Is The Smell of Rain a good place to start with Mortiis?

Yes, The Smell of Rain is recommended as a starting point for new Mortiis listeners. Ethereal soundscapes blend with haunting melodies, creating a deeply immersive auditory experience rooted in dark ambient and dungeon synth traditions. Released in 2001, The Smell of Rain marks Mortiis' transition into a more experimental phase following his initial success as part of the black metal band Emperor. This album represents his first major exploration into the realms of dark ambient and dungeon synth, showcasing a significant shift from his earlier work.

Who is The Smell of Rain for?

The Smell of Rain works well if you're into long, immersive listening sessions, dynamic emotional journeys and atmospheric background focus.

How many songs are on The Smell of Rain?

The Smell of Rain has 13 tracks, running approximately 74 minutes.

The Smell of Rain

Mortiis · 2001

74 min · 13 tracks · dark ambient

Ethereal soundscapes blend with haunting melodies, creating a deeply immersive auditory experience rooted in dark ambient and dungeon synth traditions.

Spotify Apple Music

YouTube Music YouTube Deezer Bandcamp SoundCloud

Own it: Amazon eBay

Top tracks — play these first

→
Scar Trek / Parasite God Start here — This opening track sets the tone for the album with its layered textures and haunting atmosphere, establishing Mortiis' unique sonic landscape.
→
You Put a Hex on Me — This track showcases Mortiis' ability to merge melodic elements with deep ambient soundscapes, emphasizing his signature style.
→
Spirit in a Vacuum — Here, Mortiis explores themes of isolation through ethereal instrumentation and unsettling sound effects, making it a standout moment on the album.
→
Monolith — With its pulsating rhythms and dense layers, this track exemplifies Mortiis' innovative approach to combining traditional and electronic elements.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental

66 /100

Alpine

Higher than 89% of albums we've rated

The album's immersive soundscapes and experimental approach mark it as a significant work in dark ambient.

What we noticed

The album features long, evolving tracks that often build from minimalistic soundscapes into layered textures over extended durations.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 7/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 8/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 6/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

long, immersive listening sessions
dynamic emotional journeys
atmospheric background focus
haunting introspective moments
wave-like pacing and flow

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Experimental — Represents a deliberate shift to an experimental sound from Mortiis' earlier work.
Themes: ethereal isolation· experimental soundscapes
Career context: Released in 2001, The Smell of Rain marks Mortiis' transition into a more experimental phase following his initial success as part of the black metal band Emperor. This album represents his first major exploration into the realms of dark ambient and dungeon synth, showcasing a significant shift from his earlier work.
Stylistic neighbors: Burzum· Atrium Carceri· Lustmord