CMJ It's ironic that the Emperor is closing the book on a celebrated, storied, genre-defining career while at the same time opening a new chapter of unparalleled brilliance in extreme metal. Emperor wrought pure Nordic havoc in their Scandinavian homeland by torching churches and stringing together lordly, dignified black metal anthems. Prometheus: The Discipline Of Fire And Demise is reportedly the "Last Emperor." Talk about going bowing out gracefully, as Prometheus...is a progressive album, so much so that it can hardly be limited by the term "black metal." It moves like a blackened death metal and rock 'n roll symphony, with moods of love, hate, and anger represented by the leaps and dips of each meticulously arranged song. It's not weighed down by black metal's overuse of creepy keyboards and hydro-fast guitars. Band leader Ishahn's dominant voice is central to the majestic riffs blasted by Samoth. He still favors a King Diamond-like shriek, but when he sings melodiously -almost operatically and gothically- he sounds like he spent a few hours in the hands of an expert vocal coach who exacted the most versatile range from his student. Black and death metal bands have a new standard to meet with Prometheus... "Depraved," "Empty," and "Thorns On My Grave" are a fitting epitaph. Farewell. AMY SCIARRETTO go back