Håvard Ellefsen, better known as Mortiis, has been a vital force in the genesis of Norway's epic Viking metal sound, moving through multiple eras and incorporating different subgenres and narratives. As the original bassist of Norwegian black metal pioneers Emperor, Mortiis stimulated the group's interest in blending furiously chaotic black metal with haunting synthesizer melodies often based loosely on Norwegian folk. Originating in the early '90s as a largely electronics-driven solo project, Mortiis eventually morphed into a band. Mid- to late-career outings like 2001's Smell of Rain, 2004's The Grudge, and 2017's Great Deceiver introduced industrial rock and electro-pop elements into the mix while maintaining the cryptic darkwave-meets-black metal underpinnings of Ellefsen's earlier work.