Fodt Til a Herske [Import]

Mortiis | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 13, 2008)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Earache UK
• ASIN: B0012Z5UGQ
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #585,036 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Hard to tell how seriously we're supposed to take Mortiis. Given his appearance--Viking helmet, pointy prosthetic nose, white makeup, black eyeliner, flowing black hair--it seems as though he's a laugh-out-loud parody of all things goth. That he has a shady background as a onetime member of the anti-Christian black-metal band Emperor only adds to the fun. How jarring, then, that the music he makes is actually...amazing. Totally original in approach, Født til å Herske ("Born to Rule") forsakes song structure entirely and presents two 25-minute suites of beautifully epic keyboard composition. Mortiis calls it "dark dungeon music," but you also get the sense that he's aiming for something aboveground--heroic symphonies that conjure up images of Norse warriors carrying the bodies of their wounded comrades across the fjords. Despite its repetitive structures, it's an immensely satisfying and inspiring listen. At the very least, it's great soundtrack music for reading Icelandic sagas or looting and pillaging small English villages. --Steve Landau

Product Description

Mortiis back catalogue campaign focusing on the early albums from one of Earache's most successful artists Three albums receive the re-issue treatment 'Født til A Herske', 'Crypt of the Wizard' and 'The Stargate' All of the albums have been personally remastered by ortiis himself Each of the albums will be housed in an embossed slipcase sleeve featuring the famous 'snake' motif in different colours; gold for 'Født til A Herske', green for 'Crypt of the Wizard' and purple for 'The Stargate' All albums feature extensive interview liner notes written by etal Hammer UK journalist Tommy Udo. Both 'Født til A Herske' and 'Crypt of the Wizard' feature different artwork to the original Earache versionsMortiis is a former member of Emperor, playing and writing on the band's legendary 'In the Nightside Eclipse' debut Having left Emperor and Black Metal's infamous 'inner circle', Mortiis embarked on a solo career utilising extreme prosthetic make up and embracing an ambient-led sound. Earache. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enter the Kingdom of Mortiis, February 13, 2002

By 

Grimnir (Green Bay, Wisconsin United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Født til å Herske (Audio CD)

No words could do "Fodt til a Herske" justice. Suffice to say it's an epic, hallucinogenic journey to another world - a mysterious relm of twilight winter forests and dark mountains.

It's too bad some people can't understand Mortiis' appearance - he is a "method musician". His appearance is just another part of his world which he has chosen to give us a glimpse of through his music. You wouldn't expect music like this to be performed by a guy who looks like Rickey Martin, would you?

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fodt Til A Herske, November 8, 2005

By 

Rebecca Lyle (Garland, Texas United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Født til å Herske (Audio CD)

First off, I must say that this review is coming from a fan of all types of music. I was incredibly fortunate to find this at my local record store. Being a huge fan of Emperor, I was curious to see what Mortiis was all about, so I purchased this without question. This is a very unique album with only two songs that span over 25 minutes each. They are deep, meaningful, and well orchestrated. At first listen, this appeared to be amongst the most depressing albums I had ever heard, but as I listened to it more and more, it's possible to see that there are different emotions put into this kind of music, not just sorrow. The artwork perfectly coincides with the music, as it is very close to what I picture in my head while listening. With the right ear, this album can lead to a very rewarding and blissful experience.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Unexpectedly good..., May 26, 2001

By 

[e-mail] - See all my reviews

This review is from: Født til å Herske (Audio CD)

To be honest, Mortiis' appearance is not his selling point. All the prosthetic malarky he insists on wearing renders him a walking joke, a Goth gone completely and totally to a critical level of camp. Naturally this is probably a bit of a turn off for those who like their gothic ambience/black metal a shade darker and more sinister than what is essentially the flip side to Ronald McDonald, and hardly seductive to the rest of the self respecting consumer environment. But then maybe thats intentional; Mortiis, despite notable black metal roots, has composed on this album, likewise its superior sister 'The Stargate', long anthems of astonishing melody and musical complexity. No lighting fast razor tipped guitar riffs or shrieking, inaudible lyrics to be found, simply slow drawn out and satisfying processions of thematic 'dungeon sound'. Admittedly at times it does seem to slip into a monotony reminiscent of film soundtrack, music that seems to require a visual accompniment to do it justice, and it's not the best example of the 'satanic symphony' (that award goes to, of all things, the soundtrack to Winona Ryder's uber crap 'Lost Souls'), but it is a considerable accomplishment. Shut your eyes and think of fyords.