BUILD UP TO EMPEROR FAREWELL

Time is drawing near for the first of final series of performances from Norway's Emperor. With tickets for the band's April 14 headlining appearance at the annual Inferno Festival and July 14 performance at New York's B.B. Kings Blues Club already sold out, fans are urged to purchase tickets for the remaining shows before opportunity passes.

Announced in early December, Emperor will make four final performances on US soil, adding to their only tour of the country in support of IX Equilibrium after the album's original stateside release. Limited tickets remain for the band's July 13 show in New York and both Los Angeles shows are selling at an impressive rate. "We are very excited to do these shows in the U.S.,"
said vocalist/guitarist Ihsahn in a previous statement. "We have had a strong following there for a long time. Remembering our previous U.S. tour, I am confident that these exclusive shows too will be a memorable experience for both ourselves and fans."

Forming in 1991, Emperor recordings have sold hundreds of thousands worldwide. Their impact on black/extreme metal ranks them as one of the genre's most influential. Respected by musician, fan and critic alike, Emperor recorded their final album, Prometheus: The Discipline of Fire & Demise, in 2001 shortly thereafter announcing they were disbanding (with Samoth and Trym continuing on in new band Zyklon; Ihsahn contributing to band project Peccatum and his soon to be released first solo record).
Kerrang's Dom Lawson called Prometheus, "a staggering masterwork; a fitting testament to the musical genius." In late 2004, Candlelight reissued each of Emperor's four genre-defining albums - Wrath of the Tyrants, In the Nightside Eclipse, Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk and IX Equilibrium. Each album reworked with additional bonus footage and material unavailable previously on both European and US-licensed versions. All records available in stores nationwide.

In related news, momentum continues to build on the April 18 release date of The Adversary, the solo debut from Ihsahn. Recorded at Notodden-based Symphonique Studios and mixed at Juke Joint Studio, the The Adversary features performing contribution from drummer Asgeir Mickelson (Borknagar, Spiral Architect) and guest vocal from Garm from Ulver. Metal Manics calls The Adversary a "fluid piece of work." Kerrang says "a multi-layered and relentlessly fascinating work of dark metallic artistry." Revolver adds, "spell-binding - brimming with classical, goth, prog and 80's metal passages."

Disintegrate, the third album from Zyklon, will see US release on May 16.
The band will perform (alongside Emperor and US labelmates Keep of Kalessin, Myrkskog, Susperia, Khold, The Deviant, Manngard, Witchcraft, and Mardu) at Inferno Festival and will soon begin work on the album's first planned video.