1975, Notodden, Norway)
Samoth (Tomas Thormodsæter Haugen) (9th June 1974, Hammerfest, Norway)
Faust (Bård G. Eithun) (21st April 1974, Norway)
Mortiis (Håvard Ellefsen) (25th July 1975, Notodden, Norway)
Tchort (Terje Vik Schei) (May/June 1974, Norway)
Discography:
Emperor - Wrath Of The Tyrant [demo] - 1992
Emperor - Call From The Grave [demo] - 1992
Emperor - Emperor [ep] - 1993
Emperor & Enslaved - Emperor/Hordanes Land [split] - 1993
Emperor - In The Nightside Eclipse [full-length] - 1994
Emperor - As The Shadows Rise [ep] - 1994
Emperor - Reverence [ep] - 1996
Emperor - Anthems To The Welkin At Dusk [full-length] - 1997
Emperor - Emperor/Wrath Of The Tyrant [best of/compilation] - 1998
Emperor & Thorns - Thorns Vs Emperor [split] - 1999
Emperor - Ix Equilibrium [full-length] - 1999
Emperor & Immortal & Dimmu Borgir & Ancient & Arcturus - True Kings Of Norway [split] - 2000
Emperor - Emperial Live Ceremony [live] - 2000
Emperor - Prometheus - The Discipline Of Fire & Demise [full-length] - 2001
Emperor - Scattered Ashes: A Decade Of Emperial Wrath [best of/compilation] - 2003
Emperor - Thus Spake The Nightspirit [ep] - 2009
Emperor - Live Inferno [live] - 2009
Emperor - Live Inferno / Live At Wacken Open Air 2006 [live album] - 2009
*****
OfficialWebPage:
http://www.emperorhorde.com
http://www.myspace.com/emperorhorde
