Emperor "IX Equilibrium (USA, Century Media, 7870-2)"

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.

Eduardo Rivadavia of AllMusic describes the album as a "sonic onslaught of nearly impenetrable proportions". 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." 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."

Track listing

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

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

Licensed from Candlelight Records.

First press came with an exclusive band sticker.

There is a hidden 9th track (0:28) after "Of Blindness and Subsequent Seers".

Re-issued once more in April 2014.

Recording information:

Recorded & mixed at Akkerhaugen Lydstudio October '98 - January '99 CE. 

Mastered at Strype Audio, January 1999 CE.

Produced and engineered by The Emperors and Thorbjørn Akkerhaugen.

Thorbjørn Akkerhaugen – producer, engineer

Tom Kvålsvoll – mastering with Emperor

Stephen O'Malley – cover design

Knut Jacobsen – photography

Christophe Szpajdel – logo