Mortiis – “Perfectly Defect”
30th May 2018Itâs no secret; Norway has Trolls! Their Prime Minister Jens Stolenberg admitted so at the end of the movie âTroll HunterââŠit was in a press conference! All jokes aside, one of Norwayâs most beloved and well-known âtrollsâ is MORTIIS. Real name HĂ„vard Ellefsen, Mortiis has been part of Scandinaviaâs alternative music scene since the early 90âs, specializing in all that was dark, ambient and progressive, recognized just as much for his iconic mask/make-up as he was for his musicâŠbut over time the music became heavier and more industrial infused, the mask disappeared and there became less of a need for any gimmicksâŠthere was no more dwelling underneath bridges and troubling goats for Ellefsen, and the last time we saw him pop his head out was for 2016âs âThe Great Deceiverâ. 2018 sees him return, or, re-return rather, with âPerfectly DefectââŠallow me to explain.
Back in 2010 (This is getting like fucking âCloverfieldâ the amount of timelines weâre in by here) Mortiis was going through a little trouble with some record labels and this album was, at the time, either given away to fans completely free via download, acting like a âFuck Youâ to the aforementioned record label âVampiresâ as Mortiis describes them, or, was available as an 8-track limited tour-edition CD, only obtainable at live showsâŠwell now, eight years down the line, and under his own label (Omnipresence Records) we find the album getting its first official release, with some additional tracks; letâs remind ourselves of all the imperfectionsâŠ
We open up with âCloser To The Endâ but in actuality it couldnât feel any further from the truth, as this song DRAGS. Itâs got a generally relaxed, semi-subdued intro as far as industrial goes; itâs quite slow in its gradual build, quite methodical really and despite certain Manson-esque elements, it never really gets going bar some seething, frustrated vocalsâŠcouple that with its abrupt ending, itâs a disappointing start. The title track is up next and its one of the albumâs better tracks it has to be said. Again subdued, itâs quite the chilling piece with a restrained yet emotive delivery, which bursts into this intense, raw vocal onslaught and in ways echoes the early works of NINE INCH NAILS, which can also be said for âSensation Of Guiltâ which given itâs same aesthetics wouldnât feel out-of-place on the soundtrack to âThe Crowâ to allow it some sort of likeness.
Elsewhere the rest of the album lives up to its name I guess by being so very consistent in its inconsistencyâŠâThe Sphereâ despite itâs obviously dark undertones utilises a far softer, chill-wave inspired blend of electronica, coming across as both bubbly and haunting. âThieving Bastardsâ has certain subtle drum ânâ bass elements while incorporating a blend of happy hardcore and aggro-tech. âThe Punishedâ is instrumentally heavier and far grittier; sounding in places like it belongs in a âTerminatorâ exposition montage, post machine-war, before closing track âContritionâ acts perfectly as the albums come-downâŠpeaceful in its penitence, capturing the mood wonderfully and rounding things off on a positive. Ultimately it is good that this finally gets an official release; eight years is a fair wait for closure and having the new limited print vinylâs is something fans can appreciate too, but, closure aside, was it really worth the hassle? In ways it bridges a gap musically between eraâs in regards to Mortiisâ career; not quite as heavy as he’s proven he can be, but not as accessible as âSmell Of Rainâ for exampleâŠcollectors will love the sense of completion, being able to own this properly now but, new listeners arenât going to be converted on the basis of this album alone. Perfectly defect is a pretty astute title really, I tip my hat to you trollâŠ
Score: 5/10
Track List:
Closer to the End
Perfectly Defect
The Sphere
Sensation of Guilt
Sole Defeat
Thieving Bastards
The Punished
Halo of Arms
Impossible to Believe
This Absolution
Hermaphro Superior
Contrition
Record Label:
Omnipresence Records
Release Date:
June 1st
For all things Mortiis click HERE and to purchase Perfectly Defect, click HERE