Prepare to become a captive audience

EERIE Norwegian metal act Mortiis bring their industrial electro and atmospheric dungeon synth sounds to Hobart this weekend.

Mortiis started as the solo project of frontman and namesake Havard “Mortiis” Ellefsen, who began his musical career playing bass for Norwegian black metal act Emperor.

Ellefsen quit Emperor in 1992 in order to create Mortiis, and went on to release a number of solo records — including Fodt til a Herske (1993), Anden som gjorde Oppror (1994), Keiser av en Dimensjon Ukjent (1995), Crypt of the Wizard (1997) and The Stargate (1999) — over the next six years.

At the turn of the millennium Mortiis began to evolve from a solo project into a proper band, and in 2001 released the album The Smell of Rain. The Grudge (2004) and remix record Some Kind of Heroin (2006) followed, before Mortiis became disenfranchised with the record industry and didn’t release another album until 2010’s Perfectly Defect. The group’s next album, The

Great Deceiver, was completed in 2013 but not released until 2016 because of various issues, including Ellefsen’s mental health struggles.

Last year The Great Deceiver was remixed and re-released as The

Great Corrupter, featuring more than 20 remixes of Great Deceiver tracks by artists as diverse as Godflesh, Die Krupps, Chris Vrenna (ex-Nine Inch Nails) and John Fryer.

Mortiis have toured consistently over the past 15 years, sharing stages with a variety of metal, punk and industrial acts, including Danzig, Behemoth, Combichrist and fellow Norwegians Apoptygma Berzerk.

Now Mortiis are coming to Hobart for a show at the Brisbane Hotel from 8.30pm on Sunday, with support acts Atra Vetosus and Crypt Vapour.

Tickets are $32, go to www.bleedrecords.bigcartel.com for bookings.