Mortiis Live at the Teragram Ballroom in Los Angeles, CA 5/13/2026

Mortiis returned to North America with a rare and long‑awaited resurrection of the alchemic repertoire he forged a quarter of a century ago.

A founding architect of what would become the sub‑genre now lovingly known as dungeon synth, Mortiis first carved out his identity after departing the black metal pioneers Emperor. His early work—sparse, atmospheric, and otherworldly—became the blueprint for an entire movement.

Everything changed with The Smell of Rain. Mortiis donned an entirely new creative helmet and transformed his solitary, soundtrack‑like soundscapes into a full industrial rock assault, much more in the vein of Ministry and KMFDM.

I was lucky enough to see him twice during this era in Germany, 2002 and 2005, and those shows were absolutely epic. After an additional album (plus remixes and singles), he stepped away from that incarnation and returned to his “lone troll in a dungeon” soundworld.

So when news broke that he was reviving this era—and touring North America—I was ecstatic. Even better, he announced a new album and released two singles just before hitting the road. I devoured them immediately. They’re a fascinating hybrid: not fully the industrial rock of Rain, but rich, atmospheric electro‑industrial pieces with strong vocals and a broader emotional palette than the dark forests and subterranean chambers of old.

He opened the set with the first of these new tracks, “Ghosts of Europa,” a song that has steadily become a daily listen for me. Hearing it live only deepened my appreciation and raised my anticipation for the full album.

From there, he plunged headlong into The Smell of Rain, with most of the set drawn from that seminal release. I soaked up every moment and sang along to all of it. He performed all but two of the album’s ballads, filling the gaps with a track from The Great Deceiver, another unreleased song from the upcoming album, and the digital‑only single “Doppelganger.”

It was an incredible set—powerful, nostalgic, and flawlessly executed. The sound, the setlist, the presentation… everything hit exactly right. Mortiis remains one of a kind. While I’ve loved seeing him explore his other eras—like his performance opening for Mayhem last year—this is where he truly shines. I can’t wait for the full release of Ghosts of Europa.

Mortiis Setlist:

Ghosts of Europa

Marshland

You Put a Hex on Me

Flux/Mental Maelstrom

Spirit in a Vacuum

Monolith

Parasite God

Tundra, Heart of Hell

Demons Are Back

Doppleganger

Smell the Witch




				Mortiis Live at the Teragram Ballroom Los Angeles, CA May 13th, 2026 Review and photos by Travis Baumann Mortiis returned to North America with a rare and long‑awaited resurrection of the alchemic repertoire he forged a quarter of a century ago. A founding architect of what would become the sub‑genre now lovingly known as dungeon synth, Mortiis first carved out his identity after departing the black metal pioneers Emperor. His early work—sparse, atmospheric, and otherworldly—became the blueprint for an entire movement. Everything changed with The Smell of Rain. Mortiis donned an entirely new creative helmet and transformed his solitary, soundtrack‑like soundscapes into a full industrial rock assault, much more in the vein of Ministry and KMFDM. I was lucky enough to see him twice during this era in Germany, 2002 and 2005, and those shows were absolutely epic. After an additional album (plus remixes and singles), he stepped away from that incarnation and returned to his “lone troll in a dungeon” soundworld. So when news broke that he was reviving this era—and touring North America—I was ecstatic. Even better, he announced a new album and released two singles just before hitting the road. I devoured them immediately. They’re a fascinating hybrid: not fully the industrial rock of Rain, but rich, atmospheric electro‑industrial pieces with strong vocals and a broader emotional palette than the dark forests and subterranean chambers of old. He opened the set with the first of these new tracks, “Ghosts of Europa,” a song that has steadily become a daily listen for me. Hearing it live only deepened my appreciation and raised my anticipation for the full album. From there, he plunged headlong into The Smell of Rain, with most of the set drawn from that seminal release. I soaked up every moment and sang along to all of it. He performed all but two of the album’s ballads, filling the gaps with a track from The Great Deceiver, another unreleased song from the upcoming album, and the digital‑only single “Doppelganger.” It was an incredible set—powerful, nostalgic, and flawlessly executed. The sound, the setlist, the presentation… everything hit exactly right. Mortiis remains one of a kind. While I’ve loved seeing him explore his other eras—like his performance opening for Mayhem last year—this is where he truly shines. I can’t wait for the full release of Ghosts of Europa. Mortiis Setlist: Ghosts of Europa Marshland You Put a Hex on Me Flux/Mental Maelstrom Spirit in a Vacuum Monolith Parasite God Tundra, Heart of Hell Demons Are Back Doppleganger Smell the Witch



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