What does The Stargate sound like?

Ethereal soundscapes blend haunting melodies and expansive textures, crafting an immersive journey through dark ambient realms. Rooted in dark ambient and dungeon synth. Start with "Child of Curiosity and the Old Man of Knowledge".

Is The Stargate a good place to start with Mortiis?

Yes, The Stargate is recommended as a starting point for new Mortiis listeners. Ethereal soundscapes blend haunting melodies and expansive textures, crafting an immersive journey through dark ambient realms. Released in 1999, The Stargate was Mortiis' third studio album, arriving after the artist's shift from black metal to a dark ambient aesthetic. This album solidified Mortiis' reputation within the dungeon synth scene, showcasing his evolving sound following his departure from Emperor.

Who is The Stargate for?

The Stargate works well if you're into long, immersive listening sessions, gradual builds and payoffs and atmospheric background focus.

How many songs are on The Stargate?

The Stargate has 8 tracks, running approximately 59 minutes.

The Stargate

Mortiis · 1999

59 min · 8 tracks · dark ambient

Ethereal soundscapes blend haunting melodies and expansive textures, crafting an immersive journey through dark ambient realms.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Child of Curiosity and the Old Man of Knowledge Start here — This opening track sets the tone with its ethereal synths and driving rhythms, encapsulating the album's exploration of knowledge and wonder.
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I Am the World — The layering of textures in this track creates a vast sonic landscape that embodies the album's themes of existence and exploration.
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Army of Conquest / The Warfare (Ever Onwards) — At over thirteen minutes, this epic finale combines intricate melodic structures with intense atmospheric elements, epitomizing Mortiis’ vision of grand sonic narratives.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

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

Instrumental

63 /100

Treeline

Higher than 74% of albums we've rated

The album's immersive soundscapes and consistent pacing create a strong atmospheric experience.

What we noticed

Each track features layered synth textures that create a dense, immersive atmosphere, often with minimal melodic movement.
The album maintains a consistent tempo throughout, rarely deviating from slow, meditative rhythms.
Several tracks incorporate field recordings or ambient sounds that enhance the ethereal quality of the music.

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

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
gradual builds and payoffs
atmospheric background focus
dynamic emotional journeys

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Breakthrough — Solidified Mortiis' reputation in dark ambient, influencing the genre significantly.
Themes: ethereal soundscapes· dark ambient realms· sonic exploration
Career context: Released in 1999, The Stargate was Mortiis' third studio album, arriving after the artist's shift from black metal to a dark ambient aesthetic. This album solidified Mortiis' reputation within the dungeon synth scene, showcasing his evolving sound following his departure from Emperor.
Stylistic neighbors: Burzum· Atrium Carceri· Lustmord