MORTEM Share ‘Skyggeånd’, The First Single From New Album Mørketid, Released July 3 via Peaceville - The Second Studio Album From The Norwegian Extreme Metal Pioneers, Comprising Members Of Arcturus, Thorns, Mayhem & 1349
Mortem return with a new ode to the dark: Mørketid. Combining brooding, mid-paced monumental riffs with bursts of hyperspeed black metal, the album — set for release via Peaceville on 3rd July, it marks a clear progression from their 2019 debut, Ravnsart. Across eight tracks of savage, eerie, and often epic black metal, the band is joined by the indomitable keyboard textures of Sverd, Hellhammer’s unmistakable percussive prowess, and the vicious returning snarls of vocalist Marius Vold. Today, Mortem have shared ‘Skyggeånd’ the first single from the new album alongside a new lyric video created by Matthew Vickerstaff -
Watch The New Lyric Video For ‘Skyggeånd’
Stream/Download ‘Skyggeånd’
https://orcd.co/mortem_skyggeand
Speaking on his inspiration behind the new track, frontman Marius Vold shared -
The lyrics are based on a nightmare I experienced so strongly that the feeling stuck with me for a long time.
In the dream, I had to save my son from this spirit that stood and swayed waiting in a basement passage under the twilight darkness of the night.
A figure in fluttering jet-black cloak, without a face and his head kind of tilting to the side, sort of listening. It hovered standing, completely still in the same place without a sound, only in anticipation ... tense like a spider, with an invisible web of fear and horror.
The thought that struck me in retrospect is, if this had been a true scenario...I would never have been able to stand against the blinding fear that gagged me in the dream. Not even the love for my son was strong enough for that frost of fear.
It is about the paralyzing horror of being approached by a spirit who wants to take you down into perdition and be swallowed up by the shadow world of death.
And the losing battle against the power of darkness, where you lose yourself and slowly become a part of it, withered skin, hollow and fragile, thin, you slip between the shadows.
You have become an eternal servant of the night, for none of the worldly values will you know, ever again.
TRACKLISTING
Mørketid [06:04]
The Mighty Odious [04:43]
Skyggeånd [07:34]
Blodvassen grunn [05:44]
Aftermath [04:09]
Den sanne Gud [05:22]
Mørkets Ormebol [05:52]
Ditt ødes ære [05:10]
Pre-Order The New Album Mørketid out July 3
https://mortem.lnk.to/Morketid
Mortem was originally known as the Norwegian cult band which preceded Arcturus. Formed by Marius Vold & Steinar Sverd Johnsen in 1989, Mortem was one of the first black metal bands to crawl out of the woodwork in Norway, releasing the highly coveted and brutal 'Slow Death' demo, with Euronymous & Dead of Mayhem acting as producer and cover artist respectively (whilst also featuring Hellhammer on session drums). After the release of 'Slow Death', the band was laid to rest, with members going on to form and feature in acclaimed titans such as Arcturus and Thorns, both of which would become mainstays in the black metal scene and beyond.
It wasn’t until 2019, when Mortem’s studio debut 'Ravnsvart' was released, and the magic of old undoubtedly returned with that same spirit and brutality of the original incarnation, whilst injecting new elements to form an opus of ferocious yet atmospheric horror. This was followed soon after by the fully re-recorded and re-worked ‘Slow Death’ tracks.
‘Mørketid’ was recorded at Toproom Studio in Norway, by Børge Finnstad & Kevin Kleiven.
Mortem are:
Steinar Sverd Johnsen, Keyboards (Arcturus, Covenant, Satyricon)
Marius Vold, Vocals (Stigma Diabolicum, Thorns, Arcturus)
Hellhammer, Drums (Mayhem, Covenant, Arcturus)
Tor R. Stavenes, Bass (1349, Svart Lotus, Den Saakaldte)
Jamie Stinson, Guitars (Covenant, Dimmu Borgir)
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