A solo project from the Haavard Ellefsen, erstwhile bassist of premier Black Metal act EMPEROR, MORTIIS specialize in ambient electronic Doom music. Mortiis also conducted another electronic band, VOND, in order to give vent to more "negative" music! MORTIIS debuted with the now rare 'Blood And Thunder' 7" single. The album 'Crypt Of The Wizard' was also issued as separate set of five 12' singles by the Dark Dungeon Music imprint. Early MORTIIS releases were issued in limited edition coloured vinyls only serving to increase the mystique surrounding the man. Signing to British label Earache Records for 'The Stargate' album, featuring CRADLE OF FILTH vocalist Sarah Jezebel Deva, brought the enigmatic figure to a wider audience.

MORTIIS employed a seven man band for a chaotic tour of America during 1999 which saw the act banned from many venues. Mortiis, who always appears in public with fake elf ears and crooked nose, has also written a book titled 'Secrets Of My Kingdom' for future publication. Mortiis would also be operational with FATA MORGANA and the vampyristic CINTECELE DIAVOLUI.

A new MORTIIS album, 'The Smell Of Rain', emerged on Earache in October 2001. The following year plans for a full scale American tour would be unveiled and a fresh project of remixes by the likes of ex-APOPTYGMA BERZERK man Fredrik Darum, Rudy Ratzinger of WUMPSCUT, Brian Williams of LUSTMORD and the Fredrik Bergstrøm/Jonas Johansson team from NO FESTIVAL OF LIGHT, ORDO EQUILIBRIO and TARMVRED.

MORTIIS toured the UK during September of 2003 with guest act SUSPERIA. Recording for a new album 'The Grudge' commenced in November, Mortiis being joined in the Silvertone Studios in Fredrickstad by his co-producer Vegard Blomberg and band guitarists Levi Troite (a.k.a. Levi Gawron) of LOST IN TIME and PREDATORIA alongside Asmund Sveinunggard with Svein Traserud ('Leo Troy') on the drums. MORTIIS united with SUSPERIA for the September 2004 'Unlimited Grudge' UK tour, preceded by the album title track entering the UK singles charts at no. 42. A video for the song, directed by Charlie Deaux, was shot on location in lower Manhattan, New York City.

MORTIIS returned to Silvertone Studios in January 2005 to craft a new track 'Decadent & Desperate'. A live DVD, 'Unlimited Grudge', would also be in the works. He also guested as backing vocalist on the high profile SCUM collaboration album 'Gospels For The Sick'. MORTIIS also donated his skills to a track 'Self Destructive Corp. - Midnight mass remix' on Italian Gothic Metal-Industrialists DOPE STARS INC.'s 'Neuromance' album and German Gothic band GIRLS UNDER GLASS song 'Touch Me (Cleanse & Corrupt Mix)'. In addition, the man contributed backing vocals to the tracks 'Speaking In Tongues' and 'Backstabbers Go To Heaven' by Norwegian/American project SCUM and backing vocals on a song entitled 'Maze' for APOPTYGMA BERZERK's 'You And Me Against The World' album.

A new MORTIIS single, 'Decadent And Desperate', was launched to coincide with UK gigs in April. Three limited edition variants of the single added an exclusive live recording of 'Parasite God', an Absinthium mix of 'Way Too Wicked', a Gibbering Idiot mix of 'Gibbering' plus the previously unreleased 'Underdog'. The single entered the UK charts at no. 41.

The band, adding Åge Michael Trøite on second guitar, joined forces with the DANZIG headlined 'Blackest of the Black' US dates commencing in September, these shows accompanied by CHIMAIRA, BEHEMOTH, HIMSA and THE AGONY SCENE. To coincide, Earache issued the DVD 'Soul In A Hole', compiling concert footage filmed at The Hackney Ocean, London in September 2004 along with promotional video clips for 'Parasite God', 'Mental Maelstrom', 'The Grudge' and 'Decadent And Desperate (Absentia)' plus an interview.

Working DEATHSTARS, MORTIIS remixed the track 'Blitzkrieg', included on limited editions of their January 2006 album 'Termination Bliss'. The band supported the GENITORTURERS on US dates in September.

MORTIIS supported DEATHSTARS on their April 2007 European dates. To coincide, MORTIIS released a remix album, titled 'Some Kind Of Heroin', comprising reworked material from 'The Grudge' via Earache Records.