Metal, Hardcore, Indie, Rock
With “Ghosts of Europa”, the enigmatic Norwegian artistic entity known as Mortiis presents an album that he views as a creative liberation. During its long and winding creation process such concepts as genre, rules or experimenting with sounds dissolved while simply making music that reflected every conceivable idea on his mind without accepting any limitations became his guiding principle.
Of course, Mortiis‘ musical handwriting is ever present. Echoes from the often quite divergent phases of his previous works can be found across “Ghosts of Europa”. Yet the creator of musical worlds left hardly a stone not turned in his epic quest for genuinely new ways of expression. As a result, this cinematic and visionary album often feels expansive, strange, and darkly dystopian. In this, “Ghosts of Europa” reflects its maker’s struggles while creating the album – as for him, these tend to come into existence at the cost of friendships and relationships as well as much soul searching.
“Ghosts of Europa” has also been shaped to some extent by the original idea that involved a collaboration of Mortiis with Stephan Groth from Apoptygma Berzerk based on their mutual fascination with the highly influential old German school of electronic music, and particularly Tangerine Dream and Klaus Schulze. When this fell apart, Mortiis decided to continue on his own, and a long process of transforming the early recorded materials began.
Relics of this early stage remain in hints of the influences from Berlin as well as a host of guest contributions, but visions of bleak, desolate, and timeless alien landscapes warped and mutated the songs. This carried “Ghosts of Europa” also into spaces where Mortiis never existed before.
In order to reflect both, the album’s general orientation towards electronic and industrial rock as well as the particularly wide range of stylistic influences reaching beyond its core, the choice of sound engineer fell on a most renowned specialist for precisely such sonic experiences: Luckily, Sean Beavan agreed to mix “Ghosts of Europa”. His credits include working with Nine Inch Nails, Depeche Mode, System of a Down, Guns N’ Roses, and Slayer among many other greats.
In the beginning of the artistic entity Mortiis there was black metal. The artist Håvard Ellefsen known as the musical entity Mortiis started out as a bass player in and during the formation of legendary Norwegian band Emperor in 1991 and 1992. After parting ways with these black metal pioneers, Mortiis embarked on a solo career, the so called ‘Era I’. From 1993 until 1999, the Norwegian released six full-length albums that were entirely composed on synthesizers and are considered to constitute a fundamental influence on the later Dungeon Synth genre.
In the next decades, Mortiis evolved and redefined his sound through several eras that embraced experimental & heavy industrial rock, a new wave of gothic & electronic influences, experimental studio works, and back to his roots.
“Ghosts of Europa” is the sonic testimony of an experienced and matured musician, who created what he loves most and does best: electronic rock with stylistic influences from many genres while not being bound by any that creates dark soundscapes, cinematic sonic visions, and a plethora of emotions. Just when you think that you have finally figured “Ghosts of Europa” out, Mortiis will surprise you with another facet and fresh aspect of his richly detailed masterpiece.
Chaoszine had the opportunity to catch up with Mortiis just before the release of “Ghosts of Europa”, in an interview where we discuss his recent US tour – and a very funny story about reading glasses – as well as the process of working on the album. The celebration of the 25th anniversary of “The Smell of Rain” was also discussed, as well as the very cool music videos for the new singles. Over all, it was a great conversation that gives the audience a glimpse into Mortiis‘ creative process and what makes him tick.
You can check out the full interview below:
Check out Mortiis‘ Instagram page here.
You can also checdk out Mortiis‘ music videos below:
