Mortiis | METALSITES.net

Biography

Mortiis is an 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.

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, mixing
Levi Gawron(also known as "'Levi G. Trøite'") - guitar, programming, 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
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- session bass on "The Grudge" album
Mortal (Anund Grini) - guitar (2001-2002)

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, 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 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 as a cultural artifact, requiring the album to be in libraries across the country.

On April 16, 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. The choice of bands suggested a more 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), 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.

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" 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.

Discography:
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; Primitive Art Records
1996 - 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; Earache Records
2007 - Some Kind of Heroin; Earache Records

Videography:
Reisene Til Grotter Og Odemarker (1996)
Soul in a Hole (2005)

Label(s):
Malicious Records
Cold Meat Industry
Dark Dungeon Music
Earache Records
Projekt Records