Madder Mortem  

Formed in 1993 and led by the brother/sister duo of BP and Agnete Kirkevaag, Madder Mortem have matured greatly since their obscure '97 debut, Misty Sleep. That MCD attracted the interest of Misanthropy Records, who put out their proper debut, Mercury, before folding soon afterward. The band also almost folded, but instead BP and Agnete recruited three new members and have since released two outstanding albums in All Flesh Is Grass and Deadlands. Musically, MM is somewhat in the atmospheric/goth field, though with more breadth and versatility than others in that arena, and a bit more groovy and rocky as well. In several instances clear references to the mighty The 3rd And The Mortal can be heard, with MM taking the style found on TATM's early work and melding it with a more traditional metal sound. Agnete's vocals are wonderful -- not a soprano, but a more relaxed yet emotive midrange voice that fully carries the tunes yet is never overbearing. Flesh and Deadlands in particularly are outstanding and highly recommended albums.

Four years and two member changes later, the band released Desiderata, marking a slight shift in direction. Agnete's vocals are still at the fore, and overall the general feel isn't radically different, but there's decidedly less of a gothic influence, and an increased downtuned guitar presence gives the album almost a nu-metal feel at times. The songwriting seems a bit quirkier, experimental at times, as if the band might be in transition style-wise. To these ears Desiderata isn't as developed as the prior two albums, but this is still a great band.

Current Members Agnete M. Kirkevaag vocals BP M. Kirkevaag guitars Patrick Scantlebury guitars (Frantic Bleep) Tormod Langøien Moseng bass Mads Solås drums

Former Members/Guests Christian Ruud guitars Eirik Ulvo Langnes guitars Odd Eivind Ebbesen guitars Boye Nyberg bass Pål Mozart Bjørke bass (Frantic Bleep) Sigurd Nilsen drums

Discography

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(MCD) Misty Sleep 
1997

Under Another Moon He Who Longed For The Stars Sonatine For The Desired One Lesser Times Misty Sleep

Agnete M. Kirkevaag BP M. Kirkevaag Christian Ruud Boye Nyberg Sigurd Nilsen

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Mercury 
1999 Misanthropy

Undertow Under another moon He who longed for the stars These mortal sins The grinding silence Loss Remnants Misty sleep Convertion

Agnete M. Kirkevaag BP M. Kirkevaag Christian Ruud Boye Nyberg Sigurd Nilsen

Reviews:   Chronicles Of Chaos 

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All Flesh Is Grass 
2001 Century Media

Breaker Of Worlds To Kill And Kill Again The Cluster Children Ruby Red Head On Pillow Turn The War On Chambers Ten Times Defeat Traitor's Mark

Agnete M. Kirkevaag BP M. Kirkevaag Eirik Ulvo Langnes Pål Mozart Bjørke Mads Solås

Reviews:   Chronicles Of Chaos  Sea Of Tranquility  Lords Of Metal  Metal Observer 

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Deadlands 
2002 Century Media

Enter Necropol Lit Omnivore Rust Cleansing Faceless Distance Will Save Us Silverspine Jigsaw (The Pattern & The Puzzle) Deadlands Resonatine

Agnete M. Kirkevaag BP M. Kirkevaag Eirik Ulvo Langnes Pål Mozart Bjørke Mads Solås

2002 BNR Top Ten album

Reviews:   Chronicles Of Chaos  Sea Of Tranquility  Lords Of Metal  Metal Observer 

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Desiderata 
2006 Peaceville

My Name is Silence Evasions Plague on this Land Dystopia M for Malice The Flood to Come Changeling Cold Stone Hypnos Sedition Desiderata Hangman

Agnete M. Kirkevaag BP M. Kirkevaag Odd Eivind Ebbesen Tormod Langøien Moseng Mads Solås

Reviews:   Chronicles Of Chaos  Lords Of Metal  Metal Observer 

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The Eight Ways 
2009 Peaceville

Formaldehyde The Little Things Armour Resolution A Different Kind Of Hell Riddle Wants To Be Where Dream And Day Collide The Flesh, The Blood And The Man Get That Monster Out Of Here Life, Lust & Liberty All I Know The Eighth Wave

Agnete M. Kirkevaag BP M. Kirkevaag Odd Eivind Ebbesen Tormod Langøien Moseng Mads Solås

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(EP) Where Dream And Day Collide 
2010 Peaceville

Where Dream and Day Collide (single edit version) Jitterheart The Purest Strain Quietude Where Dream and Day Collide (album version)