#emperor- — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #emperor-, aggregated by home.social.
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A Changing World for Emperor Penguins
https://atlas.whatip.xyz/post.php?slug=a-changing-world-for-emperor-penguins
<p>Experts are analyzing decades of images from Landsat satellites for clues about how the iconic birds
#analyzing #changing #penguins #emperor -
Valentine Yee handed two-year community corrections order over ‘egregious’ lies to ICAC
A Sydney restaurateur has avoided jail after lying to the state’s corruption watchdog to protect his brother. Valentine…
#Australia #AU #Austrlia #corruption #Emperor'sGarden #ICAC #NSWLabor #ValentineYee
https://www.europesays.com/australia/81201/ -
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🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
“The #Emperor Is A Fan Of #Flock” — #DarthVader Appears At #SanDiego City Hall #satire? xD hahahaha #yt #FlockOff #Privacy #Security #Surveillance #MassSurveillance
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🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
“The #Emperor Is A Fan Of #Flock” — #DarthVader Appears At #SanDiego City Hall #satire? xD hahahaha #yt #FlockOff #Privacy #Security #Surveillance #MassSurveillance
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🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
“The #Emperor Is A Fan Of #Flock” — #DarthVader Appears At #SanDiego City Hall #satire? xD hahahaha #yt #FlockOff #Privacy #Security #Surveillance #MassSurveillance
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🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
“The #Emperor Is A Fan Of #Flock” — #DarthVader Appears At #SanDiego City Hall #satire? xD hahahaha #yt #FlockOff #Privacy #Security #Surveillance #MassSurveillance
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🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
“The #Emperor Is A Fan Of #Flock” — #DarthVader Appears At #SanDiego City Hall #satire? xD hahahaha #yt #FlockOff #Privacy #Security #Surveillance #MassSurveillance
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‘King Kazu,’ 59, scores twice from penalty spot to make history at Emperor’s Cup
Kazuyoshi Miura scored twice from the penalty spot as the 59-year-old striker became the oldest goalscorer in the…
#EuropeSays #Japan #JP #emperor #KazuyoshiMiura
https://www.europesays.com/japan/77285/ -
@byteseu
I second your statement that the emperor's memorial in the Hofkirche is one of the most outstanding sights in Innsbruck. I would even say that if there's only one thing you want to pay entrance fee for it is this tomb. -
@byteseu
I second your statement that the emperor's memorial in the Hofkirche is one of the most outstanding sights in Innsbruck. I would even say that if there's only one thing you want to pay entrance fee for it is this tomb. -
@byteseu
I second your statement that the emperor's memorial in the Hofkirche is one of the most outstanding sights in Innsbruck. I would even say that if there's only one thing you want to pay entrance fee for it is this tomb. -
Japan's debate over imperial succession and married surnames reflects a deeper struggle over whether the traditional household, defined through the paternal line, remains the fundamental unit of the Japanese state. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2026/08/16/japan/politics-of-family-in-japan/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #japan #imperialhouselaw #emperor #ldp #sanaetakaichi #imperialfamily #princessaiko #princessmako #princehisahito #jip #worldwarii
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Japan's debate over imperial succession and married surnames reflects a deeper struggle over whether the traditional household, defined through the paternal line, remains the fundamental unit of the Japanese state. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2026/08/16/japan/politics-of-family-in-japan/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #japan #imperialhouselaw #emperor #ldp #sanaetakaichi #imperialfamily #princessaiko #princessmako #princehisahito #jip #worldwarii
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Japan's debate over imperial succession and married surnames reflects a deeper struggle over whether the traditional household, defined through the paternal line, remains the fundamental unit of the Japanese state. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2026/08/16/japan/politics-of-family-in-japan/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #japan #imperialhouselaw #emperor #ldp #sanaetakaichi #imperialfamily #princessaiko #princessmako #princehisahito #jip #worldwarii
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Japan's debate over imperial succession and married surnames reflects a deeper struggle over whether the traditional household, defined through the paternal line, remains the fundamental unit of the Japanese state. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2026/08/16/japan/politics-of-family-in-japan/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #japan #imperialhouselaw #emperor #ldp #sanaetakaichi #imperialfamily #princessaiko #princessmako #princehisahito #jip #worldwarii
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Plot twist behind Sydney restaurant Emperor’s Garden shock closure – News + Articles
The restaurant has been a fixture of Sydney’s Chinatown for more than four decades, often attracting large crowds…
#Australia #Sydney #chinatown #closure #creampuffs #eatout #Emperor'sGarden.Emperor'spuffs #Haymarket #restaurant
https://www.europesays.com/australia/66066/ -
Plot twist behind Sydney restaurant Emperor’s Garden shock closure – News + Articles https://www.allforgardening.com/1916741/plot-twist-behind-sydney-restaurant-emperors-garden-shock-closure-news-articles/ #chinatown #closure #CreamPuffs #EatOut #Emperor'sGardenEmperor'sPuffs #garden #haymarket #Restaurant
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Plot twist behind Sydney restaurant Emperor’s Garden shock closure – News + Articles https://www.allforgardening.com/1916741/plot-twist-behind-sydney-restaurant-emperors-garden-shock-closure-news-articles/ #chinatown #closure #CreamPuffs #EatOut #Emperor'sGardenEmperor'sPuffs #garden #haymarket #Restaurant
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… hab mir diese feine Scheibe von Neseblod mitgenommen -die dritte #emperor 🖤🔥
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… hab mir diese feine Scheibe von Neseblod mitgenommen -die dritte #emperor 🖤🔥
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… hab mir diese feine Scheibe von Neseblood mitgenommen -die dritte #emperor 🖤🔥
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… hab mir diese feine Scheibe von Neseblood mitgenommen -die dritte #emperor 🖤🔥
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O joy! What an honor and privilege to have witnessed so much! Day four of #beyondthegatesfestival started with a high for us thanks to the always excellent #gaahlswyrd #arcturus and #alcest We expected #emperor to close the festival in style but frankly we were not prepared to be awed so much. Majestic, powerful, sometimes going for the jugular, this was Emperor at its very best, #blackmetal royalty showing what it’s all about from the early days to the more progressive parts of its catalogue. Seeing Faust and Mortiis on stage made the whole thing even more brilliant. We left #grieghallen whistling tunes and smiling like idiots.
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O joy! What an honor and privilege to have witnessed so much! Day four of #beyondthegatesfestival started with a high for us thanks to the always excellent #gaahlswyrd #arcturus and #alcest We expected #emperor to close the festival in style but frankly we were not prepared to be awed so much. Majestic, powerful, sometimes going for the jugular, this was Emperor at its very best, #blackmetal royalty showing what it’s all about from the early days to the more progressive parts of its catalogue. Seeing Faust and Mortiis on stage made the whole thing even more brilliant. We left #grieghallen whistling tunes and smiling like idiots.
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O joy! What an honor and privilege to have witnessed so much! Day four of #beyondthegatesfestival started with a high for us thanks to the always excellent #gaahlswyrd #arcturus and #alcest We expected #emperor to close the festival in style but frankly we were not prepared to be awed so much. Majestic, powerful, sometimes going for the jugular, this was Emperor at its very best, #blackmetal royalty showing what it’s all about from the early days to the more progressive parts of its catalogue. Seeing Faust and Mortiis on stage made the whole thing even more brilliant. We left #grieghallen whistling tunes and smiling like idiots.
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https://www.europesays.com/es/683310/ EMPEROR lanza una colección de artículos de lujo con un escudo metálico a tamaño real y joyería en plata #BlackMetal #EMPEROR #Entertainment #Entretenimiento #ES #España #MerchandisingDeGruposDeRockYMetal #Music #Música #Spain
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Nach fünf Tagen in Norwegen fühle ich mich nun bereit für die einzig trve Musik des Landes: Black Metal! Und so lasse ich die Spiele beginnen mit den majestätischen Emperor 🖤🔥 #blackmetal #emperor
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Nach fünf Tagen in Norwegen fühle ich mich nun bereit für die einzig trve Musik des Landes: Black Metal! Und so lasse ich die Spiele beginnen mit den majestätischen Emperor 🖤🔥 #blackmetal #emperor
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Nach fünf Tagen in Norwegen fühle ich mich nun bereit für die einzig trve Musik des Landes: Black Metal! Und so lasse ich die Spiele beginnen mit den majestätischen Emperor 🖤🔥 #blackmetal #emperor
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Nach fünf Tagen in Norwegen fühle ich mich nun bereit für die einzig trve Musik des Landes: Black Metal! Und so lasse ich die Spiele beginnen mit den majestätischen Emperor 🖤🔥 #blackmetal #emperor
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Nach fünf Tagen in Norwegen fühle ich mich nun bereit für die einzig trve Musik des Landes: Black Metal! Und so lasse ich die Spiele beginnen mit den majestätischen Emperor 🖤🔥 #blackmetal #emperor
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Some Call It ‘Male Chauvinism.’ Japan Calls It ‘Tradition’
On Friday, Japan’s parliament enacted a historic revision to the 19th-century Imperial House Law by insisting only…
#EuropeSays #Japan #JP #emperor #emperornaruhito #female #heir #males #men #Naruhito #princessaiko #Women
https://www.europesays.com/japan/60157/ -
Japan enshrines male-only succession for the shrinking imperial family
TOKYO — Japan’s parliament enacted a historic revision to the 19th-century Imperial House Law on Friday by insisting only paternal-lineage…
#EuropeSays #Japan #JP #branchfamily #commoner #emperor #emperornaruhito #femalemonarch #governmenteffort #hisahito #historicrevision #imperialfamily #measure #monarchy #Nihon #people #princessaiko #royalstatus
https://www.europesays.com/japan/60131/ -
Japan changes royal rules; but not enough for Princess Aiko to wear the crown https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/world/japan-imperial-house-law-male-only-succession-princess-aiko-xtu08mxm?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon #Japan #PrincessAiko #ImperialFamily #RoyalFamily #Emperor
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Japan changes royal rules; but not enough for Princess Aiko to wear the crown https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/world/japan-imperial-house-law-male-only-succession-princess-aiko-xtu08mxm?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon #Japan #PrincessAiko #ImperialFamily #RoyalFamily #Emperor
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Japan changes royal rules; but not enough for Princess Aiko to wear the crown https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/world/japan-imperial-house-law-male-only-succession-princess-aiko-xtu08mxm?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon #Japan #PrincessAiko #ImperialFamily #RoyalFamily #Emperor
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Japan changes royal rules; but not enough for Princess Aiko to wear the crown https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/world/japan-imperial-house-law-male-only-succession-princess-aiko-xtu08mxm?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon #Japan #PrincessAiko #ImperialFamily #RoyalFamily #Emperor
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Japan Faces Deep Royal Crisis As Rules Block Women From The Throne
Japan is currently facing a significant royal crisis as the government attempts to avoid a succession emergency within…
#EuropeSays #Japan #JP #Chrysanthemumthrone #emperor #femalesuccession #monarchy #royalcrisis #Tradition
https://www.europesays.com/japan/58409/ -
A Technology I Believe Will Exist in 20 Years
What’s a piece of technology you’re convinced will exist in 20 years?Personal Opinion & Technology Trends If I had the chance to nominate one challenger against Darth Vader, I would choose Luke Skywalker.Luke is brave, kind, and always tries to do the right thing. Unlike Darth Vader, who often rules through fear, Luke believes in hope, justice, and compassion. A true leader should inspire people instead of controlling them with fear.Luke has faced many difficult challenges, but he never […]https://ravidijitalhub.wordpress.com/2026/07/14/a-technology-i-believe-will-exist-in-20-years/
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🇺🇦 #NowPlaying on #KEXP's #VarietyMix
Emperor:
🎵 I Am the Black Wizardshttps://thepauldaniels.bandcamp.com/track/emperor-i-am-the-black-wizards-cover-interlude
https://open.spotify.com/track/4jjlYfhduOrGY4mySof5C3
🎶 show playlist 👇
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6G4PaS9BNkIuGqMo44rbfZ🎶 KEXP playlist 👇
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6VNALrOa3gWbk794YuIrwg -
🇺🇦 #NowPlaying on #KEXP's #VarietyMix
Emperor:
🎵 I Am the Black Wizardshttps://thepauldaniels.bandcamp.com/track/emperor-i-am-the-black-wizards-cover-interlude
https://open.spotify.com/track/4jjlYfhduOrGY4mySof5C3
🎶 show playlist 👇
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6G4PaS9BNkIuGqMo44rbfZ🎶 KEXP playlist 👇
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6VNALrOa3gWbk794YuIrwg -
🇺🇦 #NowPlaying on #KEXP's #VarietyMix
Emperor:
🎵 I Am the Black Wizardshttps://thepauldaniels.bandcamp.com/track/emperor-i-am-the-black-wizards-cover-interlude
https://open.spotify.com/track/4jjlYfhduOrGY4mySof5C3
🎶 show playlist 👇
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6G4PaS9BNkIuGqMo44rbfZ🎶 KEXP playlist 👇
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6VNALrOa3gWbk794YuIrwg -
🇺🇦 #NowPlaying on #KEXP's #VarietyMix
Emperor:
🎵 I Am the Black Wizardshttps://thepauldaniels.bandcamp.com/track/emperor-i-am-the-black-wizards-cover-interlude
https://open.spotify.com/track/4jjlYfhduOrGY4mySof5C3
🎶 show playlist 👇
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6G4PaS9BNkIuGqMo44rbfZ🎶 KEXP playlist 👇
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6VNALrOa3gWbk794YuIrwg -
🇺🇦 #NowPlaying on #KEXP's #VarietyMix
Emperor:
🎵 I Am the Black Wizardshttps://thepauldaniels.bandcamp.com/track/emperor-i-am-the-black-wizards-cover-interlude
https://open.spotify.com/track/4jjlYfhduOrGY4mySof5C3
🎶 show playlist 👇
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6G4PaS9BNkIuGqMo44rbfZ🎶 KEXP playlist 👇
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6VNALrOa3gWbk794YuIrwg -
https://www.europesays.com/hu/166016/ Index – Kultúr – Visszatért az ijesztő troll, aki a zenéjével hipnotizál #CeFemina #CeNapi #Celebrities #emperor #Entertainment #GhostsOfEuropa #Hírességek #HU #Hungarian #Hungary #kritika #kultúr #Magyar #Magyarország #Mortiis #synthwave #Szórakozás #Zene
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Mortem – Mørketid Review By Andy-War-HallNow here’s a band with pedigree! Norway’s black metal squad Mortem have been around since 1987, right at the forefront of the infamous second wave. Though their heyday produced only the Slow Death demo and their debut record, Ravnsvart, took until 2019 to release, their individual band members have kept themselves busy. Consisting of guitarist/keyboardist Steinar Sverd Johnsen, vocalist Marius Vold, drummer Jan “Hellhammer” Blomberg, and newcomer bassist Tor Stavenes, Mortem’s genealogy traces lines through the likes of Mayhem, Arcturus, Thorns, 1349, Emperor, and way too many other bands. Now, almost forty years since their inception, Mortem are unleashing their sophomore album Mørketid, promising in their promo “eight tracks of savage, eerie, and often epic black metal.” Will Mortem’s collective experience translate to top-shelf black metal, or will Mørketid’s time under the sun be short-lived?
“Mørketid” is the Norwegian word for polar night, where the sun stays below the horizon for weeks during the winter months. It’s an eerie time that Mortem capture well on Mørketid. Between the persistent tremolos and rasps across Mørketid, an unsettling and understated melody gives the project an uncanny feel. Mortem’s keyboard presence does a lot for Mørketid’s texture, bestowing a creepy music box melody to “Aftermath” and a beefy Dimmu Borgir symphonic gothicness to “Ditt Ødes Ære.” But overall, if you’ve heard Mayhem’s early stuff, you know what to expect from Mortem. Buzzsaw guitars, phlegmy rasps, and drawn-out staggering through the dark are the name of the game here, highlighted on songs like “The Mighty Odious” and “Mørkets Ormebol.” Mortem have been around long enough to get these fundamentals down pat.
Though Mortem clearly put in the work, there are yet few standout performances on Mørketid. Outside of some surprisingly shreddy solos across Mørketid’s back end (“Den Sanne Gud,” “Aftermath”), Johnsen’s riffs are murky and standard-issue black metal, and while I appreciate Stavenes’ pronounced bass presence and the punchiness that comes with it (“Skyggeånd”), it nonetheless stays too firmly in the pocket. Similarly, Vold’s rasps are thick and gritty but rarely venture off from his slow-n-low mode, making his vocal presence seep into the background. Johnsen’s keyboards and Hellhammer’s drumming deserve note, however, as spidery key runs on “Mørketid” and “Mørkets Ormebol” do the heavy lifting in building mood and identity on their tracks, and shifting grooves and blasts all across Mørketid are its most varied and exciting asset. Mortem’s songwriting approach likely contributes to the muted performances: they’re hellbent for murk. But Mortem have ludicrous talent in their ranks, and I think a few more standout moments would’ve easily elevated Mørketid.
And therein lies Mørketid’s biggest issue: memorability. Besides “Blodvassen Grunn,” where Mortem open the blinds a smidge for a touch of lightness in their style, Mørketid is monotonously dark. Over-repetition plagues many of Mørketid’s tracks, watering down the vitality of songs like “Mørkets Ormebol” and “Skyggeånd” while inflating Mørketid’s runtime. None of Mortem’s songs are extraordinarily long, sitting around four to six minutes on average, but I often found myself checking the time halfway through each song anyway. Production owns some of the blame here; though everything’s clearly audible, everything sounds crushed and undynamic, wearing on both the ears and mind. There are times when Mortem flirt with variety, like the darkly groovy second half of “Aftermath” and the time “Den Sanne Gud” gets quiet and threatens to veer into an Iron Maiden epic,1 but these are few and far between on Mørketid. I don’t think I can give high marks to something I can’t remember after many listens.
It’s crazy to think that a band whose line-up is as storied as Mortem’s could struggle with a sophomore slump this far into their career, but here we are. Mørketid isn’t a bad record, but one that’s played too safely to truly stand out. Production issues and monotonous songwriting knock it down a notch further. Mortem occupy a space in metal’s history where a subpar record isn’t going to blemish their legacy. They were instrumental in founding one of its most iconic sub-genres. But Mørketid wasn’t released in 1987, and so has to stand up against the scores of other black metal releases from the decades since then. Sadly, it doesn’t.
Rating: Disappointing
#1349 #20 #2026 #Arcturus #BlackMetal #DimmuBorgir #Emperor #IronMaiden #Jul26 #Mayhem #Mortem #Mørketid #NorwegianMetal #PeacevilleRecords #Review #Reviews #Thorns
DR: 5 | Format Reviewed: 256 kbps MP3
Label: Peaceville Records
Websites: facebook.com/mortemnorway | bandcamp.com/album/morketid
Releases Worldwide: July 3rd, 2026 -
Mortem – Mørketid Review By Andy-War-HallNow here’s a band with pedigree! Norway’s black metal squad Mortem have been around since 1987, right at the forefront of the infamous second wave. Though their heyday produced only the Slow Death demo and their debut record, Ravnsvart, took until 2019 to release, their individual band members have kept themselves busy. Consisting of guitarist/keyboardist Steinar Sverd Johnsen, vocalist Marius Vold, drummer Jan “Hellhammer” Blomberg, and newcomer bassist Tor Stavenes, Mortem’s genealogy traces lines through the likes of Mayhem, Arcturus, Thorns, 1349, Emperor, and way too many other bands. Now, almost forty years since their inception, Mortem are unleashing their sophomore album Mørketid, promising in their promo “eight tracks of savage, eerie, and often epic black metal.” Will Mortem’s collective experience translate to top-shelf black metal, or will Mørketid’s time under the sun be short-lived?
“Mørketid” is the Norwegian word for polar night, where the sun stays below the horizon for weeks during the winter months. It’s an eerie time that Mortem capture well on Mørketid. Between the persistent tremolos and rasps across Mørketid, an unsettling and understated melody gives the project an uncanny feel. Mortem’s keyboard presence does a lot for Mørketid’s texture, bestowing a creepy music box melody to “Aftermath” and a beefy Dimmu Borgir symphonic gothicness to “Ditt Ødes Ære.” But overall, if you’ve heard Mayhem’s early stuff, you know what to expect from Mortem. Buzzsaw guitars, phlegmy rasps, and drawn-out staggering through the dark are the name of the game here, highlighted on songs like “The Mighty Odious” and “Mørkets Ormebol.” Mortem have been around long enough to get these fundamentals down pat.
Though Mortem clearly put in the work, there are yet few standout performances on Mørketid. Outside of some surprisingly shreddy solos across Mørketid’s back end (“Den Sanne Gud,” “Aftermath”), Johnsen’s riffs are murky and standard-issue black metal, and while I appreciate Stavenes’ pronounced bass presence and the punchiness that comes with it (“Skyggeånd”), it nonetheless stays too firmly in the pocket. Similarly, Vold’s rasps are thick and gritty but rarely venture off from his slow-n-low mode, making his vocal presence seep into the background. Johnsen’s keyboards and Hellhammer’s drumming deserve note, however, as spidery key runs on “Mørketid” and “Mørkets Ormebol” do the heavy lifting in building mood and identity on their tracks, and shifting grooves and blasts all across Mørketid are its most varied and exciting asset. Mortem’s songwriting approach likely contributes to the muted performances: they’re hellbent for murk. But Mortem have ludicrous talent in their ranks, and I think a few more standout moments would’ve easily elevated Mørketid.
And therein lies Mørketid’s biggest issue: memorability. Besides “Blodvassen Grunn,” where Mortem open the blinds a smidge for a touch of lightness in their style, Mørketid is monotonously dark. Over-repetition plagues many of Mørketid’s tracks, watering down the vitality of songs like “Mørkets Ormebol” and “Skyggeånd” while inflating Mørketid’s runtime. None of Mortem’s songs are extraordinarily long, sitting around four to six minutes on average, but I often found myself checking the time halfway through each song anyway. Production owns some of the blame here; though everything’s clearly audible, everything sounds crushed and undynamic, wearing on both the ears and mind. There are times when Mortem flirt with variety, like the darkly groovy second half of “Aftermath” and the time “Den Sanne Gud” gets quiet and threatens to veer into an Iron Maiden epic,1 but these are few and far between on Mørketid. I don’t think I can give high marks to something I can’t remember after many listens.
It’s crazy to think that a band whose line-up is as storied as Mortem’s could struggle with a sophomore slump this far into their career, but here we are. Mørketid isn’t a bad record, but one that’s played too safely to truly stand out. Production issues and monotonous songwriting knock it down a notch further. Mortem occupy a space in metal’s history where a subpar record isn’t going to blemish their legacy. They were instrumental in founding one of its most iconic sub-genres. But Mørketid wasn’t released in 1987, and so has to stand up against the scores of other black metal releases from the decades since then. Sadly, it doesn’t.
Rating: Disappointing
#1349 #20 #2026 #Arcturus #BlackMetal #DimmuBorgir #Emperor #IronMaiden #Jul26 #Mayhem #Mortem #Mørketid #NorwegianMetal #PeacevilleRecords #Review #Reviews #Thorns
DR: 5 | Format Reviewed: 256 kbps MP3
Label: Peaceville Records
Websites: facebook.com/mortemnorway | bandcamp.com/album/morketid
Releases Worldwide: July 3rd, 2026 -
Mortem – Mørketid Review By Andy-War-HallNow here’s a band with pedigree! Norway’s black metal squad Mortem have been around since 1987, right at the forefront of the infamous second wave. Though their heyday produced only the Slow Death demo and their debut record, Ravnsvart, took until 2019 to release, their individual band members have kept themselves busy. Consisting of guitarist/keyboardist Steinar Sverd Johnsen, vocalist Marius Vold, drummer Jan “Hellhammer” Blomberg, and newcomer bassist Tor Stavenes, Mortem’s genealogy traces lines through the likes of Mayhem, Arcturus, Thorns, 1349, Emperor, and way too many other bands. Now, almost forty years since their inception, Mortem are unleashing their sophomore album Mørketid, promising in their promo “eight tracks of savage, eerie, and often epic black metal.” Will Mortem’s collective experience translate to top-shelf black metal, or will Mørketid’s time under the sun be short-lived?
“Mørketid” is the Norwegian word for polar night, where the sun stays below the horizon for weeks during the winter months. It’s an eerie time that Mortem capture well on Mørketid. Between the persistent tremolos and rasps across Mørketid, an unsettling and understated melody gives the project an uncanny feel. Mortem’s keyboard presence does a lot for Mørketid’s texture, bestowing a creepy music box melody to “Aftermath” and a beefy Dimmu Borgir symphonic gothicness to “Ditt Ødes Ære.” But overall, if you’ve heard Mayhem’s early stuff, you know what to expect from Mortem. Buzzsaw guitars, phlegmy rasps, and drawn-out staggering through the dark are the name of the game here, highlighted on songs like “The Mighty Odious” and “Mørkets Ormebol.” Mortem have been around long enough to get these fundamentals down pat.
Though Mortem clearly put in the work, there are yet few standout performances on Mørketid. Outside of some surprisingly shreddy solos across Mørketid’s back end (“Den Sanne Gud,” “Aftermath”), Johnsen’s riffs are murky and standard-issue black metal, and while I appreciate Stavenes’ pronounced bass presence and the punchiness that comes with it (“Skyggeånd”), it nonetheless stays too firmly in the pocket. Similarly, Vold’s rasps are thick and gritty but rarely venture off from his slow-n-low mode, making his vocal presence seep into the background. Johnsen’s keyboards and Hellhammer’s drumming deserve note, however, as spidery key runs on “Mørketid” and “Mørkets Ormebol” do the heavy lifting in building mood and identity on their tracks, and shifting grooves and blasts all across Mørketid are its most varied and exciting asset. Mortem’s songwriting approach likely contributes to the muted performances: they’re hellbent for murk. But Mortem have ludicrous talent in their ranks, and I think a few more standout moments would’ve easily elevated Mørketid.
And therein lies Mørketid’s biggest issue: memorability. Besides “Blodvassen Grunn,” where Mortem open the blinds a smidge for a touch of lightness in their style, Mørketid is monotonously dark. Over-repetition plagues many of Mørketid’s tracks, watering down the vitality of songs like “Mørkets Ormebol” and “Skyggeånd” while inflating Mørketid’s runtime. None of Mortem’s songs are extraordinarily long, sitting around four to six minutes on average, but I often found myself checking the time halfway through each song anyway. Production owns some of the blame here; though everything’s clearly audible, everything sounds crushed and undynamic, wearing on both the ears and mind. There are times when Mortem flirt with variety, like the darkly groovy second half of “Aftermath” and the time “Den Sanne Gud” gets quiet and threatens to veer into an Iron Maiden epic,1 but these are few and far between on Mørketid. I don’t think I can give high marks to something I can’t remember after many listens.
It’s crazy to think that a band whose line-up is as storied as Mortem’s could struggle with a sophomore slump this far into their career, but here we are. Mørketid isn’t a bad record, but one that’s played too safely to truly stand out. Production issues and monotonous songwriting knock it down a notch further. Mortem occupy a space in metal’s history where a subpar record isn’t going to blemish their legacy. They were instrumental in founding one of its most iconic sub-genres. But Mørketid wasn’t released in 1987, and so has to stand up against the scores of other black metal releases from the decades since then. Sadly, it doesn’t.
Rating: Disappointing
#1349 #20 #2026 #Arcturus #BlackMetal #DimmuBorgir #Emperor #IronMaiden #Jul26 #Mayhem #Mortem #Mørketid #NorwegianMetal #PeacevilleRecords #Review #Reviews #Thorns
DR: 5 | Format Reviewed: 256 kbps MP3
Label: Peaceville Records
Websites: facebook.com/mortemnorway | bandcamp.com/album/morketid
Releases Worldwide: July 3rd, 2026
