Norwegian dark ambient and industrial pioneer MORTIIS has released a new digital EP, Farewell Romero, following the arrival of his latest full-length, Ghosts of Europa, which was released on June 26, 2026, via Prophecy Productions.
The three-track EP expands upon material from Ghosts of Europa, offering two alternate interpretations alongside the original version of its closing track, “Farewell Romero.”
The EP features the album version of “Farewell Romero,” as well as “Farewell Romero (No Longer Feel the Same),” a reworked version created with renowned French classical pianist Nicolas Horvath. Horvath has previously collaborated with ALCEST and is also known for his work connected to Studio Ghibli.
Closing the release is “Violent Silence (Madrigal Version),” which features former TODESBONDEN vocalist Laurie Ann Haus and presents a dramatically altered take on another Ghosts of Europa track.
MORTIIS explains that the alternate versions grew naturally from his tendency to experiment extensively during the songwriting process.
“It has always been my nature to experiment and try new ideas, so to some, it’s probably not a surprise that I had a couple of variations of some of the songs from Ghosts of Europa sitting around.”
He adds that creating alternate versions allows ideas removed during the production process to find another life, admitting that sometimes “‘killing your darlings’ is just too damn painful.”
Farewell Romero Tracklist
- Farewell Romero
- Farewell Romero (No Longer Feel the Same)
- Violent Silence (Madrigal Version)
The original “Farewell Romero” was conceived as a homage to John Carpenter’s distinctive Escape from New York sound. MORTIIS built much of the track around ARP Odyssey and Sequential Prophet-5 sounds, while also incorporating his 1975 ARP 2600 and an ElectroComp 101. According to the musician, Carpenter was even approached about contributing to the song but was unavailable.
“Farewell Romero (No Longer Feel the Same)” began as an attempt by MORTIIS and Nicolas Horvath to create a stripped-down, piano-focused interpretation. The arrangement eventually evolved into something considerably heavier and darker, with its increasingly aggressive production overtaking the initial concept. The alternate version was mixed by Marc Urselli.
“Violent Silence (Madrigal Version),” meanwhile, emerged partly through what MORTIIS describes as a “happy accident.” After Laurie Ann Haus recorded her vocals, he realized the performance deserved its own arrangement. During mixing, Sean Beavan accidentally left the ending entirely a cappella due to unclear instructions. Rather than correcting it, MORTIIS decided the unexpected ending worked and kept it.
The EP’s artwork was created by Nihil, who also created the cover artwork for Ghosts of Europa.
Ghosts of Europa
Released June 26 through Prophecy Productions, Ghosts of Europa marks MORTIIS’ debut for the label and represents another significant transformation in the Norwegian artist’s continually evolving catalog.
Created across numerous recording sessions between 2020 and 2026 in Fredrikstad, Norway, the album grew from an early collaborative concept involving Stephan Groth of APOPTYGMA BERZERK. Their shared interest in pioneering German electronic artists including TANGERINE DREAM and Klaus Schulze initially helped shape the project before MORTIIS ultimately continued developing the material independently.
The resulting record combines electronic rock, dark ambient textures, industrial elements and cinematic soundscapes without adhering closely to any single genre.
Ghosts of Europa also features an extensive roster of guests, including Christopher Amott, Sarah Jezebel Deva, Thorsten Quaeschning of TANGERINE DREAM, Iliana Basileios Tsakiraki, Emil Nikolaisen, Christopher Rakkestad and Laurie Ann Haus.
Ghosts of Europa Tracklist
- Ghosts of Europa
- Return to the Old Fields
- The Faith That Fades Away
- Violent Silence
- Transcending Morpheus
- Tundra, Heart of Hell
- Tribes of Dystopia
- Farewell Romero
Beginning his musical career as bassist during the formative years of Norwegian black metal legends EMPEROR, Håvard “Mortiis” Ellefsen subsequently launched MORTIIS as a solo project. His synthesizer-driven releases throughout the 1990s became foundational works for what would later become known as dungeon synth.
Over the following decades, MORTIIS repeatedly reinvented the project through industrial rock, electronic, gothic and experimental music before revisiting elements of his earliest work. Ghosts of Europa draws from those different periods while pushing the project toward another dark, cinematic and dystopian incarnation.
Farewell Romero is available digitally now, while Ghosts of Europa is available through Prophecy Productions in multiple CD, vinyl and deluxe editions.