EMPEROR featured on “Brutal Legend” video game

Norway’s EMPEROR have been added to the impressive list of artists set to be featured on Electronic Arts forthcoming Brutal Legend video game. The action-adventure game for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 features Jack Black as the game’s lead character with additional game players featuring the voices of Lemmy Kilmister, Rob Halford, Ozzy Osbourne, Lita Ford and actor/celebrity Tim Curry.

Brutal Legend creative director Tim Schafer, used his own music experience as inspiration for the game. It is the second game from Schafer’s San Francisco-based Double Fine Productions, a company he launched in 2000 after leaving LucasArts. Electronic Arts’ web-based biography of the game notes it “features the character of Eddie Riggs, a roadie, who is accidentally transported to a fantasy world inspired by the artwork of heavy metal album covers. Eddie becomes the world’s savior leading the down-trodden humans against a range of supernatural overlords using a battle axe, his Flying V guitar infused with magical powers and a customizable hot rod.”

The game follows the recent release of Live Inferno, a special series of recordings (2cd, dvd, deluxe box, limited 7-inch) captured during EMPEROR’s 2006/2007 reunion performances. Professionally tracked and featuring stunning packaging, the series celebrates the Norwegian black metal band’s sold out performances at Norway’s popular Inferno Fest and Germany’s Wacken Open Air Festival.

Forming in 1991, EMPEROR recordings have sold hundreds of thousands worldwide. Their impact on black/extreme metal ranks them as one of the genre's most influential. Respected by musician, fan and critic alike, Emperor recorded their final album, Prometheus: The Discipline of Fire & Demise, in 2001. Guitarist Samoth and drummer Trym continued together in Zyklon; their third and latest album, Disintegrate, released in 2006. Vocalist/guitarist Ihsahn went on to work with the now defuct band project Peccatum. He produced/recorded the debut from Hardingrock (featuring musical contributions from partner Heidi S. Tveitan from Starofash and famed Norwegian fiddler Knut Buen). He is currently finishing work on his third solo album planned for release in early 2010.

Additional artists confirmed for inclusion on Brutal Legend include Anthrax, Anvil, Black Sabbath, Carcass, Dimmu Borgir, Enslaved, Judas Priest, King Diamond, Mastodon, Megadeth, Ministry, Motley Crue, Motorhead, Ozzy Osborne, Rotting Christ, Skeletonwitch, Slayer, and Testament.

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