As many may know, bands come and go. Some are one hit wonders and some grow and change styles. Mortiis is just that. This unknow Norewegian's style has changed from starting out in a Death Metal band then going into a solo carrier in Dark Chamber music and has now re-emerged into the Gothic group he now has. For one to understand his reasoning in his changing styles, we would have to go back to the beginning of Mortiis.

  The whole concept of Mortiis was all an idea created in the head of the bass player of a Death Metal group called Emperor. Mortiis left the band; along with some beautiful lyrics, in '92 to persue his dream. He would never have thought the road he was about to travel would be a serious challenge.

  In the beginning of '93, he started sampling and making his odd pieces of dark ambient music. Most often thy would bleed together into one single song or epic. His first effort was the demo tape "The song of a long forgotten Ghost" and recieved a quick following. The LP "Fodt til A Herske" was released and to some fans, his best album ever put out. This album had spoken vocals with almost medieval music in the back. As the years followed he ran upon walls in his musical efforts. Some included; lost artwork for album covers, poor management and crappy record labels, bands not paying for use of his music, and the effort for putting most of his LPs and EPs on vinyl were a challenge as well.After 5 LPs and several singles it seemed Mortiis would become a household name......then came Vond.

  "I hate you.Now, please ask no more about my project Vond, for its essence has just been revealed, and shall not repeat..."

  This was stated when asked about Vond in April 98.Then he elaborated more...

  "In a 'nutshell' Vond is a side project that has been growing and taking form and shape for almost 3 years now. Having said that, I expect you not to expect regular releases by this (or any other ) side project(s)."

  And that was what happened. For some, Vond was the breaking ground for noize and experimental dark music. With "Selvmord"'s pictures of a girl being sliced up in a tub or the tiltle of another LP called"AIDs to the People", he pushed beyond the limits of what most people could except. Ridicule and rumors flew..

  "If any of you wimps out there should happen to be offended by my 7" single title, thank you very much for making my efforts worthwhile...."

  "...The essence of Vond is the pain of mankind..."

  And as quickly as Vond came in, it quickly disappeared into the mind of Mortiis.

  As Mortiis continued a double life through his side project and Mortiis, his concerts were one not to miss...

  One D.Jaffe explains his experience(or corruption) when view a rare US appearance of Mortiis in '97...

  "...A thick billowing fog rolled over the stage engulfing and covering it, shrouding the stage and it's contents a mystery.....Two death-ish looking monks dragged a struggling altar woman onto stage. She was wearing what appeared to be a skimpy light-colored nightgown. She writhed in torment and fear all the way to her destination; the mighty altar onto which she was placed..."

  "The fog rose higher, the music got more and more intense, and there was Mortiis taking control of this domain: this stage which has become his kingdom, his world. He leans down over the altar woman and rises back up bloody around his mouth nd white face. The altar woman is obviously mesmerized, as isthe audience watching the performance. She lays there, still, hardly breathing as Mortiis walks away, bloody and in triumph over her."

  Along with Mortiis eye catching stage performance, the artist also wears a troll-like visage when performing and taking pictures in public. The few pictures of him without the make up are with his side project Vond. With this bizarre look and dark music, Mortiis has had many rumors placed upon his home....

  "...In London's Turk bars, I am supposedly nazifascist racist number one. Wonder who put those rumors out (earth calling Dalma, do you read us, over...)"

  "Another pretty cool one, I have apparently started working at a circus, as  clown. I don't really know what to say. But it's a killer statement, perhaps not so smart, but killer nonetheless...Especially from the mouth of ex- Naziskinheadpaganwarrior and current Communist (somebody send this guy a medal, please!) Rob Darken...Or was it Capricornus?"

  Other rumors that followed his as well were; he had plastic surgery done to his face, he eats small children, or he killed his parents as a kid.....needless to say, his rumorous life seems more gruesome than the real one.

  As the tours blossomed and so did the entity Mortiis, he found time(somewhere!) to do another side project with the band Fata Morgana...

  "....Fata Morgana is basically me wanting to express musical ideas through another medium-that had mo real concept, that didn't deal with something special, or had any message within..."

  "The 2nd Fata Morgana album, "Cosmic Visions" will probably surprise every fucking person actually buying it..."

  And thats what it did. The side project was more dreamy and the songs less drug out than his Mortiis character. To some it was just another Mortiis album and to othrs it was another triumph for a diverse musician. The biggest changes were yet to come.

  Between '98 and '00, Mortiis climbed through troubled times and many obsticles to finally put out his 5th album called "Stargate". Dealing with label changes again and trying to save is other works from disappearing into the catacombs of the unkown, Stargate was his most personal effort. The some critics thought otherwise. The album did poorly on sales and disappointed some fans...

   May '01 release his collection of prose and poetry in a 144pg leatherbound book called "Secrets of my Kingdom". It was limited to 850 copies and each copy was signed with a gold CD of "Stargate".

   Then '02 comes and out of hiding comes Mortiis with a full band and a new sound; an '80's style Gothic-electronic sound. Fans were stunned. The album was called M:ERA2 "Smells like rain" and the songs were no longer ambient but almost dancable! This 9 song LP has proven once again how diverse and talented this artist is.

  "Do not forget that my musical taste is very varied, and making monotonous ambient music like the first Mortiis Album( which is well and good for one record) does nothing but hinder my development as a musician. So I try to vary my music, not only because I like a lot of different artist and bands, but also because that enables me to create new atmospheres within the music I do, as well as it eventually  learns me to explore new fields of music, that I may force and form(ring abell?) into my likings. That sounds pretty resonable doesn't it? If not, please fuck off and go buy a cement mixer to listen to..."

  As fans and watchers glare at his changes in music jumps around and his secretive life and false troll-like visage leaves a mystery to the new listener, one wonders what next?

  "We're planning a special release of 'Smells like Rain' in a transparent sleeve, this was the original idea, but industry bullshit prevented this.Now, in cooperation with Earache, our original idea will be put to reality. No date has been set but watchout for more news."

  "So, what does the future have in store for Mortiis? Calm down I'm not working at the circus, circus sucks, and I heard they hired Graveland, so it's out of the question...and needless to say I'm not  very likely to go to any Turkish bars whenever I am in London...."

  As for now, Mortiis and his new band are presently on their first Eoropean tour. I hope the best for him and his new band and where ever his sounds take him.

*All quotes and information was taken from various interviews throughout the artist carrier.