IX Equilibrium

1999 studio album by Emperor

IX Equilibrium

Studio album by

Emperor

Released| 15 March 1999
Recorded| October 1998 – January 1999
Studio| Akkerhaugen Lydstudio (Akkerhaugen, Norway)
Genre| Symphonic black metal
Length| 44:01
Label| Candlelight
Century Media
Producer| Thorbjørn Akkerhaugen
Emperor chronology
| Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk
(1997)  | IX Equilibrium
(1999)  | Prometheus: The Discipline of Fire & Demise
(2001)

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IX Equilibrium is the third studio album by the Norwegian black metal band Emperor, released on 15 March 1999 in Europe, and on 27 April 1999 in the US, through Candlelight Records.

## Reception

[edit]

Professional ratingsReview scores

Source| Rating
AllMusic| [1]
Chronicles of Chaos| 7/10[2]

Eduardo Rivadavia of AllMusic describes the album as a "sonic onslaught of nearly impenetrable proportions".[1] He noted that drummer Trym "doesn't so much keep time as pummel his kit incessantly", while guitarists Ihsahn and Samoth "contribute an equally oppressive wall of sound laced with keyboard textures so demonic they were seemingly concocted by the great horned one himself."[1] He concluded, "Far from a masterpiece, but hardly a stinker either, IX Equilibrium falls quite short of the group's earlier albums through sheer lack of diversity, and will prove indigestible to all but the most committed black metal fans."[1]

In 2021, it was named one of the 20 best metal albums of 1999 by Metal Hammer magazine.[3] In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked the album's opening track, "Curse You All Men!", Number Forty-two on their list of "The 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Songs"[4]

## Track listing

[edit]

All lyrics are written by Ihsahn; all music is composed by Ihsahn and Samoth, except where noted.

No.| Title| Music| Length

|
|
|

1.| "Curse You All Men!"|  | 4:41
2.| "Decrystallizing Reason"|  | 6:23
3.| "An Elegy of Icaros"| Ihsahn| 6:39
4.| "The Source of Icon E"|  | 3:43
5.| "Sworn"|  | 4:30
6.| "Nonus Aequilibrium"| Ihsahn| 5:49
7.| "The Warriors of Modern Death"| Ihsahn| 5:00
8.| "Of Blindness & Subsequent Seers"|  | 6:48
9.| "Outro" (Hidden track)|  | 0:28
Total length:| 43:33

Digipack edition bonus tracksNo.| Title| Length

|
|

10.| "Curse You All Men!" (live at The Astoria, London July 1999)| 4:34
11.| "Sworn" (remixed by Ulver at Endless Studios)| 5:39

## Credits

[edit]

### Emperor

[edit]

* Ihsahn – vocals, lead guitars, synth, and bass guitar
* Samoth – rhythm guitars
* Trym – drums, percussion

### Additional personnel

[edit]

* Christophe Szpajdel – logo

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d Rivadavia, Eduardo. "IX Equilibrium - Emperor : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards : AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
2. ^ Rocher, David (19 May 1999). "CoC : Emperor - IX Equilibrium : Review". Chronicles of Chaos. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
3. ^ "The Top 20 best metal albums of 1999". Metal Hammer. Future plc. 21 January 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
4. ^ "The 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. 2023-03-13. Retrieved 2023-08-08.

* v
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Emperor

* Ihsahn
* Samoth
* Trym

* Mortiis
* Faust
* Tchort
* Alver

Studio albums|

* In the Nightside Eclipse
* Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk
* IX Equilibrium
* Prometheus: The Discipline of Fire & Demise

Live albums|

* Live Inferno

Compilation albums|

* Scattered Ashes: A Decade of Emperial Wrath

EPs|

* Emperor

Demo albums|

* Wrath of the Tyrant

Video albums|

* Live Inferno

Related|

* Discography
* In Honour of Icon E - A Tribute to Emperor

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

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