Of all the black metal acts that have come down the pipe from the great northern climes, Emperor is the single unit that has held steadfastly to the music's original ethos while furthering black metal's reach and depth. Emperor's sheer malevolence and aggression have been superseded only by the willingness of the bandmembers -- Ihsahn, Samoth, and Trym -- to stretch themselves to the limits by incorporating extreme feats of technical prowess, to the point where they engage in but do no...   [ read more ]

CD $16.13

Stereolab was poised for a breakthrough release with Emperor Tomato Ketchup, their fourth full-length album. Not only was their influence becoming apparent throughout alternative rock, but Mars Audiac Quintet and Music for the Amorphous Body Center indicated they were moving closer to distinct pop melodies. The group certainly hasn't backed away from pop melodies on Emperor Tomato Ketchup, but just as their hooks are becoming catchier, they bring in more avant-garde and experimental influenc...   [ read more ]

CD $13.26

Central Hug/Friendarmy/Fractaldunes, the latest Emperor X offering, makes liberal use of the same disarming lyrical technology that made Tectonic? a success- and expands on it. The strong yearning to drive (Matheny has impaired vision and cannot legally operate a vehicle), a secret crush during a stint as a high school chemistry teacher, an obsession with rapid transit, and sociopathic misadventures with friends who break into abandoned hotels and try to fly each other on a giant kite in the middle of a hu...   [ read more ]

CD $9.99

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