And so this is the final album from one of the most
revered bands in black metal. You have to wonder if this is really a smart
career move. The individual members of Emperor will never be bigger than
they are as the collective unit of this band. Really, will Zyklon ever
hope to be as big as Emperor? It'll never happen. What, is Ihsahn going
to achieve the same level of prestige through Peccatum? However, a quick
look at the band credits reveals the line "Samoth - additional guitars,"
which probably gives us all the insight we need about why this breakup
is happening.
Would there be any doubt that the latest and last
album by Emperor would be great? Certainly not. However, its greatness
lies more in a technical, analytical place. The album appeals far more
on a thinking level; it'll make you put down War and Peace to comment:
"Hmmm, that was an interesting part." There are some instances
where the music is driven more by metallic passion, such as on the last
song, "Thorns on My Grave." At other times, Emperor delves even
further into the metal/ orchestral/ almost movie soundtrack realm, like
on track "In the Wordless Chamber," which is one of the best
songs on the disk.
Prometheus... is definitely a grower. It'll
impress you the first time, and reveal more about itself on each successive
listen, as parts become more familiar. One welcome development is how
many of the classical parts that on previous albums would have been played
with obvious keyboard tones are now done with what sound like acoustic
string instruments. Guitar solos are far more abundant, and Ihsahn displays
excellent chops. The overall production has been toned down a little from
the last one, resulting in a sound that hits you over the head a little
less, but sounds better overall.
Prometheus: The Discipline of Fire and Demise
builds on some of the elements that were introduced on Emperor's previous
album, Equilibrium IX, and throws in some signatures from Anthems
to the Welkin at Dusk. However, where Equilibrium IX had some
parts that sounded like Emperor was in a transitional phase from their
black metal selves to something else, Prometheus... as a whole
stands entirely on its own merit. A fine exit on a prematurely ending
career.
