Mortiis
159365
223334738
2008-07-03T16:54:51Z
Ada Kataki
5936002
has nothing to do with dark wave
:'' This article covers Mortiis the band. For entries related to Mortiis go to [[Håvard Ellefsen]].''
{{Infobox musical artist
| Name = Mortiis
| Img = Mortiis-charlotte.jpg
| Img_capt = Mortiis performing in [[Leicester]] in [[2005]] wearing an 'Era III mask'
| Background = group_or_band
| Origin = [[Oslo]], [[Norway]]
| Genre = [[Ambient music|Ambient]]<br />[[Electropop]]<br />[[Industrial rock]]
| Years_active = [[1993]]–present
| Label = [[Malicious Records]]<br />[[Cold Meat Industry]]<br />[[Dark Dungeon Music]]<br />[[Earache Records]]<br />[[Projekt Records]]<br />'''Currently unsigned'''
| URL = [http://www.mortiis.com Official Website]
| Current_members = Håvard Ellefsen (Mortiis)<br />Levi Gawron <br />Ogee
}}
'''Mortiis''' is an [[Electronic music|electronic]] band from [[Notodden]] in [[Norway]] fronted by [[Håvard Ellefsen]], who is also known as the namesake of the band. The name is a misspelling of the word 'mortis', which is the pronunciation used by the band. However, Mortiis started as the solo project of [[Håvard Ellefsen]] as a means to convey a story. This aspect was lost over time and Mortiis slowly formed into a band.
==Band members==
Mortiis as a band was formed shortly after the release of ''[[The Smell of Rain]]''. The current line-up consists of the following:
* '''Mortiis''' (also known as '''Håvard Ellefsen''') - lead vocals, [[Programming (music)|programming]], [[Audio mixing|mixing]]
* '''[[Levi Gawron]][http://www.myspace.com/levigawron]''' (also known as "'Levi Gawrock Trøite'") - [[Guitar]], [[Programming (music)|programming]], [[Audio mixing|mixing]], [[Bass on 'The Grudge' album]]
* '''[[Ogee]]''' - live [[session guitar]] from 2005 to present date.
===Former/past member(s)===
* '''[[Sarah Jezebel Deva]]''' - female vocals (soprano)
* '''Leo Troy''' - (also known as '''Svein Tråserud''') [[drums 2001-2007]]
* '''Åsmund Sveinnungard''' - [[guitar 2001-2005]]
* '''Jostein Pendragon''' - ('one show' guitarist, Kristiansand/Norway 2003)
* '''Christopher Amott''' - Guitars (Secret Session-Member on "The Smell of Rain" Sessions)
* '''Endre Tonnesen''' - session bass on "The Grudge" album
* '''[Magnus Abelsen][http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=38704541]''' - session bass on "The Grudge" album
* '''Mortal (Anund Grini)''' - guitar (2001-2002)
==History==
===Era I===
The title of ''Era I'' was never intentional. It came about in [[2001]] when Mortiis was set to release ''[[The Smell of Rain]]'', which was such a departure from his earlier records that he wanted to brand it in a way to signify this. All works previous to ''The Smell of Rain'' were thereafter referred to as ''Era I'' as consequence.
All of the ''Era I'' albums were composed entirely on synthesizers, creating a sound that Mortiis described as "dark dungeon music." ''The Stargate'' went a step further by introducing acoustic guitars and flutes, among others; Female vocals were provided by [[Sarah Jezebel Deva]].
===Era II===
''[[The Smell of Rain]]'' created a divide among fans; the songs this time had an [[electropop]] feel to them, and frontman ''Håvard'' took to lead vocals for the first time. This would be the only release under the title of ''Era II''.
Some fans thought Mortiis had betrayed them as they were expecting what many had nicknamed "The Stargate II". It was during this 'era' that ''Håvard'' decided he needed to seek members to perform in a live setting, which later helped change how Mortiis as a band sounded.
===Era III===
With ''Era III'' came ''[[The Grudge (album)|The Grudge]]'', which took an even more drastic turn from previous eras and is said to have made the biggest impression of any of his albums. ''[[The Grudge (album)|The Grudge]]'' took on a heavy [[industrial rock]] emphasis, combining grinding guitars and industrial programming. Some of the long time fans were again not too happy with this turn, but it helped gain Mortiis more new fans. In 2005 the Norwegian government declared ''[[The Grudge (album)|The Grudge]]'' as a cultural artifact, requiring the album to be in libraries across the country.<ref name="artifact">{{cite news |url=http://www.earache.com/news_stories/mortiis.html#free_cd|publisher=Earache|title=Album made available to public for free |date=April 14, 2005}}</ref>
On April 16, 2007 Mortiis released a remix album titled ''[[Some Kind of Heroin]]'', reworking material from ''The Grudge'', via [[Earache Records]]. "Some Kind of Heroin" offers diverse remix material including interpretations by a wide range of contemporaries, such as [[Zombie Girl]], [[Gothminister]], [[Implant]], [[XP8]], [[PIG]], [[The Kovenant]], [[Velvet Acid Christ]], [[Girls Under Glass]], [[David Wallace]], [[Kubrick]], [[Flesh Field]], [[Dope Stars Inc]], [[In the Nursery]] among others.<ref>[http://www.side-line.com/news_comments.php?id=21119_0_2_0_C Mortiis to release remix album]</ref> The choice of bands suggested a more [[Electro-industrial]] future for Mortiis, but this wasn't the case.
Mortiis is working alongside [[Rhys Fulber]] for his latest album (working title: ''Road to Ruin''<ref name="albumtitle">{{cite news|url=http://papajuju.livejournal.com/821.html|publisher=Live Journal|title=Road to Ruin (working title)|date=December 18, 2006}}</ref>), with working track titles such as "The Great Deceiver", "Zeitgeist", "The Ugly Truth", and "Scolding the Burnt". It's not yet known whether Mortiis will further this as ''Era IV'', as he has said it would have greater emphasis on 'organic' instruments (guitar), or if it will remain as ''Era III''.
==Image==
For nearly the entirety of the bands existence, frontman ''Håvard'' has altered his facial appearance using several alternatives before using a [[prosthetic]] mask and ear set. This led to much ridicule and myth, which Mortiis dismissed in disgust. The original mask is based around that of 'Blix' from the movie [[Legend (film)|Legend]]. The studio who made Mortiis' mask asked for a character reference for the moulding. The mask was always coupled with ears.
During ''Era I'' the mask covered his whole face, though by ''Era III'' it had an appearance whereby it seemed to be falling off and was stitched in place. Sure enough the mask was dropped after the release of ''Some Kind of Heroin''. Having stated in an interview that the mask has been shelved "for better or worse," as part of the significance of ''Some Kind of Heroin''.<ref>Source: [http://www.earache.com/archive/mortiis/SideLine_Jul07_Mortiis.jpg Interview]</ref>
He has also said that the mask now bears no direct reference to the music he is making. His choice to change from an established cult image, to a new direction is seen as his desire to produce 'art' for himself, and not other people who want him to do certain things against his will.
''Håvard'''s choice of dreadlocks (sometime after Era I), and various outfits helped produce the infamous 'Mortiis image'. It is debated in almost every interview with him. When asked as to what the mask represents he has answered, "''I do not look upon myself as a goblin, or troll, or elf, or medieval. I am merely Mortiis.''"<ref>Source: [http://www.starvox.net/intview/mortiis.htm StarVox.net Interview]</ref> Mortiis has been known to 'repair' his live clothes by using black tape to seal holes and tears. They often cover themselves in corn flour before going on stage.
When talking about the influence for the imagery that his band uses, Mortiis has commented, "A lot of people do not get that you can do more than just look like you're waiting for a bus. I mean how dull is that? I grew up with [[Kiss (band)|Kiss]], [[W.A.S.P. (band)|W.A.S.P.]] and [[Alice Cooper]]." <ref>Source:[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIyKi472R8Y Studio Pop Interview 2003] </ref>
==Remixes==
Mortiis was credited for a number of remixes, though most are produced solely by ''Håvard''. Most notable for the [[Alfa Matrix]] signed bands, [[Zombie Girl]] (on the album "[[Blood Brains and Rock 'n' Roll]]") and also for another female fronted industrial metal act [[I:Scintilla]] who released their album "[[Optics (album)|Optics]]" on the Belgian industrial label [[Alfa Matrix]] holding a bonus disc with a remix by Mortiis beside others by [[Combichrist]], [[Clan Of Xymox]] and many more.<ref>[http://www.side-line.com/news_comments.php?id=22825_0_2_0_C I:Scintilla remixed by Mortiis, Combichrist, KMFDM and Clan Of Xymox for new album]</ref>
==Discography==
===Albums===
{| border="2" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;"
|-
|'''Date of release'''
|'''Title'''
|'''Label'''
|-
|[[1993]]
|''[[The song of a long forgotten Ghost]]
|[[Pagan records]] / [[Witching Hour Prod]]''
|-
|[[1993]]
|''[[Født Til å Herske]]
|[[Malicious Records]] / [[Dark Dungeon Music]] / [[Earache Records]]''
|-
|[[1994]]
|''[[Ånden som Gjorde Opprør]]
|[[Cold Meat Industry]] / [[Earache Records]] ''
|-
|[[1995]]
|''[[Keiser Av En Dimensjon Ukjent]]''
|[[Dark Dungeon Music]] / [[Earache Records]] ''
|-
|[[1995]]
|''[[Blood and Thunder (album)|Blood and Thunder]]''
|[[Primitive Art Records]]''
|-
|[[1996]]
|''[[Crypt of the Wizard|The Crypt of the Wizard]]''
|[[Dark Dungeon Music]] / [[Earache Records]] ''
|-
|[[1998]]
|''[[The Stargate]]''
|[[Earache Records]]''
|-
|[[2001]]
|''[[The Smell of Rain]]''
|[[Earache Records]]''
|-
|[[2005]]
|''[[The Grudge (album)|The Grudge]]''
|[[Earache Records]]''
|-
|[[2007]]
|''[[Some Kind of Heroin]]''
|[[Earache Records]]''
|}
===Singles===
{| border="2" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;"
|-
|'''Date of release'''
|'''Title'''
|'''Label'''
|'''Chart position'''
|-
|[[2004]]
|''[[The Grudge (single)|The Grudge]]''
|[[Earache Records]]
|UK National Singles: 51
UK Indie Singles: 7
|-
|[[2005]]
|''[[Decadent & Desperate (single)|Decadent & Desperate]]''
|[[Earache Records]]
|UK National Singles: 49
|-
|}
===Videography===
* ''[[Reisene Til Grotter Og Odemarker]]'' ([[1996]])
* ''[[Soul in a Hole]]'' ([[2005]])
===See also===
* [[Vond]]
* [[Cintecele Diavolui]]
* [[Fata Morgana (band)]]
* [[Lost In Time (band)]]
==References==
<references/>
==External links==
* [http://www.mortiis.com Official website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/mortiis1 Official MySpace site]
* [http://vampirefreaks.com/u/mortiis Official VampireFreaks site]
* [http://www.myspace.com/somekindofheroin Official Some Kind Of Heroin MySpace site]
* [http://papajuju.livejournal.com Official Live Journal Site]
* [http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=officialmortiis Official Youtube Site]
* [http://www.myspace.com/levigawron Levi Gawron MySpace]
* [http://www.discogs.com/artist/Mortiis Mortiis at Discogs.com]
* {{musicbrainz artist|id=98087dc1-ca0a-44cc-9d3a-94c8e67a2e1a|name=Mortiis}}
{{Emperor}}
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[[Category:Ambient music]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1993]]
[[Category:Mortiis albums|*]]
[[Category:Norwegian rock music groups]]
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