MortIIs - the Smell of Rain
2001 / 50:54 Minutes / 9 Tracks / Studio
Release Date: November 07, 2001 - Earache
Produced by: Mortiis
Website: www.mortiis.com

Reviewed by Matt Rowe on August 21, 2002

Mortiis has quite a varied career thus far. And all the odds are that he isn't about to stop now. From bass playing duties with the black metal band Emperor to his various side projects and his original releases, Mortiis has shown quite a knack for evolution. If you have heard his dark medieval dungeon music on "The Stargate" and "Fodt til a Herske", then you would recognize, upon hearing "the Smell of Rain", the superior forward movement.

Mortiis has produced a grand scale album that reverberates with programmed drumbeats and a extraordinary set of compositions that would make many artists immediately jealous upon hearing. Filled with thoughts of loss, despair, and perpetual disintegration of social norms while accepting the abnormal as the normal, this collection of tunes faces the epitome of bleakness at its lowest levels and crawls forward to voice its unrest. A document so metaphorically rich and musically attractive so as to draw its listeners into the sphere of its influence and release the pain contained therein.

The use of its electronic components to create the soundsphere that encapsulates this work is spacious. The music, while somewhat familiar and often attributed to the likes of Enigma and other influences, is incredibly original in its production. It produces spellbound melodies that capture you at first listen. The steady bass lines on "Scar Trek/Parasite God" is absorbing and entrancing. Couple that with the spoken lyrics that make up the song sealed with the intonation that "...I want to be your parasite god so I can show you what you really are..."; a condemnation against man and his indifference. Now that's powerful.

The other songs on this CD are compelling and say much artistically. It's danceable, listenable, discernable and just flat out enjoyable. Mortiis' shows must be tour de force and absolute in their presentation. I've yet to see one but welcome the chance to immerse myself in just such a showcase. Every song rocks but there are standouts. The soft and mournful melodies of "Everyone Leaves" is melancholy, giving voice to destroyed hope brought on by impossible changes..."Everyone leaves in the end, everything dies in the end." until you get to ..."It doesn't matter...". The isolation of "Marshland" with its declaration, "...The only way to find myself is to descend deeper still..." and "I'm stuck and cold in marshland..."

Mortiis has rounded a corner and created a strong musical statement that plants him well into a new style that speaks of and promises better things to come. I look forward to his next CD.

DISC

The production on this disc is excellent. The two channel experience is especially interesting giving many of the songs character with its interesting channel exchanges. The tracks are clear and clean allowing for the great sounding distribution of instruments for the R/L channels.

PACKAGING

I was sent a disc sans the artwork and inserts so comments here are not applicable to the actual state of the final release. I invite Earache Records to send me a final release copy to update this area.

THE FINAL SAY

An awesome and original recording from a mysterious persona with even more strange concepts and looks. The aura surrounding Mortiis is the stuff of legends and helps to market each release in his body of work. I highly recommend this CD even if you were turned off by his earlier works. It is an album of rock songs that encourage many modes of listening. Whether that be dancing, and you can dance to this industrial , dance oriented material, whether you enjoy introspection (this album is stuffed to the gills with introspection), this becomes a CD to add to your collection.

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