EVIL. OMINOUS. SYNTH. These were the overarching themes of Mortiis’s first Australian tour. The former Emperor member travelled to us from the far land of Norway, bringing his particular style of dark ambience down under. I was lucky enough to see the first performance in Perth, so put on your best corpse paint and have a squiz.
Avoiding the rain, I got to Badlands right as doors opened. Between the main acts there were a series of DJs, all of whom were veterans of The Gathering, Perth’s flagship event series for the alternative community. It really took me back to the days of Sin club when I used to get my goth on. They played a nice selection of classic industrial hits, synthwave, ambient, all sorts of things. They were a great addition to the night and gave it more of a curated feel overall.
The first actual band to play was Self Harm. Now, this was a name that I’d seen around a lot in local gigs but never actually had a chance to see, so I was keen to check them out. From start to finish they battered my head in with a blend of hardcore and black metal. It reminded me a lot of bands like Nails and other local upcomers Unravel, they didn’t stop to breathe as they blasted through their intense set and seriously impressed me in the process. I’m honestly surprised they don’t play more gigs with metal bands, as they’d fit right in.
Next was Snorri, another local band who’re generating lots of buzz at the moment. I’ve been to quite a few of their gigs and they perform to a consistently high standard. Tonight was no exception. They performed clad in the traditional leather and anonymity, attacking their instruments and making them scream like damned souls. They have a rawness to them that many modern black metal bands lack, preferring a stripped back sound that makes you think you’re watching musicians possessed. If you like your black metal, check these guys out.
Finally we get to the reason we all went to the gig. The lights dimmed, the air grew thick, a green cloud arose from the guy standing next to me and the man himself Mortiis appeared on stage. On this tour he was performing an interpretation of the album Ånden Som Gjorde Opprør, the name of which makes me eternally thankful for MS Word’s easy to access symbol library.
I was not too familiar with the instrumental album in question, but I was pleasantly surprised by how powerful it was performed live. It was like listening to the soundtrack of a particular breed of 90s horror adventure games. I should probably put a dollar in the music reviewer swear jar for using this word, but atmospheric is a very appropriate way to describe the experience. One thing it also took me on was a journey, as if it was a non-verbal storybook of some long forgotten dark fantasy. There were some reoccurring musical themes too, bringing the whole piece full circle and rounding it off perfectly.
Performing out of a travel case with an open lid, it made it a little difficult to see Mortiis if you were standing directly in front of him. To remedy this, a handy little window had been cut into the case’s lid, like the world’s most sinister interpretation of peek-a-boo. This allowed us to catch glimpses of the goblin-esque appearance, certainly a sight that will send chills down your spine. The light show to go along with the performance was timed to key moments, shifting the visual themes along with the music. Mystic symbols, black and white art, it all worked together in tandem to top off the whole experience.
I had a fantastic time over the whole night, but Mortiis is definitely in a league of his own. I was spellbound start to finish, so I can highly recommend you try and catch him on his upcoming shows. Trust me, it’ll be worth it!
PHOTO GALLERY
Photos by Tammie Molotov – Molotov Enterprises & Photography
TOUR DATES
July 25th – Badlands Bar, Perth
July 26th – Crowbar, Brisbane
July 27th – The Factory Theatre, Sydney
July 28th – Bendigo Hotel, Melbourne
July 29th – Brisbane Hotel, Hobart
July 30th – Enigma Bar, Adelaide
Tickets and more info HERE
