(Candlelight)

Isahn's [Emperor] arty black side project's 1999 debut comes complete with harpsichord, synth-strings, female poetry readings, operatic choirs, screeches, screams, occasional ripping guitar riffs, ever-present fucked up song structures and an overwhelming sense of disparateness, incohesiveness and chaos. Certainly not a bad thing in this case, and more than likely completely intentional considering that this is Ihsahn's vacation from Emperor, who's sound is has been becoming more and more structured and listenable. There's no Curse You All Men (IX Equilibrium) to latch onto; there's no hooks to speak of; there's no tune you're going to find yourself humming in the elevator up to work. But that's the fucking POINT. This is headphone music. Night music. A cd to put on while you read de Sade by candlelight and sip wine. It's mood music for making yourself a little
paranoid, a little torqued, a little.well, ARTSY. And to that end,
Pecattum succeeds.