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.
Silverspine
Madder Mortem Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My sick landscape, dry and fevered
My survival and the hunger
Growing older in a heartbeat
You took us by surprise
Stepped in where no one goes
In forcing open doorsYou sacrifice us both
This is all yours if you want it
This is all I ever offered you
Hoping against all sense
(We bite the hand that feeds us pain)
Hoping against myself
(There is still pride inside our veins)
Underneath our sores and blisters
Spines of silver that won't listen
Your perception is not flawless
We are dying while you watch us moan
Hoping against all sense
(We bite the hand that feeds us pain)
Hoping against myself
(There is still pride inside our veins)
Biding my time
The perfection has turned sour
In the moment of salvation
Every minute is pure torture
This is mercy, if you want it
(All meaning rots and slithers grey)
Hoping against myself
(We bite the hand that fed us pain)
This is all yours if you want it
This is mercy, if I have it
Biding my time
The lyrics to Madder Mortem's song Silverspine describe a sick landscape full of fevered hunger, survival, and growing older too quickly. The singer talks about how someone, perhaps a higher power, took them by surprise and forced open doors, sacrificing them both. They offer this sick landscape to the entity, hoping against all sense and against themselves, all while they suffer from sores and blisters with spines of silver that won't listen. They tell the entity that their perception is not flawless, and they are dying while being watched moan. The singer bides their time, but the perfection has turned sour, and every moment is pure torture. They offer mercy if the entity wants it, but all meaning rots and turns into grey slithers.
This song seems to be about a person's struggle with their belief in a higher power or a higher purpose. The singer offers up their life and suffering to this entity, but they find that the entity is flawed and imperfect, failing to take action while the singer suffers. The singer still holds onto their faith, as evidenced by their hope against all sense and themselves. The spines of silver that won't listen may represent a need for guidance that never comes. The singer is biding their time, waiting for something to happen, while they suffer in this sick landscape. The singer's hope is dwindling, and they offer mercy to the entity, hoping that it will bring relief.
Line by Line Meaning
This is all yours if you want it
I am giving you ownership of my sick and barren landscape as well as my desire for survival and hunger.
My sick landscape, dry and fevered
My world is bleak, with no sustenance and a desperate disease.
My survival and the hunger
My primary focus is persevering and fulfilling my essential needs.
Growing older in a heartbeat
Time goes by so quickly, it's as if I'm aging in just a moment.
You took us by surprise
Your actions were unexpected and jarring to us.
Stepped in where no one goes
You entered into a place where no one else ventures or dares to confront.
In forcing open doors
You compelled entry into spaces that were previously inaccessible.
You sacrifice us both
Your actions have left us vulnerable and in danger, causing us both to suffer.
Hoping against all sense
Despite the odds, I am still holding onto hope.
(We bite the hand that feeds us pain)
We are causing our own suffering by continuing to consume that which harms us.
Hoping against myself
Even though I doubt myself, I still have faith that I can overcome obstacles.
(There is still pride inside our veins)
Even though we are weakened and damaged, we still hold onto our dignity and self-respect.
Underneath our sores and blisters
Beneath the surface wounds and scars that afflict us,
Spines of silver that won't listen
Our inner foundation of strength and willpower cannot be swayed, even by external forces.
Your perception is not flawless
Your understanding of the situation is flawed and incomplete.
We are dying while you watch us moan
We are perishing while you remain indifferent to our pain and suffering.
Biding my time
I am waiting patiently for the right moment to take action or make a decision.
The perfection has turned sour
The ideal state has become corrupted and decayed.
In the moment of salvation
At the moment of deliverance or rescue.
Every minute is pure torture
Each moment feels unbearable and excruciating.
This is mercy, if you want it
This painful existence is a form of mercy, should you desire it.
(All meaning rots and slithers grey)
All significance fades and becomes perverse or malevolent.
This is mercy, if I have it
If I have any mercy left to give, I will offer it to you.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind