In the beginning Madder Mortem was formed in 1993 as Mystery Tribe, and recorded the demo "Days in Sorrow". The name was changed to Madder Mortem, and in January 1997, the MCD "Misty Sleep" was recorded. The result was mailed around, Misanthropy Records reacted and the debut "Mercury" (X-ray Studios) was released in February 1999. "Mercury" was well received, but sadly, Misanthropy decided to close down, which left the Madders with neither company nor contract.
In 1999 Christian Ruud (guitars), Boye Nyberg (bass) and Sigurd Nielsen (drums) left the band to pursue educations and other pastimes.
This was naturally a setback, but after some time Agnete and BP found new musicians. Eirik Ulvo Langnes (guitars), Pål Mozart Bjørke (bass) and Mads Solås (drums) joined the band. All former acquaintances, the new members fitted in perfectly.
In December 1999 Century Media got in touch. The Madders promptly got to work, and in January 2000 a new demo was recorded (Space Valley Studios). This demo, containing three of the "AFIG" songs, saw the Madders turn in a new and heavier direction. Century Media received this demo exclusively and Madder Mortem became a CMR band. Madder Mortem's second album, "All flesh is grass" (Studio Underground, Sweden) was released in February 2001, with cover art from former guitar player Christian Ruud. Reviews were very good, and the aggressive and driven music lent another face to Madder Mortem.
September/October 2001, Madder Mortem supported Tristania, Rotting Christ and Vintersorg on a 23-date European tour. Returning back home, the Madders started writing again. Studio Underground was re-invaded in May 2002, and after a hard-as-hell period of three weeks, "Deadlands" was born. It is darker and groovier than its' predecessor, but also shows even more sides to the Madder face. Music, lyrics and cover art (by Christian) was developed together, and the conceptual whole is a bleak but organic monster not fit for the faint of heart.
"Deadlands" was released 21st October 2002. The End Records licensed it for the US, and on 11th February 2003 we had our first album release in the US.
In February and March 2003 Madder Mortem supported Opeth on the European leg of their "Deliverance" tour. A chance like that doesn't come often, and the reason for it was Mr Ã…kerfeldt's personal interest in the Madder music. We had 6 fantastic weeks on the road with a band that have mastered both musical and social skills, and we're very grateful to the Opeth guys for giving us this opportunity. In addition to taking us all over Western Europe, the Opeth tour also saw us entering the UK shores for the first time.
2006 saw the release of Madder Mortem's 4th full length studio album, Desiderata. The album is more polished than deadlands and sees a shift back away from any "nu-metal" stylings that had crept into the deadlands album.
Eight Ways is the all new album from Madder Mortem, released in June 2009.
Changeling
Madder Mortem Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You, the tame man, be what I have learned to loathe
Tell me the secrets buried underneath
A thousand years of dirt
Tell me the fever chills your blood
You were the last
I'll be the first
I am here, there's nothing left to change
Life bleeds too soon, counting time down on us
Hope withers at my touch
Leaving it's ghosts to teach all colours grey
Change
Storyteller; see the futile smiles and answers
I will teach you not to taint my sweet control
I have a deeper kind of riddle
And a puzzle you won't solve
Laugh on your knees
Laugh for the changeling and the joke that took us all
Change
The lyrics of Changeling by Madder Mortem revolve around the idea of change and transformation. The song begins with a request to a storyteller to bring stories to the pyre of the singer. The storyteller is asked to reveal the secrets hidden underneath a thousand years of dirt and to explain the fever that chills his blood. The singer then declares that the tame man is what she has learned to loathe and that he was the last, while she will be the first. This suggests that the singer is standing up against societal norms and challenging the traditional ways in which things are done.
The chorus of the song declares that the singer is here and that there is nothing left to change. This line suggests that the singer is content with the state of things as they are now and that she is ready to embrace whatever comes next. The next verse repeats the idea that life bleeds too soon and that hope withers at the singer's touch. She believes that leaving ghosts behind to teach all colours grey is a natural part of the process of change. The final verse of the song mocks the storyteller and declares that he will not taint the singer's sweet control. She has a deeper kind of riddle and a puzzle that he won't solve, and she invites him to laugh for the changeling and the joke that took us all.
Line by Line Meaning
Storyteller, bring your stories to my pyre
Addressing a person who narrates tales, asking them to reveal their tales with an implication of burning them at stake.
You, the tame man, be what I have learned to loathe
Referring to a person as 'tame' and declaring hatred towards them.
Tell me the secrets buried underneath
Requesting to disclose the hidden truths beneath a facade.
A thousand years of dirt
Metaphorically representing a long-standing obstacle or barrier to uncover the truth.
Tell me the fever chills your blood
Requesting to disclose the internal struggle and turmoil endured by an individual.
You were the last
Acknowledging the person as being the final one in a sequence of events.
I'll be the first
Proclaiming oneself as the initial one in a sequence of events.
Fall as you are and for good
Encouraging the person to fall or fail to the point of no return.
I am here, there's nothing left to change
Declaring the artist's presence and that no change is required.
Life bleeds too soon, counting time down on us
Expressing how life passes by too quickly and is coming to an end.
Hope withers at my touch
Implying that the singer brings despair and hopelessness to everything they touch.
Leaving it's ghosts to teach all colours grey
Suggesting that the remnants of hope leave behind a somber or melancholic atmosphere.
Change
A simple call to action or an imperative demand for transformation.
Storyteller; see the futile smiles and answers
Addressing the singer once again and highlighting the ineffectiveness of their replies.
I will teach you not to taint my sweet control
Announcing that the singer will not let the singer interfere with their power.
I have a deeper kind of riddle
Boasting that the artist has a more complex and intricate enigma that cannot be easily solved.
And a puzzle you won't solve
Confidently predicting that the artist will fail in solving the artist's puzzle.
Laugh on your knees
Demanding the singer to grovel and laugh in a submissive position.
Laugh for the changeling and the joke that took us all
Laughing at the situation or the person at the center of it, as they have caused a lot of harm and turmoil.
Change
Reiterating the demand for change once again.
Contributed by Lily O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Dan Levin
love this band
Sid van Kastel
if they come to holland i will imediatly get my tickets
Henrique Brust
Is it a 1kbps?