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.
Faceless
Madder Mortem Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Formed in clay, the fire has made me faceless
Torn to shreds, but I'm still standing
Never sleeping, never blinded
Sweetness taken from me in the moment I misspent
All good ripped out from me and the silence never ends
No one holds and nothing lives here
Faceless
Sweetness taken from me with a gesture of contempt
All good ripped out from me and the silence never ends
I could scream into finality
With the knowledge that's consuming me
Blood to bind and love to damn me
See me now and know that I am faceless
Blood that is purer than the poison in your veins;
Love that runs truer than the hatred and the pain;
The blood that runs in me
Blood to bind and love to damn me
The opening lines of Madder Mortem's song 'Faceless' allude to the destructive power of blood and love. It is as if the singer is trapped in a cycle of eternal damnation where he has been stripped of his identity and left to wander aimlessly in a loveless world. He speaks of being formed in "clay" and then "fired" into a faceless entity that cannot be recognized. Despite this, he remains resilient, refusing to sleep or be blinded by the horrors around him.
The second verse further elaborates on the singer's sense of loss and despair. He mentions how his life was robbed of sweetness and all that was good, leaving him in perpetual silence. This sense of loss is expressed through the repeated phrase "sweetness taken from me," which gives the listener a glimpse into the personal agony the singer feels.
The chorus then repeats what the opening lines stated but adds a sense of power to it. The singer repeats "blood to bind and love to damn me" but this time adds "see me now and know that I am faceless." He is no longer afraid to be seen, even though he is now faceless. It is as if he's embracing his pain and allowing it to empower him.
Overall, 'Faceless' explores themes of love, loss, and identity while beautifully blending the genres of progressive metal and gothic rock.
Line by Line Meaning
Blood to bind and love to damn me
My life is defined by destructive relationships and unhealthy love
Formed in clay, the fire has made me faceless
I was shaped by my experiences, but they have left me feeling emotionless and empty
Torn to shreds, but I'm still standing
Despite the pain and suffering I've faced, I continue to persevere and survive
Never sleeping, never blinded
I am always alert and aware of my surroundings, even in the face of adversity
Sweetness taken from me in the moment I misspent
I lost something precious due to a mistake I made in the past
All good ripped out from me and the silence never ends
I am left alone with my thoughts and feelings, unable to escape the pain and emptiness that consumes me
Blood to fade and love to wither
The love I have fades away, leaving me alone and empty
No one holds and nothing lives here
There is no love or life left in my world
Faceless
I am devoid of emotion and identity
Sweetness taken from me with a gesture of contempt
Someone intentionally hurt me and took something precious from me
I could scream into finality
I am consumed by my pain and feel like it will never end
With the knowledge that's consuming me
The pain I feel is overwhelming and all-consuming
See me now and know that I am faceless
I am so lost and empty that I have no identity, nothing to differentiate me from anyone else
Blood that is purer than the poison in your veins;
My blood may be pure, but it cannot compensate for the poisonous effects of my destructive relationships and experiences
Love that runs truer than the hatred and the pain;
Despite the pain and suffering I've endured, my love continues to be sincere and genuine
The blood that runs in me
My experiences and relationships have left a deep and lasting impact on me
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: SALVATORE P. ERNA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Carlos Herrera
Excelente banda
rhorschack
That band always stood apart from the metal scene, developping its own uniquely dark and eerie sonic world.
Leo Vala
Great song...! One of my favourite ones from this magnificent band...! Special greetings from Ecuador (South America). LAGO GRIS (Gothic Rock and Metal Band).
Ieva Jachimaviciute
After many years this song is still relevant to me
HeartnSoul99
one of the best songs of the modern period I think
Art Survives Artist
This is one of 'those songs' that really gripped me when I was younger. It's a real longstanding time period song for the ages. Heartache is among us. We need only overcome it on our own way. Dislike? I think not.
Thorb TV - Music & Retrogaming
The song by wich I discovered MM... So strong and appealing...
NotMyName
great
belrandir
what album is this from, Desiderata or Deadlands? Can never remember...
Jason Salazar
SIKK