Mortiis – Født Til Å Herske (1994)

May 27, 2023

A timeless classic of the “Dungeon Synth” genreI’ve found that Fodt Til A Herske has always filled me with a profound sadness; a sadness that once again fills me as I sit here late at night writing this review whilst this record plays. When I first got the CD at 15 years old it felt as sad then as it does now, but with the music pressing on different weights from life. I guess between 15 years old and 33 years old there are different things to be sad about. Music is, as it always has been, such a powerful tool and force to reckon with, that it can make you feel these things.

Fodt Til A Herske has always been an outstanding record. As good as the first Mortiis demo/LP was, Fodt Til A Herske improves on it tenfold, yet retaining that haunting, forelorn sadness that I speak so much about. The Mortiis stuff after this would go in a more fantastical, bombastic direction, and whilst still amazing pieces of music, they do not connect with me as much as the first two, especially this one, Fodt Til A Herske.

Comprised of two parts, Fodt Til A Herske is a minimalist piece at its core, with various fluctuations and meandering paths as the music develops. If you like your music to be busy and all-involving then perhaps this one is not for you. It is a slow burn of magical synthesizers that invoke simple yet immensely powerful tunes.

I can only hope that I am still here in anothet 15 years to continue to appreciate this timeless music.