Emperor is a seminal Norwegian black metal band who represent a synth laden yet brutally aggressive and chaotic part of the genre, something quite different from e.g. the minimalism of fellow black metal startups Darkthrone. The band was formed around the core members Samoth (Thomas Thormodsæter Haugen, now member of Zyklon), Ihsahn(Vegard Sverre Tveitan, Peccatum) and Mortiis(Håvard Ellefsen) in 1992, and released their critically acclaimed and widely influential debut In the Nightside Eclipsein 1994 after being joined by drummer Faust (Bård Eithun, Aborym, Blood Tsunami, Scum) and having replaced Mortiis with Tchort (Terje Vik Schei, Blood Red Throne, Carpathian Forest, Green Carnation) on bass. Around the same time as the release of the debut, most of the band are arrested on various accounts (drummer Faust on murder and arson, guitarist Samoth on arson and bassist Tchort on burglary). Two years later, after Samoth's parole, the band releases what many consider to be their landmark achievement, Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk, having invited Enslaved's Trym Thorson (Kai Jonny Mosaker, now also with Zyklon) manning the drums.
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