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 Åkerfeldt'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.
Dystopia
Madder Mortem Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The ones you love you may not keep
All you touch will fall apart
The dreams you kill will break your heart
There's no mercy, there's no rest
The void will scream within your chest
No one knows and no one will
The lyrics of Madder Mortem's song Dystopia are a stark reminder of the impermanence of everything in this world. The first two lines "All will wither, go to sleep, The ones you love you may not keep" paints a picture of the fleeting nature of life and how we must cherish the moments we have with our loved ones while we can. The next line "All you touch will fall apart" suggests that despite our best efforts, everything we create or touch will eventually disintegrate or become obsolete. The last line "The dreams you kill will break your heart" is a poignant reminder of the consequences of our actions and how they can come back to haunt us, particularly the dreams we undermine or squander.
The second stanza takes a darker turn, with the lines "There's no mercy, there's no rest, The void will scream within your chest". Here, the lyrics allude to the existential angst that comes with being alive and navigating the uncertainty and pain that life inevitably brings. The line "No one knows and no one will" suggests the futility of searching for meaning or answers to life's big questions, while the final line "So leave this place that makes you ill" could be interpreted as a call to escape the misery and turmoil of the world we live in, a journey towards finding some semblance of peace, perhaps.
Line by Line Meaning
All will wither, go to sleep
Everything we know will eventually come to an end and fade away
The ones you love you may not keep
Even the people we love may not stay with us forever
All you touch will fall apart
Nothing is permanent and everything we touch will eventually break down
The dreams you kill will break your heart
Giving up on our dreams can be a painful experience
There's no mercy, there's no rest
Life can be harsh and unforgiving, without any breaks or relief
The void will scream within your chest
The emptiness we feel inside can be overwhelming and unbearable
No one knows and no one will
We can feel lonely and isolated, as nobody truly understands our struggles
So leave this place that makes you ill
Sometimes the best thing we can do is to remove ourselves from a toxic environment or situation
Contributed by Anthony B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.