Emporer - Prometheus, The Discipline Of Fire And Demise
By Russell Garwood
Man's creator and his best friend was the Titan Prometheus. Zeus had given Prometheus and his brother, Epimetheus, the task of repopulating the earth after all living creatures had perished in the early battles of the gods Prometheus was sorry for mankind and he went to Zeus and asked him if he might have some sacred fire for his poor creatures. But Zeus said no, fire belonged to the gods alone. Prometheus could not bear to see his people suffer and he decided to steal fire, he also knew how hard men worked to make their living and thought it a pity that they burnt up the best parts of their food as offerings. He told them to butcher an ox and divide the meat in two equal heaps. In one were the chops and roasts, hidden under sinews and bones. In the other were scraps and entrails, covered with snow-white fat. When Zeus discovered that he had been tricked he grew angry. Not only had Prometheus stolen the sacred fire and given it to men, it had also taught them to cheat the gods. Cast in unbreakable irons, Prometheus was chained to the top of the Caucasus Mountains. Every day an eagle swooped out of the sky and ate his liver.
This is the legend upon which Prometheus The Discipline Of Fire And Demise, Emperors final and most experimental album, is based. Written completely by Ihsahn, Prometheus is undoubtedly an album that requires many listens to grasp, let alone know the first few you feel completely lost, but for some reason keep on coming back.
The album is progressive throughout, with a classical/jazzy feeling much of the time (naturally seventh and ninth chords sound a bit jazzy Ihsahn).
On of the many beauties of Prometheus is, the more you listen the more you notice; different parts competing for attention, multiple layers of music, intricately interwoven, changes in time signature, dissonant yet melodic arpeggios etc. etc. As you get to know the album, it all begins to flow, what were disjointed sections, with jumpy, hard to like melodies become flowing multiple riffs, and the album becomes one song rather than nine tracks (which could all stand alone).
Prometheus is steeped with atmosphere created by the many instruments, and intriguing orchestration, and the vocals, both clean and black, are simply amazing. The drums are perfectly judged, for example in The Prophet, as are the other instruments, which all add atmosphere.
Overall, a symphonic, complex, grandiose, and unique album, which takes much effort, but once hooked will keep you listening for a long time, Prometheus is a truly revolutionary and hugely important album, anyone that doesnt have this album should go get it now .
By Russell Garwood
Man's creator and his best friend was the Titan Prometheus. Zeus had given Prometheus and his brother, Epimetheus, the task of repopulating the earth after all living creatures had perished in the early battles of the gods Prometheus was sorry for mankind and he went to Zeus and asked him if he might have some sacred fire for his poor creatures. But Zeus said no, fire belonged to the gods alone. Prometheus could not bear to see his people suffer and he decided to steal fire, he also knew how hard men worked to make their living and thought it a pity that they burnt up the best parts of their food as offerings. He told them to butcher an ox and divide the meat in two equal heaps. In one were the chops and roasts, hidden under sinews and bones. In the other were scraps and entrails, covered with snow-white fat. When Zeus discovered that he had been tricked he grew angry. Not only had Prometheus stolen the sacred fire and given it to men, it had also taught them to cheat the gods. Cast in unbreakable irons, Prometheus was chained to the top of the Caucasus Mountains. Every day an eagle swooped out of the sky and ate his liver.
This is the legend upon which Prometheus The Discipline Of Fire And Demise, Emperors final and most experimental album, is based. Written completely by Ihsahn, Prometheus is undoubtedly an album that requires many listens to grasp, let alone know the first few you feel completely lost, but for some reason keep on coming back.
The album is progressive throughout, with a classical/jazzy feeling much of the time (naturally seventh and ninth chords sound a bit jazzy Ihsahn).
On of the many beauties of Prometheus is, the more you listen the more you notice; different parts competing for attention, multiple layers of music, intricately interwoven, changes in time signature, dissonant yet melodic arpeggios etc. etc. As you get to know the album, it all begins to flow, what were disjointed sections, with jumpy, hard to like melodies become flowing multiple riffs, and the album becomes one song rather than nine tracks (which could all stand alone).
Prometheus is steeped with atmosphere created by the many instruments, and intriguing orchestration, and the vocals, both clean and black, are simply amazing. The drums are perfectly judged, for example in The Prophet, as are the other instruments, which all add atmosphere.
Overall, a symphonic, complex, grandiose, and unique album, which takes much effort, but once hooked will keep you listening for a long time, Prometheus is a truly revolutionary and hugely important album, anyone that doesnt have this album should go get it now .
