Iconic Norwegian artist MORTIIS is now unveiling a stunning music video for his trippy new single, "Violent Silence." The clip was once again written and directed by Claudio Marino and can be found below.
"Lyrically, 'Violent Silence' came into being as an apology to my wife," MORTIIS admits ruefully. "I had done something stupid again, and she was really upset. I was trying to apologise in a text message – a really long one. The lyrics for 'Violent Silence' took a lot of inspiration from those words and that moment. As time goes by and having lived with this song for quite a while now, it gets harder for me to listen to those words. The gut-wrenching sensation of guilt never goes away fully. Musically, it was a very inspiring song to work on – especially with all those crazy fuzz and echo guitars that built up this song towards the end."
"Violent Silence" is taken from MORTIIS' upcoming studio album, 'Ghosts of Europa,' which is due on June 26, 2026 via Prophecy Productions, making it his debut to the label! 'Ghosts of Europa' is available as ltd. box set incl. 2CD artbook edition, gatefold LP (excl. handmade sand-filled vinyl), bonus LP, music cassette et al. (50 copies). Ltd. box set incl. 2CD artbook edition, gatefold LP (excl. 'galaxy' metallic vinyl), bonus LP, music cassette et al. (450 copies). As a 60-page hardcover 2CD artbook incl. 8-track bonus CD, ltd. Gatefold marble smoke vinyl LP (300 copies), ltd. Gatefold crystal clear vinyl LP (300 copies), Gatefold black vinyl LP, and Digipak CD Pre-orders are now live HERE.
MORTIIS is now on the road with UADA for a very special co-headliner, featuring exclusive anniversary sets and supporting performances by Jerome Reuter’s ROME and WRAITH KNIGHT. MORTIIS is performing songs from his groundbreaking 2001 full-length, 'The Smell Of Rain,' along with other volumes of dystopian despair while UADA is performing their seminal 2016 debut album 'Devoid of Light' in its entirety + a special CERMONIAL CASTINGS 30-year anniversary set featuring WRAITH KNIGHT. The full itinerary can be found below while tickets are available HERE.
Mortiis is a pioneering dark ambient and industrial metal artist, widely credited as the founder of the dungeon synth genre, whose work spans from haunting atmospheric soundscapes to abrasive, genre-defying electronic metal. With a legacy stretching over three decades, he remains one of the most influential and enigmatic figures in underground dark music
Video credits:
Written & directed by Claudio Marino
First assistant director: Daniel Josefsson
Produced by Artax Film
Colouring by Yellowtone
Cast (in order of appearance):
Woman: Enya Ellefsen
Oracle: Gunn Johansson
Key Bearers: Daniel Josefsson & Mortiis
THE WITCHES OF DYSTOPIA TOUR MMXXVI
(UADA + MORTIIS w/ Jerome Reuter’s ROME + WRAITH KNIGHT):
04/21/26: Indianapolis, IN @ Black Circle
04/22/26: Covington, KY @ Madison Live
04/23/26: Pittsburgh, PA @ Preserving Underground
04/24/26: Toronto, ON @ Lee's Palace
04/25/26: Montreal, QC @ Cafe Campus
04/26/26: Quebec City, QC @ La Source
04/27/26: Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall
04/28/26: Brooklyn, NY @ Meadows
04/29/26: Bensalem, PA @ Broken Goblet
04/30/26: Baltimore, MD @ Metro
05/01/26: Raleigh, NC @ Chapel Of Bones
05/02/26: Atlanta, GA @ 529 EAV
05/03/26: Orlando, FL @ Conduit
05/05/26: Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live
05/06/26: Austin, TX @ Come And Take It Live
05/07/26: Dallas, TX @ Club Dada
05/08/26: Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad
05/09/26: Denver, CO @ HQ
05/10/26: Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge
05/11/26: Las Vegas, NV @ Swan Dive
05/12/26: San Diego, CA @ Brick By Brick
05/13/26: Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo
05/14/26: San Jose, CA @ The Ritz
05/15/26: Eugene, OR @ John Henry's
05/16/26: Seattle, WA @ El Corazon
"Ghosts of Europa" is the sonic testimony of an experienced and matured musician, who created what he loves most and does best: electronic rock with stylistic influences from many genres while not being bound by any that creates dark soundscapes, cinematic sonic visions, and a plethora of emotions. Just when you think that you have finally figured "Ghosts of Europa" out, MORTIIS will surprise you with another facet and fresh aspect of his richly detailed masterpiece.
Line-up:
Håvard "Mortiis" Ellefsen – vocals, keyboards, vocoder, bass guitar, programming
Guest musicians
Benedicte Computorgirl (COMPUTORGIRL) – vocals on track 4
Christopher Amott (ARCH ENEMY et al.) – guitar solo on track 7
Christopher Rakkestad (ELVARHØI, BOLVERK) – vocals on track 1-6
Emil Nikolaisen (SERENA MANEESH, BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE et al.) – fuzz & noise guitars & additional FX on track 3 & 4
Iliana Basileios Tsakiraki (ENEMY OF REALITY, SEPTICFLESH et al.) – vocals on tracks 1, 2, & 5
Laurie Ann Haus (BLIZZARD GAMES) – vocals on track 1, 2, 5 & 7
Matthew Setzer (SKINNY PUPPY, LONDON AFTER MDNIGHT) – throat singing on track 7
Michal Kielbasa (BLACK MAGIC RITES et al.) – tubular bell & vibraphone on track 2, tubular bell on track 6 & tabla loops, additional synths & FX on track 7
Sarah Jezebel Deva (THE KOVENANT, CRADLE OF FILTH et al.) – vocals on tracks 1-3, 5 & 6
Thomas Bolverk (RAGNAROK, BOLVERK) – distortion, clean & sampled guitars on track 6
Thorsten Quaeschning (TANGERINE DREAM) – additional synths & sequencers on track 1
Vegard Blomberg (MOCK) – e-bow & guitars on track 2, additional Copicat, Space Echo, fuzz & e-bow guitars) on track 4, Copicat, Space Echo & fuzz guitars on track 4, fuzz guitars on track 6, fuzz & ambient guitars on track & guitars on track 8
Erling Blomberg – additional guitars on track 8
Album Credits:
Recorded (re-recorded, re-animated & eternally tweaked and re-tweaked) at various locations over a thousand sessions during years of misery, poverty, and disdain (2020-2026) in Fredrikstad (NO)
Early vocal recording by co-producer Stephan Groth at Pitch Black Drive, Fredrikstad (NO)
Mix by Sean Beavan at The Grey Room, Crestline, CA (US)
Mastering by Jules Seifert at Epic Audio Media, London (UK)
Cover Artist: Nihil
Layout Creator: Laurent Clément (Dead Seed Productions)
Pre-orders:
https://mortiiswebstore.com/pages/ghosts-of-europa
Available formats:
"Ghosts of Europa" is available as a 60-page hardcover 2CD artbook incl. 8-track bonus CD, ltd. Gatefold XXX vinyl LP, Gatefold black vinyl LP, and Digipak CD.
MORTIIS Links: