The new album is more aggressive, but it's also more beautiful and nicer in other ways. Lyrically, it's not so one-sided, and the same with the vocals: there are more atmospheres on the new album. You can say, perhaps, that In the Nightside Eclipse is more whole, as in total. It all expresses the same kind of atmosphere, while the new songs are more individual, parted from each other. But I see that as a positive thing, because I see the new album as complex, and as a whole. Maybe even more than In the Nightside Eclipse, because it portrays more of the concept than In the Nightside Eclipse did. It goes deeper into what Emperor is about.
- Ihsahn / Emperor interview, Chronicles of Chaos, 1997
EMPEROR released their second album, Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk, on this day in 1997.
We tried to do it as we've always done: as best we can, and the way we like it. But, of course, there were thoughts of sort of proving our position as a black metal band these days. It's been quite a few years since we recorded In the Nightside Eclipse, and there are quite a few more bands these days than there were then. So it was good to get a new album out which has been received quite well. Based on reviews, people seem to like it... We felt, of course, a bit of pressure, since In the Nightside Eclipse was received very, very well, and we kind of expected people to have great expectations for the next one, and probably to compare it to In the Nightside Eclipse. But in general, we haven't thought that much about it, really. We just had to make the album that was right for our band.
- Ihsahn / Emperor interview, Chronicles of Chaos, 1997