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"The Smell Of Rain" Mortiis |
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"Stargate," the last Mortiis release from a couple years back gave a brief but convincing glimpse that boundaries were about to be crossed, an extreme focus was subject to change, to evolve, to expand within the limitless universe of this art known as music. And Mortiis, an unlikely of performers, heralded as one time leader of Black Metal dignitaries Emperor, to later discover his calling as solo artist, takes further steps into the psyche of dramatization with a major departure that defies expectation. And now that the necessary quantifier is out of the way, let's examine "The Smell Of Rain" a little more closely. Firstly, the ambient textures that first weaved their way, at least more prominently in his first installment, have been expounded upon, greatly, and the metamorphosis begins, "The Smell Of Rain" a personally introspective journey into fascination and the dark, where eminently shadowy images step forward, and judged solely unto itself, is an advanced piece of work that should surprise many not only for its changing musical forays, but for its depth of talent and skill. You don't expect to see this grotesque figure whose long held the helm of Black Metal superiority not only dabble but completely dominate a classically dark wave style drawn from Gothic related and EBM elements, and yet that's exactly what he's done. When you think of groups like Bauhaus,
Clan of Xymox, Project Pitchfork, or Nine Inch Nails, you'll now think
of Mortiis, long a follower and admirer it would appear, of Released by Earache Records Limited. Review by Vinnie Apicella [va85@columbia.edu] |