The final chapter of Emperor’s In the Nightside Eclipse U.S. tour came to a thunderous close in Anaheim, delivering a night that fans will be talking about for years. Many fans traveled long distances, with some attending multiple shows, creating an atmosphere full of excitement, respect, and energy.
Opening the evening was Denver’s own Wayfarer, whose unique blend of Americana-laced black metal was an inspired choice to kick off the show.
Their sound carried the spirit of windswept plains and ghost towns, layered with tremolo riffs and thunderous percussion.
Tracks like “The Thousand Tombs of Western Promise” and “The Iron Horse (Gallows Frontier, Act II)” created a cinematic build-up that set the perfect tone for what was to come.
Wayfarer’s ability to bridge the harsh and the haunting made them essential storytellers for the night’s mythic journey.
As the lights dimmed and the ethereal “Nightside Intro” echoed through the venue, Norway’s Emperor emerged one by one to a rapturous welcome.
The band’s aura was commanding, regal, and magnetic. What came next was a powerful display of symphonic black metal mastery, kicking off with the furious opener “Into the Infinity of Thoughts.”
The crowd responded with immediate intensity with heads banging, fists raised, voices screaming in ecstatic unison.
Frontman Ihsahn was both gracious and grounded, pausing between songs to thank the crowd and reflect on their return to the venue. “It’s great to be back,” he shared warmly, even recognizing some fans who had attended their Los Angeles show days prior. Promising a set heavy on “In the Nightside Eclipse” material, the band launched into “The Burning Shadows of Silence,” a track that, like much of their early work, has lost none of its ferocity or atmospheric brilliance with time.
After performing “The Majesty of the Nightsky,” the lighting shifted from icy blue to blood red, heightening the drama as Ihsahn addressed the crowd once more. He expressed deep gratitude for the tour experience, especially as it marked the final show of this U.S. run.
In a rare and touching moment, he extended thanks not just to the fans, but to the crew, management, and merch staff; everyone who helped make the tour possible. “Give them a big hand,” he urged, and the audience responded with roaring applause. It was a moving, humanizing moment that reminded everyone of the immense effort behind bringing a band of Emperor’s stature across the world.
The setlist was a flawless journey through the band’s iconic catalog, with highlights including “I Am the Black Wizards,” “Thus Spake the Nightspirit,” and the majestic “With Strength I Burn.” The band closed the evening with the mighty “Ye Entrancemperium,” a fitting finale that left the audience howling with approval as the ambient “The Wanderer Outro” played them out.
Emperor’s return to the stage in celebration of “In the Nightside Eclipse” was not just a nostalgia trip, it was a triumphant reaffirmation of their place in metal history. With unmatched musicianship, a commanding presence, and a genuine appreciation for their fans and crew,
Emperor delivered a performance as timeless as the album they were celebrating. Wayfarer, with their evocative soundscapes, proved to be ideal torchbearers of atmospheric metal, perfectly complementing the night’s tone.
For those in attendance, this was not just a concert – it was a pilgrimage, a reminder that even in the darkness, some lights never fade.
