Mortiis
Keiser Av En Dimensjon Ukjent


4.5
superb

Review

by Scuro EMERITUS
August 31st, 2023 | 58 replies


Release Date: 1995 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Emperor of a Dimension Unknown

“Know ye now, Bulkington? Glimpses do ye seem to see of that mortally intolerable truth; that all deep, earnest thinking is but the intrepid effort of the soul to keep the open independence of her sea; while the wildest winds of heaven and earth conspire to cast her on the treacherous slavish shore?" – (Ishmael, Chapter 23, Herman Melville’s Moby Dick)

In the past, I’ve quite unconsciously associated the experience of lending an ear to this grandiose dungeon-crawling micro-genre with “wading into a sea of synths”, and due, I suppose, to the inescapable suggestibility of the human mind, my recent foray into Herman Melville’s multi-faceted cautionary tale forced an apparently unintuitive, yet pregnant contrast, between some themes of that novel, and the ghostly spirit of Mortiis’ ascetic cinematic score. Common to all beings, and exemplified by the above quote, is the experience of the individual spirit clashing with opposing natural forces of far greater magnitude, with the accompanying psychological strain of navigating an ever-shifting terrain. Dungeon synth has oft explored the dark, shadowy, uncanny spaces where deeply buried thoughts mingle with indistinct suggestions, and Melville’s narrator likewise embarks upon a perilous journey which can equally be said to occur in the venture across the mysterious ocean as much as in plumbing the depths of man’s soul.

From the initially somber swell which introduces pt. I of the title track, strident and powerful tones emerge, confronting the listener with a volume and scale that demands feelings of grandeur and confident optimism, though blemished and repeatedly yielding to an underlying fatalism. “All noble things”, says Ishmael, “are touched with melancholy”, and this regal tone waging war with its subdued counterpart attests. Elsewhere, we find the plucky spikes of Pt. II asserting quieter freedom from the brooding backdrop, illustrating an ever-present tension which characterises Mortiis’ approach on Keiser… for its entire runtime, in terms not only of individual pieces, or the competing textures which interweave as layers of his auditory tapestry, but also endemic to the drama of the entire project. The now-plunging-now-soaring dynamic employed by the artist creates a compelling image of immortal heroism battling inevitable defeat; although pt. III storms forth with war drums and an arsenal of bright, strident stabs of noise, the listener can prophecy eventual doom, and we’re repeatedly reminded of this necessity as much by the foreshadowing in pt. I as by the consistent interruption of the apparent revelry with brooding, bass-y drones.

Echoes and phantoms of melodies gone-by periodically appear, with pt. V of Side A alluding to pts. I and II, recycling familiar rhythms and patterns to create congruity while expanding upon earlier themes. The back-half consisting of Riesener Til Grotter og Odermarker recalls the introductory piece, albeit with far less bombast, holding a grimy mirror up to the initial positivity. The final track, pt. IV of the second piece, is almost a direct callback to the first track, though jaded and wearied by the journey. Battered by the overwhelming power of the stormy brew, the once colourful and independent tones have been washed ashore with lungs full of brine and regret. Here, I’d like to call attention to the interplay of apparent egoic striving across a backdrop of destined frustration. In this capacity, the fluctuating environs of Ellefson’s composition have a similar tendency towards an entropic principle which yields to disillusion far more readily than successful conquering, though the attempt is still made. A never-ending battle to shift polarities is waged, though the seeds of self-destruction are watered from within. Much as the doomed crew of the Pequod feature in the tale post-mortem, we feel here, too, the echoes of a story taking place in the distant past, a pond stagnant with death, and yet with concentric ripples extending outwards, living forever.



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user ratings (52)
4.1
excellent

Comments:Add a Comment 
ScuroFantasma
Emeritus
August 31st 2023


12781 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

I actually wrote this about a month ago but it’s so transparently influenced by my recent obsession with Moby Dick that I chose not to post it. On a re-read, I felt like it presented some decent ideas, and rather than file it away I’m going to just shamelessly and openly admit that while the comparison is absolutely unwarranted and tenuous at best, it does make for some fun opportunities to contrast the two and maybe someone else will think so too. This is just where my head was at when I was last listening to this album, and it’s probably not super fair to Mortiis’ album, but that’s what you get for making dungeon synth I guess.

ToSmokMuzyki
March 2nd 2024


14495 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

no posts sadge

ScuroFantasma
Emeritus
March 3rd 2024


12781 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Nobody likes my English lit essay pretending to be a review

Purpl3Spartan
March 3rd 2024


9493 Comments


Real

ToSmokMuzyki
March 3rd 2024


14495 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

Mobiis - Cetus Ov Un Dick Uncut

pizzamachine
March 23rd 2025


28230 Comments


“Nobody likes my English lit essay pretending to be a review”

Would you like a tissue to cry in? No decent Eng Lit professor should give a good grade to an essay with obnoxiously long run-on sentences, and there are multitudes in this review. Also, you sound pretentious as fuck (my wife agrees). Get a load of this:

“In the past, I’ve quite unconsciously associated the experience of lending an ear to this grandiose dungeon-crawling micro-genre with “wading into a sea of synths”, and due, I suppose, to the inescapable suggestibility of the human mind, my recent foray into Herman Melville’s multi-faceted cautionary tale forced an apparently unintuitive, yet pregnant contrast, between some themes of that novel, and the ghostly spirit of Mortiis’ ascetic cinematic score.”

^ This is not beautiful poetry, it’s a garbled run-on sentence stroking your ego with big words, and yet the sentence is terrible.

Enough of that. I noticed you just praised Hawks for writing a review with a large amount of mistakes. Pretty embarrassing look for you, but I suppose a writer like yourself needs to cope somehow. You can eternally fuck off from writing, or at least, for the love of God, keep your unjustified critiques to yourself considering your writing style is not one to be worshipped.

I’m the resident joker of the site but I can still point out a run-on sentence lol I mean cmon

Hyperion1001
Emeritus
March 23rd 2025


29211 Comments


god damn pizza from the top rope literally a year in the making

Hawks
Contributing Reviewer
March 23rd 2025


107167 Comments


Uhhhh wtf why bring me up at all Pizza?? Lmao if you have a problem with Scuro thats all well and good but kindly keep me the fuck out of it and critique my review to me not somebody else. Weak as hell and also kind of embarrassing that you're so hurt about Scuro giving you some criticism now you're crying and bringing others into it. Also if we're talking about mistakes I can take a 5 minute skim of your reviews and find plenty of them. Stay in your lane. I've been trying to mend fences with people and be cool with everyone nowadays but its hard when fuckery like this is going on. Especially when I always thought we were buds.

ToSmokMuzyki
March 23rd 2025


14495 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

do me next pizza

pizzamachine
March 23rd 2025


28230 Comments


“ if you have a problem with Scuro thats all well and good”

Yeah I do so you should be fine…. riiiiiiight? I mean, your ego can’t be so big that you think your reviews are perfect amirite. Talking about not handling critiques, looks like you can’t handle your friend getting critiqued, and of course yourself. Too bad so sad mate, and it’s still not about you

Hawks
Contributing Reviewer
March 23rd 2025


107167 Comments


I 1000% do not think anything I do is perfect. I have no ego. Its bringing my name up when I have nothing to do with your conflict with other users. Idc what you 2 got going on, leave me out of it. You're both supposed to me my friends. Y'all don't like each other? Fine. Its not my problem so, once again, idk why I came up at all.

pizzamachine
March 23rd 2025


28230 Comments


It’s cuz Scuro will praise your review yet rip me a new asshole over a review. That shit ain’t fair, that shit ain’t nice, that shit needed discussing. That’s all

Hawks
Contributing Reviewer
March 23rd 2025


107167 Comments


If that is the case then y'all need to work it out. We should all be fucking bros here. I've done so much arguing and fighting with people for so many years and you know what? NONE of it was worth it. It took me a long time to realize but its a lot better for everyone if we just treat each other with some damn respect even if we disagree.

Futures
March 23rd 2025


16232 Comments


what a completely uncalled for thing to go at scuro so aggressively like that and bringing in another reviewer. all because he criticized a review of yours, so i'll say something that is called for and something everyone is thinking but they don't want to say.

pizza your reviews are literally a joke, you are the last person who should critique anything. the fact you are a contributor again is because people felt bad for you and all of your nonsensical drivel passed off as reviews. all 600 or whatever probably written in 10 minutes. there are hundreds of more worthy writers on here alone. i often wonder if you felt ashamed in posting them but i guess not somehow. it's just a shame i can't neg them anymore. oh and your music is an atrocity, like seriously give up. think that should clear it up.

but honestly it sounds like you're prob going through something in your life to react like that so best of luck.

pizzamachine
March 23rd 2025


28230 Comments


Unfortunately, I have limited spaces to talk to Scuro and I agree we should all be cool. Shit gets fucked sometimes Hawks but I have nothing against you. Futures, you’re a straight bully apparently so I’ll have nothing to do with you or your rude words.

Hawks
Contributing Reviewer
March 23rd 2025


107167 Comments


I just wanna get along with everyone. I really do. I've mended fences with people that I had horrible arguments with and now being almost in my mid 30s, I really just want peace and no conflict.

Futures
March 23rd 2025


16232 Comments


>Pretty embarrassing look for you, but I suppose a writer like yourself needs to cope somehow. You can eternally fuck off from writing, or at least, for the love of God, keep your unjustified critiques to yourself considering how bad your writing is.

yep i'm the one who is the bully when you felt the need to say this after someone gently criticized a review of yours. definitely a very normal thing to do. seriously get some help brother. i mean that sincerely.


pizzamachine
March 23rd 2025


28230 Comments


Gentle my ass, dude. And he’s jumped on my threads more than once. If you’re so against bullying why the fuck are you one. This is between me and Scuro and Scuro still hasn’t responded. You’ve already said my reviews are shit, my music is shit, and apparently I need serious help too. Guess I’m crazy for defending myself against Scuro. It’s not crazy, it’s a conversation with Scuro and that’s all. If he can’t take that after ripping into me, whatever, but you don’t need to rip into me too:

Futures
March 23rd 2025


16232 Comments


just matching your energy you brought here. scuro is a great dude and writer, i’ll stick up for him any day. not his fault you took it personally and went unhinged. he didn’t deserve that.

pizzamachine
March 23rd 2025


28230 Comments


You’re full of shit mate, and you find perfect excuses to go unhinged yourself. I’ve seen it, you’re just a bully. I’m not your brother btw, don’t pretend that after the shit you said



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