In the Nightside Eclipse
Encyclopedia
In the Nightside Eclipse is the first full-length album and fourth official release by Norwegian black metal
band Emperor
. It features one of Emperor's best-known songs, "I Am the Black Wizards". It was recorded in July, 1993 at Grieghallen
and released in 1994 by Candlelight Records
. The cover was drawn by "Necrolord", also known as Kristian Wåhlin
. The album is considered a landmark in the black metal scene, ranked by critics as one of the most influential black metal albums from Norway. This was also the last album to feature drummer Faust and the only one to feature one-time bassist Tchort.
In 1999, the album was remastered and re-released, with two cover songs as bonus tracks. The first bonus track is the Bathory
song "A Fine Day to Die". The second is the song "Gypsy" by Mercyful Fate
. For the re-release, the opening tracks "Intro" and "Into the Infinity of Thoughts" were combined, and the album came packed in a paper slipcase to cover the traditional jewel case, both featuring the same artwork.
He added, "This is music that's extreme yet expressive, meant to evoke not just darkness and death, but the chill of a Norwegian winter, the dread underpinning traditional folktales, and the harsh and unforgiving landscape depicted on the front cover. Even if the keyboards mostly just outline basic chord changes, they add a melancholy air to all the furious extreme sounds, turning the one-note ugliness of black metal into something emotionally complex."
Finally, he concluded that In the Nightside Eclipse "was the first to fuse black metal with progressive and symphonic elements, setting the stage for a bevy of future experimentation in the genre, and it created a template for using folk traditions and melodies from one's homeland as inspirations for material. As such, it certainly possesses the farthest-reaching legacy of anything from Norway's bloody first wave, and ranks as one of the most important heavy metal albums of the '90s."
1999 edition only:
Black metal
Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include fast tempos, shrieked vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, blast beat drumming, raw recording, and unconventional song structure....
band Emperor
Emperor (band)
Emperor was a Norwegian black metal band formed in 1991. They dissolved in 2001, but reunited in 2006 and again in 2007 for a few festival dates and brief US tours. The group was founded by Samoth and Ihsahn .-Biography:...
. It features one of Emperor's best-known songs, "I Am the Black Wizards". It was recorded in July, 1993 at Grieghallen
Grieg Hall
The Grieg Hall is a 1,500 seat concert hall in Bergen, Norway. It has been the home of the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra since the hall's completion in 1978. It hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in 1986, and is the host of the annual Norwegian Brass Band Championship competition, which occurs in...
and released in 1994 by Candlelight Records
Candlelight Records
Candlelight Records is an independent record label based in Europe founded by former Extreme Noise Terror bassist Lee Barrett, though it has had a division in the United States since January 2001. Candlelight Records specialises in black metal and death metal, having bands such as Emperor,...
. The cover was drawn by "Necrolord", also known as Kristian Wåhlin
Kristian Wåhlin
Kristian Wåhlin is a Swedish musician, graphic designer, and album cover artist for many bands in the extreme metal scene worldwide. He is often credited under his pseudonym, Necrolord....
. The album is considered a landmark in the black metal scene, ranked by critics as one of the most influential black metal albums from Norway. This was also the last album to feature drummer Faust and the only one to feature one-time bassist Tchort.
In 1999, the album was remastered and re-released, with two cover songs as bonus tracks. The first bonus track is the Bathory
Bathory (band)
Bathory was a Swedish heavy metal band, formed by Quorthon in 1983. They are regarded as pioneers of both black metal and viking metal. Quorthon remained the main songwriter and member of Bathory for more than two decades. Bathory was permanently ended after Quorthon's death in 2004...
song "A Fine Day to Die". The second is the song "Gypsy" by Mercyful Fate
Mercyful Fate
Mercyful Fate was a Danish heavy metal band from Copenhagen. Initially active from 1981 to 1985, they reunited in 1992. The band went on hiatus again in 2000, when frontman King Diamond decided to continue his solo career...
. For the re-release, the opening tracks "Intro" and "Into the Infinity of Thoughts" were combined, and the album came packed in a paper slipcase to cover the traditional jewel case, both featuring the same artwork.
Reception
According to Steve Huey from Allmusic, the album "somehow managed to capture the essence of the genre while completely rewriting its rule book. All the basic black metal trademarks -- furious blastbeats, tremolo-picked chords, raspy reptilian vocals -- are here, but combined with atmospheric keyboards, symphonic grandeur, and poetic (if indecipherable) lyrics about nature and ancient Scandinavian paganism."He added, "This is music that's extreme yet expressive, meant to evoke not just darkness and death, but the chill of a Norwegian winter, the dread underpinning traditional folktales, and the harsh and unforgiving landscape depicted on the front cover. Even if the keyboards mostly just outline basic chord changes, they add a melancholy air to all the furious extreme sounds, turning the one-note ugliness of black metal into something emotionally complex."
Finally, he concluded that In the Nightside Eclipse "was the first to fuse black metal with progressive and symphonic elements, setting the stage for a bevy of future experimentation in the genre, and it created a template for using folk traditions and melodies from one's homeland as inspirations for material. As such, it certainly possesses the farthest-reaching legacy of anything from Norway's bloody first wave, and ranks as one of the most important heavy metal albums of the '90s."
Track listing
- Music written by Ihsahn & Samoth. Lyrics by Mortiis, Ihsahn & Samoth
- "Intro" - 0:51
- "Into the Infinity of Thoughts" – 8:15
- "The Burning Shadows of Silence" – 5:36
- "Cosmic Keys to My Creations and Times" – 6:06
- "Beyond the Great Vast Forest" – 6:01
- "Towards the Pantheon" – 5:57
- "The Majesty of the Night Sky" – 4:54
- "I Am the Black Wizards" – 6:01
- "Inno a Satana" – 4:48
1999 edition only:
- "A Fine Day to Die" (BathoryBathory (band)Bathory was a Swedish heavy metal band, formed by Quorthon in 1983. They are regarded as pioneers of both black metal and viking metal. Quorthon remained the main songwriter and member of Bathory for more than two decades. Bathory was permanently ended after Quorthon's death in 2004...
cover) – 8:26 - "Gypsy" (Mercyful FateMercyful FateMercyful Fate was a Danish heavy metal band from Copenhagen. Initially active from 1981 to 1985, they reunited in 1992. The band went on hiatus again in 2000, when frontman King Diamond decided to continue his solo career...
cover) – 2:54
Personnel (Original Recording)
- IhsahnIhsahnIhsahn is a Norwegian composer, guitar, bass, keyboard player and vocalist. He is best known for his work with Norwegian black metal band Emperor. He has appeared in Thou Shalt Suffer, up until March 4, 2006, played in Peccatum with his wife Ihriel , and now devotes himself to his solo project,...
– guitars, vocals, keyboards - SamothSamothSamoth is a prominent musician and multi-instrumentalist in the Norwegian black metal scene. He was well known for his distinct guitar work and drumming in the band Emperor, as well as his formation of the death metal band Zyklon...
– guitars - TchortTchortTerje Vik Schei , better known by his stage name Tchort, is a Norwegian musician. He is known for his time spent playing bass for the black metal band Emperor and for leading the progressive metal band Green Carnation...
- bass - Faust - drums
Personnel (Bonus Material On 1999 Re-Issue)
- Ihsahn - vocals, guitars
- Samoth - guitars
- AlverAlver (bass player)Jonas Alver , better known by his stage name Alver, is a Norwegian bass player. He is known for his work in the black metal bands Emperor and Dødheimsgard.- Discography :* Dødheimsgard - Monumental Possession...
- Bass ("Gypsy" and "A Fine Day to Die" only) - TrymTrym TorsonTrym Torson , or just Trym, is a Norwegian drummer, formerly with Zyklon. Torson started playing in the Viking metal band Enslaved and was later invited to play in black metal band Emperor. He co-founded Zyklon together with Emperor member Samoth...
- Drums ("Gypsy" and "A Fine Day to Die" only) - Charmand Grimloch - keyboards