They're back! Emperor mastermind Ihsahn has been reactivating the highly influential black metal act on and off for commemorative appearances. The band will come together once more in 2017 for a special set of performances to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the landmark Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk album.

The news came from the Czech Republic's Brutal Assault festival, the only announced reunion show as of yet. A flyer for the event (seen below) stated,

EMPEROR to perform live in 2017!
EMPEROR HORDES!
We will return in 2017 for a few exclusive appearances, performing the 'Anthems to the Welkin At Dusk' album. The first confirmed show is at the Brutal Assault Festival in Czech Republic.

Emperial regards,
Ihsahn, Samoth, Trym

Emperor initially disbanded in 2001 upon the release of the fourth record, Prometheus: The Discipline of Fire and Demise. Returning to the stage between 2005 and 2007, things were shut down once again until Ihsahn regrouped between 2013 and 2014 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the masterful debut, In the Nightside Eclipse. While Emperor routinely get flooded with offers to perform, the band carefully selects which shows to play.

Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk is often regarded as the band's finest moment as well as one of the greatest black metal albums in the genre's history. Marrying Ihsahn's grand vision of cinematic keyboards to pad the atmosphere, virulent riffing and complex song arrangements stood in sharp contrast with the lo-fi aesthetic black metal was then known for.

After Emperor first disbanded, Ihsahn ventured off on a solo career that has seen him release six albums since 2006. His latest, Arktis, came out earlier this year and can be found on our list of Best Metal Albums of 2016 (So Far).

See Where Emperor's Anthems of the Welkin at Dusk landed on the Top 25 Extreme Metal Albums

See Emperor in the 10 Greatest Black Metal Bands

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