Customer Reviews

Grudge

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

First off I just want to say that Old Mortiis, the guy who gave us the Stargate and other neo-symphonic masterpieces is DEAD. So get over it! He's gone and he's not coming back, ever! With that said, I think it's time that we look at Mortiis' new efforts OBJECTIVELY and enjoy them for what they are. One reviewer would have us believe that this album is somehow an attempt at mainstream acceptance. This type of music definitely had a following... TEN YEARS AGO. And it was really only the likes of NIN and to a much lesser degree Ministry that broke out into the mainstream. And The Grudge is a much more progressive, insanely complex and excruciatingly extreme album than anything either of those bands have done. I think it's a major step backward since Smell of Rain in regards to accessablilty and a risky step forward into complexity and convoluted weirdness. I can't see any of these songs getting radio or MTV exposure today. This is definitely not mainstream material and I applaud Mortiis for NOT going in a commercially accessable direction. Compare this album to Skinny Puppy's new record. I say this one stands out as superior, honest, and truly stimulating. In fact this is one of the greatest Electro/Industrial/Rock hybrid records I've ever heard. It contains every element that made that subgenre great in the past, yet it tends to be very forward thinking. Forget the idea of Mortiis ever composing synth symphonies ever again. Quit complaining every time he releases a new album that it's not Stargate II and therefore it's trash, and look at what he's doing now with an objective frame of mind. It is still brilliant stuff.

When I first got this album, it got one listen and then retired to the recesses of my collection. Recently, I pulled it out for another listen, and it hasn't left rotation since. In this release, Mortiis flexes his ability to present complicated, dynamic, and accessable Industrial style music. Is it completely original? Not really. If you listen to Nine Inch Nails or KMFDM, you'll hear it in this record, but at the same time, it doesn't feel like a blatent ripoff (and on that note, anyone who says The Fragile was NIN's weakest album should have their opinion held in suspect).
Overall, a good, dynamic, aggressive, exciting album that stirs the somewhat stagnant Industrial scene, but will require a couple listens to get past some of the surface, generic Industrial trappings. Nothing like old Mortiis, but who cares? If he put out the same album every time people would still be complaining. A very good little record for people who don't mind a troll behind the mixing board. If you're into more complex Industrial music, I'd definitely reccommend this one.

am a huge Mortiis/Vond fan, and have been ever since i heard his bass skills on Emperor's Wrath Of The Tyrant. He has revamped his sound again and again from necro black metal to keyboard-driven ambience to a morose gothic sound, and now to an watered down version of industrial. This album is repetitive and not in a good way, every song sounds the same and never really picks up the pace or shines in any track (except maybe Broken Skin). When I first played it everyone asked me if it was Ministry or Nine Inch Nails. I guess this is not a bad thing, except Mortiis is more than capable of a sound all to his own, and has proved that in the past, but this time he just seems to use recycled industrial sounds.

For some reason since he has changed his sound so many times he is ostracized from the metal scene and is considered an outcast. I have read interviews and I truly believe he does not care one bit and definitely listens to the beat of a different drummer......this time it wasn't different enough I'm afraid to say.

Mortiis gets a lot of flak because not only was he in a pioneering "black metal" band, but he changes his style often. These things have led him to become ostrascized from fans of his early work, but the metal community in general. I don't think he made The Grudge to try and go mainstream, because regardless of what move he makes he'll be dissappointing someone. I think he made the album he wanted to make. From what I've heard some of his influences stem back to early "industrial/metal" bands so I'm not surprised that he made a record that falls into that genre. Now, I don't think the album is perfect, but the fact that Mortiis confidently makes different music that's got good production deserves a five star rating (especially in this day and age). The Grudge is the place to start if you prefer metal/industrial-rock (or just aggression in general). The Smell of Rain is mellow, and atmospheric (which is what I prefer) but it all depends on your personal tastes.

Smell Of Rain was a way better record. Grudge is blase, lacking in production, and hardley worth keeping in my CD collection. I hope his next album is beter.

This is new Mortiis if you like it or not. I see this album as the GRUDGE Emperor hold/held on Mortiis. That's what I think anyway, but I could be wrong. I really like Mortiis's attitude in general and I'm glad Emperor kicked him out, because if they hadn't he'd still be playing bass for them and may have never had the chance to express his solo ideas such as this and his previous albums. My favourite Mortiis album has to be 'Anden Som Gjorde Oppror' but I like all his work. He has a very natural flow in his music which I find very at home. 'The Grudge' is just as good an album as his ambient albums. I like the idea of having different types of music by the same artist, I wouldn't mind if he changed his style again. Because most people like more than one type of music, so why can't they express that in their music.
When I bought 'The Grudge' cd I noticed that the artwork on the back of the cd case reminded me of a Carcass album and just Carcass in general, but then I realised that this cd is released on Earache like Carcass, so it's probably Earache's art not Mortiis's. I think the artwork that comes with any CD/LP/cassette is very important and should match the music. And even though the artwork reminded me of Carcass, it still works in its own way.
This album is definetely under-rated and should be listened to with open ears.
Can't wait until his next release.

I personally think Mortiis was better when he did albums like the Stargate but then again I am a very hard hitting music fan. I love all forms of music and even though you could never tell that Mortiis did the Stargate and the Grudge unless you are familiar with him already. While I know most Mortiis fans are disappointed with this album because of what they had come to expect from this talented artist I am very proud to say that I have fully enjoyed this album and have listened to it several times and have not gotten tired of it. It is industrial and I love industrial music. If you love Mortiis' older albums and not into NIN, Ministry and other industrial bands you will NOT like this. If you do you will enjoy this album most likely like I did.

An artist that stagnates and delivers the same sound is not an artist, just a monkey. This album breaks into the industrial category very heavily and is considerably better than most of the contemporary radio playlists. try this album if you are into industrial, try Mortiis in any event and watch the growth.

I bought this album not knowing exactly what to expect as I had
read it would be different from his last masterpiece "Smell of
Rain". This Cd is alot more industrial in its sound and it took
me a few listenings to appreciate what a great cd this is.
Buy this and go ahead and get "Smell of Rain" while you're at it.

A great CD to blast in your car!

I suggest doing a little homework on this band first before jumping into Mortiis, as their narrow genre makes reviewing this album a little difficult. Also, not everything they do is going to wow you.

Overall I like it, despite a couple filler tracks, and I listen to it every now and again. but this is certainly not going to appeal to the uber finnicky rocker. Pick and choose, if any case. Investigate before you buy.