The 3rd and the Mortal
Sorrow

Who knows what happened to these solitary and brilliant Norwegians. Who knows if The 3rd And The Mortal should be considered a disbanded and dispersed group or if, on the contrary, we should expect a new and unclassifiable album from them! Who knows! While waiting for new and hopefully reassuring news from them; I return to these pages to review the astonishing debut of one of the most unusual atmospheric-doom acts ever to appear on the face of planet earth.

Forget the drippy and pathetic sound of Theatre Of Tragedy and Within Temptation but also the "Mtv"-styled gothic-pop from our native Lacuna Coil. Forget, as if that weren't enough, the sadness of Paradise Lost and Katatonia (far too oriented towards death metal derivatives) and try, if you can, to imagine a nocturnal fusion between Black Sabbath, Pink Floyd, and Dead Can Dance. There you have it, these were The 3rd And The Mortal of "Sorrow".

Released in September 1994, the EP in question is to be considered as one of the first attempts to unite atmospheric doom with gentle female vocals. However, as you may guess, we are not dealing with a production suitable for the large and distracted audience. The female voice does not serve to stiffen the fleshy member of the metalhead or the goth of the moment but rather to further soften and velvet the soundscape produced by the instruments.

Four magnificent tracks, filled with "Nordic" sadness and immense psychedelic charm. Four tracks that celebrate the greatness of this band, four tracks capable of making us dream and forget the ugliness of everyday life. No growl vocals, no death or black metal accelerations, no Satanism, and no neopaganism. Just the captivating singing of Kari Rueslatten accompanied by the instruments of the brave Vikings playing by her side.

Grevinnens Bønn, the acoustic Sorrow, Ring Of Fire, and Silently I Surrender are songs destined to change your life. I'm not joking.

Screw female gothic metal, screw the cunning hit parade champions! Here we are in the presence of TRUE artists who, even through subsequent releases, have demonstrated all their value and greatness.