The 3rd and the Mortal

Infobox Musical artist
Name = The 3rd and the Mortal


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Origin = Trondheim, Norway
Genre = Doom metal (early)
Experimental music (later)
Years_active = 1992–2005
Label = Voices of Wonder
Associated_acts = Antestor
Manes
Novembre
Tactile Gemma
The Soundbyte
URL = [http://mortal.info/ mortal.info]
Current_members =
Past_members = Kari Rueslåtten
Jarle Dretvik
Finn-Olav Holthe
Trond Engum
Geir Nilsen
Rune Hoemsnes
Ann-Mari Edvardsen
Bernt Rundberget
Frank Stavem
Kirsti Huke

The 3rd and the Mortal (alternative spelling The Third and the Mortal) were a Norwegian experimental metal-band, founded in the city of Trondheim, Norway, in 1992 by Rune Hoemsnes, Finn Olav Holthe, Geir Nilssen, Trond Engum and singer Kari Rueslåtten. The band started out as a doom metal band mixing distorted guitars and heavy drumming with clean guitars and female vocals from Kari Rueslåtten. The band went on to experiment with genres such as progressive rock, jazz, ambient, folk, and electronica.

History

The 3rd and the Mortal were one of the forerunners of the atmospheric metal scene having been one of the first to have a leading female singer, they inspired bands such as The Gathering, Flowing Tears and Nightwish. Their first EP "Sorrow" was released in 1993 followed by the album "Tears Laid in Earth" in 1994. After Rueslåtten's departure in 1995 the band had Ann-Mari Edvardsen join as vocalist. With her, the band released full length albums "Painting on Glass" in 1996 and explored an even more experimental sound in 1997 with "In This Room".

After an absence of 5 years and the departure of Edvardsen, the band returned in 2002 with "Memoirs", an album with recordings made during previous years. A new female vocalist was found in Kirsti Huke, who is present on the majority of songs, with second vocalist Andreas Elvenes backing her up on a couple of tracks. "Memoirs" differs from previous albums by being more electronics based. After "Memoirs", the band did a small tour in Mexico City on July 19, 2002, along with eight shows in Germany and the Netherlands during September and October 2002.

In 2004, the band released "EPs And Rarities". This is a compilation consisting of the "Sorrow" and "Nightswan" EPs + the b-side of the "Stream" single and the bonus-track from the Japanese "In This Room" album. In 2005, the band released "Project Bluebook: Decade of Endeavour", which is a compilation album with two new studio tracks, another unreleased song performed live in 1998 and four different live versions of Mortal classics recorded on the European tour in 2002.

Members

Former members

*Kari Rueslåtten – vocals, synthesizer (1992–1994)
*Jarle Dretvik – bass (1992–1994)
*Finn-Olav Holthe – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, keyboards (1992–2005)
*Trond Engum – electric and acoustic guitars (1992–2005)
*Geir Nilsen – electric and acoustic guitars, keyboards (1992–2005)
*Rune Hoemsnes – drums (1992–2005)
*Ann-Mari Edvardsen – vocals, keyboards (1995–1997)
*Bernt Rundberget – bass (1995–2002)
*Frank Stavem – bass (2002–2005)
*Kirsti Huke – vocals (2002–2005)

Discography

Studio albums

* "Tears Laid in Earth" (1994)
* "Painting on Glass" (1996)
* "In This Room" (1997)
* "Memoirs" (2002)

Singles

* "Stream" (1996)

EPs

* "Sorrow" (1994)
* "Nightswan" (1995)

Demos

* "The 3rd and the Mortal" (1993)

Compilations

* "EP's and Rarities" (2004)
* "Project Bluebook: Decade of Endeavour" (2005)

External links

* [http://mortal.info The 3rd and the Mortal website]
* [http://edvardsensingers.free.fr/ Ann-Mari and Monika Edvardsen]
* [http://www.season-of-mist.com/light/index.php?action=bands&groupe=Tactile+Gemma&datatype=releases Tactile Gemma] - project from Ann-Mari and Monika Edvardsen
* [http://atrox.no/ Atrox] - Schizo-metal with Monika, a sister of Ann-Mari Edvardsen
* [http://www.soundbyte.no The Soundbyte] - solo project of guitarist Trond Engum
* [http://www.calmcorder.com Calmcorder] - solo project from Rune Hoemsnes
* [http://www.metal-archives.com/band.php?id=1242 The 3rd and the Mortal @ Encyclopaedia Metallum]