It has been already three years since Mortiis last released an album. Now Norway's Mortiis returns in style with a full live band to release 'The Grudge'. Those who are unfamiliar with Mortiis (the ex-Emperor bass player), he plays electro-industrial metal. He has released already 5 albums (this being the 5th) on his solo career. During his solo career he has got three different eras so far... First three albums of his were released on the era1... On the second era, he released the Smell of Rain (his best album so far), and now with the release of the Grudge begins the third Mortiis era.

The first song 'Broken Skin' is a real patchwork (it has many different parts which don't quite fit together). Also the 8th song (The Loneliest Thing) had that broken songtructure. Fortunately the other songstructures are better. Occasionally there were guest female vocals (for example, on 'The Grudge' and 'The Worst in Me'). These vocals were a nice counterpart to Mortiis' vocals. All in all, the songs on this album are moderate... They have some good and catchy parts, but they could have been better. Listening recommendations: tracks 1, 4, 6, 7, 8 and 9.

Sounds on this album are quite apposite (atmospheric and full)... However, the excessive use of distortion may be gruelling in the long run. Otherwise, there's not much to complain (sounds are felicitous considering that this is an industrial record).

I quite liked the previous Mortiis album (The Smell of Rain), so my expectations were quite high. Unfortunately Mortiis didn't deliver the goods entirely. The Grudge isn't as good as the Smell of Rain... However, it ain't bad either (it just lacks the sense of completeness). To me The Grudge sounded like a collection of unpolished songs...

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- MAGE (19.09.2004)

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LINE-UP:
Mortiis: Vocals, Synths, Programming, Sound Design Gawron, Levi: Guitar Sveinunggard, Asmund: Guitar Troy, Leo: Drums
Producer:	Mortiis & Blomberg, Vegard
Mixing by:	Unavailable
Mastering by:	Unavailable

	TRACKLIST:
	01. Broken Skin 02. Way Too Wicked 03. The Grudge 04. Decadent & Desperate 05. The Worst in Me 06. Gibber 07. Twist the Knife 08. The Loneliest Thing 09. Le Petit Cochon Sordide 10. Asthma