CoC : Mortiis - The Smell of Rain : Review

Mortiis - _The Smell of Rain_
(Earache, 2001)
by: Aaron McKay (6.5 out of 10)

No matter how prepared I thought I was for the release of this album, I could not have been more astonished if Mortiis would have shaved his head and announced he was filling in on bass for the now absent Jason Newsted in Metallica. I will tell you this, I respect any artist so confident that they can explore a change so utterly complete as _The Smell of Rain_ without fear or trepidation. Forget Emperor. Forget Vond and Fata Morgana. All have gone the way of the dodo bird. Emerging from the primordial ooze is a darkened electronic techo fledgling; Mortiis's newest undertaking. As I discovered for myself in CoC #44 during my interview with the Norwegian troll, Mortiis defies classification and challenges all preconceived notions. He does this all with a profound visual aspect to this musical universe; his appearance proves that and his book, "Secrets of My Kingdom", further strengthens the point. Think of a less complicated KMFDM / This Mortal Coil / Laibach assortment funneled through a persona like that of Mortiis. All vocals completely done by the troll himself with only some sparse backing support in that area. A less that Circean ballad called "Everyone Leaves in the End" bitterly torments this effort without remorse. I found much of the lyrics on _The Smell of Rain_ to be infantile and rather embarrassing. The forth track, titled "Monolith", snared my interest. I later discovered why: its lyrics were written pre-_The Stargate_. "Monolith" possesses molded subterranean beat that, I think, would have been better suited to release on Mortiis's last effort. It now serves as one of the brighter lights on _TSoR_ and adding to the album's score consequently. Time will tell if this newest effort by Mortiis pulls more into favor with me or pivots away with more conviction. As of this moment, I think I will spin _Fodt Til A Herske_ for the helluva it.

(article published 19/10/2001)

CHATS
23/9/2004	J Smit	Mortiis: The Gloves Are Off
9/12/1999	A McKay	Mortiis: The Shadow's Soul Between Obscurity and Oblivion
11/10/1996	S Hoeltzel	Mortiis: Mind Melding With Mortiis

ALBUMS
23/9/2004	J Smit	8.5	Mortiis - The Grudge
5/3/2000	P Schwarz	6	Mortiis - Fodt Til a Herske
1/1/1998	S Hoeltzel	7.5	Mortiis - Crypt of the Wizard

GIGS
9/12/1999	G Filicetti	Mortiis / Christian Death / Godhead / Diet of Worms	The Black Metal Opera Arriveth