Prometheus: The Discipline of Fire & Demise is the fourth and final studio album by Emperor. Produced by band member Ihsahn, it was released by Candlelight and was the band's final album. Prometheus: The Discipline of Fire & Demise differs from Emperor's previous recordings with a focus on a more progressive style.[1][2] The album was nominated for a Norwegian Grammy Award for Best Metal album in 2001.[3]
[edit] Release and reception
Prometheus: The Discipline of Fire & Demise was released on October 21, 2001. The album failed to chart in North America and Europe. A music video was made for the song "Empty" was released to the public on October 8, 2001.[6]
The album received very high critical praise from music critics. Reviews from metal-based magazine Kerrang! declared it their album of the week on October 10, 2001, also comparing it to Metallica's Master of Puppets in terms of quality, while the magazine Terrorizer called it their album of the month.[2] John Serba of the online music database Allmusic praised the album stating "Those willing to invest a significant amount of time into Prometheus will be thoroughly rewarded on intellectual and emotional levels — especially when drawing parallels between the album's elaborate concept and Emperor's musical reign — while more practical listeners unwilling to slap on headphones and willfully ingest the lyrics will find the record impenetrable."[4] The music magazine Alternative Press praised the album as well stating that it "shows the best of what's possible [in black-metal] here and now...".[5]
Later reception of the album was more mixed. In 2004, Eduardo Rivadavia of Allmusic referred to the band as "winding down their legendary career with less-than-legendary efforts" and "For everyone who thought Emperor's final album sounded a little thin on ideas and inspiration (and that really was everyone!), Peccatum is the reason why." in a review of member Ihsahn's new group Peccatum's album Lost in Reverie.[7] In 2003, in a review of Emperor's compilation album Scattered Ashes: A Decade of Emperial Wrath, Dominique Leon of Pitchfork Media referred Prometheus: The Discipline of Fire & Demise as "fairly amazing" and that it was "arguably [Emperor's] most technically and compositionally complex album".[8]
[edit] Track listing
All songs written and composed by Ihsahn.
| 1. |
"The Eruption" |
6:28 |
| 2. |
"Depraved" |
6:32 |
| 3. |
"Empty" |
4:16 |
| 4. |
"The Prophet" |
5:41 |
| 5. |
"The Tongue of Fire" |
7:10 |
| 6. |
"In the Wordless Chamber" |
5:12 |
| 7. |
"Grey" |
5:05 |
| 8. |
"He Who Sought the Fire" |
5:28 |
| 9. |
"Thorns On My Grave" |
5:55 |
[edit] Credits
[edit] Technical staff
- Thorbjørn Akkerhaugen - mixing
- Ihsahn - arranger, producer
- Tom Kvålsvoll - mastering
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Studio albums |
|
|
| Live albums |
|
|
| Compilation albums |
|
|
| EPs |
|
|
| Split albums |
|
|
| Video albums |
|
|
| Related |
|
|
[4]
