Pure epic-goth fun
king wolf | Jotunheim | 09/04/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This isn't deep; this is just plain old video-game-soundtrack style fun. It's like New-Age "wallpaper" music for evil sorcerers. Mortiis may be a ridiculous attention-grabbing clown who sold out and made dance music later in his career, but that doesn't detract one whit from the noises that come out of your cd player when you put this thing in it. And those noises are some that you can listen to all day. Mortiis was a big fan of the legendary Conan the Barbarian movie soundtrack, as is anybody with any sense who enjoys this kind of music, but unlike the rest of the Basil-wannabes, he actually had the talent to pull this kind of thing off. It's not Conan, but it's really good, and whether you're a gothic vampire nerd or a dungeon-crawling dragon-slaying wizard nerd, you'll love this, since it's about halfway between the two."
Best CD Ever (Mwahaha!)
Lisa Karp | my own head. I live there and I like it much more | 03/15/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If the computer let me give more than 5 stars, I would give the CD 20 stars. One word to describe it- beautiful. I am a fan of both medieval folk music, new age, and black metal, and Mortiis morphs the these genres wondrously. The songs are very ambient and atmospheric; simply listening can take one into a Tolkein book. And I've dreamed of being there in Middle Earth and if I close my eyes and listen, it's the next best thing. I recommend En Sirkel Av Kosmisk Kaos [A Circle of Cosmic Chaos]. If you like this, I also recommend the bands Tristania, Theatre of Tragedy, and Opera IX. If you don't like it, well, I think there is something wrong with you."
Beautiful atmosphere
ratsinthewall2 | Orlando, FL USA | 12/20/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Well I never would have thought that I would have been listening to folk music, but I was curious about what the ex-bassist for the kings of black metal Emperor had cooking up now a days. He has definitely stayed with the imagery of black metal, it's darkness and manner of dress, except of course for his makeup, which consists of elf ears and an extremely long nose, which purposefully make him look like some kind of elf king. Influenced by J.R.R. Tolkien's stories of hobbits, elves, wizards, and all, Mortiis takes you on an epic journey, which impressed me quite a bit. This album is pure atmosphere and imagery, sounding a lot like the intros and segues used in a lot of black metal albums, listening to the pounding drums, and epic keyboards you are taken away to a land of ruined castles, fierce and honorable battles, and all the other things that a life in Norway can fill your imagination with. This album is beautiful, brilliant, complex, although repetitive at times. "En Sirkel av Kosmisk Kaos (A Circle of Cosmic Chaos)" scared the ... out of me, I was listening to the lush beautiful landscape that Mortiis was painting and all of a sudden this ghoulish growling voice came out of my speaker, which shows this album can take many directions even within a song! I also enjoyed "Vandreren's Sang (The Song of the Wanderer)," and "Under Tarnets Skygge (Underneath the Shadow of the Tower.)" I personally am more into more aggressive music of course, but this was a nice change of pace for once. I would not recommend this album to a metalhead, or death metalhead, but to some black metallers who enjoy later Burzum, and the dark atmosphere of black metal, and also some goths. I would also recommend this album to anyone who appreciates gothic medieval folk-type music."
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1
