Halloween came early to New York this year in the form of "Mortiis." This European musician made the Downtime, a small club in Manhattan, one of his last stops on a three month American tour to back up his new release from Earache Records, "The Stargate." This highly visual and theatrical show was the perfect kick off to the Halloween shows in the New York/New Jersey area.

"Mortiis," who himself resembles the Dark Elf King of the Underworld, has put together a rigidly synchronized show that transports the audience into his world of death and rebirth. It is just this synchronization that helps suspend disbelief and brings the fans into his dark opera of musical storytelling. The stage, although small, held highly crafted props, which included several groups of realistically carved skulls and bones and a large "wooden" X to which bondage wrist and ankle cuffs were attached.

As if the props weren't enough to lure a jaded New Yorker's attention, the performers themselves ensured it. While "Mortiis" himself was the main focal point on stage, considering his pointed ears, hooked nose and skull cod piece, Sarah's talent and vocal range deserves high praise. Sarah's vocals were just as clear and impressive live as they are on the CD.

The remaining two band members were unobtrusive, one behind a pair of Timpani and the other on the opposite side of the stage behind his electric drum pads that matched Mortiis'. But what really had people craning their necks and murmuring was a petite brunette crouched behind the band members. She was dressed in a "blood" stained white shift and remained bent over an object that was hidden from us until it was revealed to be a child's baby doll.

The show itself opened with "Mortiis" and his musical cohorts purposefully walking on the white lit stage and taking their places. From the first drum beat, "Mortiis" and the other drummers were perfectly in time and fell into "character." His facial expressions matched the meanings of the music which filled the SRO club. The audience itself was for the most part motionless while they took in the props, until word got to the back of the club about the brunette. Then the slow pushing forward for a better view started. By the third song, "World Essence," some of the club was nodding approvingly thinking that the props and the music were the whole show. "Mortiis," knowing his moment, knelt down next to the brunette and grabbed the "baby" she was bending over, turned it upside down and poured its "blood" over his head. That action was greeted by stunned silence, and, at least for me, a desire to see just what "Mortiis" would do next. That act was followed by the brunette "fighting off" "Mortiis" as he strapped her to the large X located behind him, where she stayed for most of the rest of the show.

During the remaining 4 songs left in the show, "Mortiis" continued to amaze and delight us by eating fire, pouring a bucket of stage blood over his long black hair and then shaking it so it splattered out into the audience. "Mortiis" also "stabbed" his brunette "captive" who flowed more stage blood from her "wound" and then carried her off stage and outside before returning to the stage to complete the last song of his set. As for the musical quality of the show, the songs should be heard live to be properly appreciated. The sound is fuller, the vocals clear and less harsh on the ears than most bands when heard live. To borrow a phrase, it is the perfect incarnation of the "Seeing Ear Theater." There were no breaks between songs and no interaction with the crowd on the part of "Mortiis." The Demonic Circus that was born in the mind of "Mortiis" is enough entertainment without any performer to crowd chit chat. I highly enjoyed the show and do recommend it to any who have an open mind and a taste for fantasy.

SET LIST:
Child Of Curiosity And The Old Man Of Knowledge
I Am The World
World Essence
Across The World Of Wonders
(Passing By) An Old And Raped Village
Towards The Gate Of Stars
Spirit Of Conquest/The Warfare
Army Of Conquest/The Warfare (Ever Onwards)