Mortiis’ 1999 effort, ‘The Stargate’ is surely one of my most played albums and years ago when I got my hands on this album it opened me up to an entire world of music I had previously thought to be nonexistent outside of film and game soundtracks.
The Stargate was certainly a turning point in Mortiis’ career, as he left behind the long drawn out two song album set up in favor of shorter more song based compositions. He also left behind his old personal label Dark Dungeon Music, and Cold Meat Industries and signed with Earache records, which I still think is an odd signing considering his music style, but surely it was the right move for him since it brought his music to legions of people that would have never discovered it otherwise. I first started to really get more involved with extreme metal in late ’99, and I can remember quite well hearing this album in the autumn of 2000 and being absolutely floored by what I was hearing out of my speakers. Yet Mortiis was surely no metal project. It was something different. Something I had desired all my life.
What I found entering into me ears was gorgeous medieval/symphonic sounding keyboard compositions, acoustic guitars, percussion, male chanting and the exquisite soprano vocals of Sarah Jezebel Diva. It still amazes me the way Mortiis opens up this unbelievable dream world through these eight songs and tells an astonishing musical story without barely saying a word. In fact only a few of the songs have decipherable lyrics, while the rest consist of just Sarah’s voice and the male chanting. Personally I never got into Sarah’s voice during her many appearances on Cradle of Filth albums, but here it sounds like she was finally given some decent material and did wonders with what she was given.
The liner notes in the booklet tell the story of The Stargate, but it’s hardly needed. This is one of those albums you can put on, close your eyes, and relax too, while creating your own story. The worlds and images float out of your head so easily; Mortiis’ created something truly special with this album, which is why I’ll never understand why he left this style of music (and image) behind in favor of the simplistic darkwave cyber Goth drivel he's treated us to on his subsequent releases.
Songs like, ‘I Am the World’ or ‘World Essence’ are exquisitely gorgeous and richly melancholy in their duration while ‘Army of Conquest/The Warfare (Ever Onwards)’ is quite possibly one of the most epic songs ever conceived in this genre of music. If you’ve ever seen any sort of epic/fantasy movie in your life and enjoyed the music you’ll absolutely love this album. Furthermore all I can really say is that if you like orchestral soundtrack music in a medieval manner then you’ll want to add this album to your collection right away. I’m certain you’ll understand why its one of my all time favorites.
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