Mortification
Mortification hails from 'the land down under,' Australia and brings to the Metal realm some Extreme Metal in the form of Thrash/Death Metal with Doom injections.
I have listened time and time again to Mortification thinking that today is the day that I'm going to like their music only to leave disappointed without a purchase. finally I thought to myself hmmm out of some 24+ albums surely there's one that doesn't have the extreme Death vocals that I can't understand and don't like. So I began listening and sifting through the mountain of discs the band has released. Finally I came to the album "Hammer of God". This album didn't sound like any of their other releases and sounded more like straight up Thrash. You see, If you want to find a gem then you have to dig for it. (for a definition of Death Metal see Genre Defs)
I have listened time and time again to Mortification thinking that today is the day that I'm going to like their music only to leave disappointed without a purchase. finally I thought to myself hmmm out of some 24+ albums surely there's one that doesn't have the extreme Death vocals that I can't understand and don't like. So I began listening and sifting through the mountain of discs the band has released. Finally I came to the album "Hammer of God". This album didn't sound like any of their other releases and sounded more like straight up Thrash. You see, If you want to find a gem then you have to dig for it. (for a definition of Death Metal see Genre Defs)
1999
On Mortifications 1999 release "Hammer of God" we find Thrash/Doom Metal with clean gritty sounding vocals more on the lines of Grave Forsaken. Some other Thrash'n albums by Mordi with clean gritty vocals are "Envision Envangeline", "Blood World", and "Relentless,"With Mortification there's a little something for everyone so don't let the other Thrash/Death Metal albums scare you off if you're not into that genre style. (for a definition of Doom Metal see Site Info)
The mad scientist behind the bands successful 20+ years of carefully mixed Thrash madness is Steve Rowe who also is the mastermind behind the bands Wonrowe Vision, and Lightforce. I like it when bands are from a distinct country that has a unique accent and you can hear it come through in the vocals which is what we find here on this album with Steve's voice. When He is using his gritty vocal delivery, the Aussie really shines through.
These Aussie Moshers know how to deliver some heavy Thrash. On "Hammer of God" you will find some most excellent Thrash riffs along with some double bass. When the Thrash riffs get the mosh pit slam'n too hard, they bring it back down with some slow Doom riffs. The guitar work on this album is second to none and very diverse going from Thrash, to 80's style solos, to slow Doom, then to Power Metal but do my ears deceive? is that the sound of a piano on a thrash album? Yes Mortification isn't scared to mix in some different instruments and genre guitar styles without over doing it and still staying true to their Thrash roots. The ones who say christian artist are terrible obviously don't know what they are talking about and haven't checked out all the bands.
The uplifting song "Metal Crusade" reminds me of a song from Grave Forsaken called "warriors of Light." The song "God Rulz" is a short one clocking in at 1;27 long and without going into a lot of words, reminds us that God is Sovereign over everyone and everything that goes on in this world. Short one-phrase songs have always been common place in Thrash music. On the album "What a Joke" by Deliverance, we find "Happy Star" clocking in at 0:05 secs and the song "Pray" clocking in at 0:41 secs also there's the fun song "Chipped Beef" which is a talked out recipe that was just thrown in the album just for fun. That was what Mortification was doing when they put the song D.W.A.M. (Daniel Was A Mosher) on the album. Because in Thrash music "fun" is part of the gig.
The mad scientist behind the bands successful 20+ years of carefully mixed Thrash madness is Steve Rowe who also is the mastermind behind the bands Wonrowe Vision, and Lightforce. I like it when bands are from a distinct country that has a unique accent and you can hear it come through in the vocals which is what we find here on this album with Steve's voice. When He is using his gritty vocal delivery, the Aussie really shines through.
These Aussie Moshers know how to deliver some heavy Thrash. On "Hammer of God" you will find some most excellent Thrash riffs along with some double bass. When the Thrash riffs get the mosh pit slam'n too hard, they bring it back down with some slow Doom riffs. The guitar work on this album is second to none and very diverse going from Thrash, to 80's style solos, to slow Doom, then to Power Metal but do my ears deceive? is that the sound of a piano on a thrash album? Yes Mortification isn't scared to mix in some different instruments and genre guitar styles without over doing it and still staying true to their Thrash roots. The ones who say christian artist are terrible obviously don't know what they are talking about and haven't checked out all the bands.
The uplifting song "Metal Crusade" reminds me of a song from Grave Forsaken called "warriors of Light." The song "God Rulz" is a short one clocking in at 1;27 long and without going into a lot of words, reminds us that God is Sovereign over everyone and everything that goes on in this world. Short one-phrase songs have always been common place in Thrash music. On the album "What a Joke" by Deliverance, we find "Happy Star" clocking in at 0:05 secs and the song "Pray" clocking in at 0:41 secs also there's the fun song "Chipped Beef" which is a talked out recipe that was just thrown in the album just for fun. That was what Mortification was doing when they put the song D.W.A.M. (Daniel Was A Mosher) on the album. Because in Thrash music "fun" is part of the gig.
"D.W.A.M."
D.W.A.M. Daniel was a mosher
[Verse 1]
A plan to kill off Daniel
By the administrators
Get the king to issue a royal decree
[Chorus]
Stage dived into the lions den
Administrators want him dead
But the lions surfed him all around
D.W.A.M. Daniel was a mosher
[Verse 2]
For thirty nights must worship just the king
But Daniel prayed three times a day
To our God on high.
[Chorus repeat]
[Bridge 1]
The enemies observed him pray
They went & told the king his ways
The king was sad he'd signed the plot
Daniel was a trusted man.
[Bridge 2]
There was no way out for the king
Bound by law to stick to his
Laws he made cannot be changed
Into the pit offenders thrown.
[Verse 3]
Daniel was throw into the lions den
But God closed their hungry mouths
And he was not dead.
[Chorus repeat]
D.W.A.M. Daniel was a mosher
[Verse 1]
A plan to kill off Daniel
By the administrators
Get the king to issue a royal decree
[Chorus]
Stage dived into the lions den
Administrators want him dead
But the lions surfed him all around
D.W.A.M. Daniel was a mosher
[Verse 2]
For thirty nights must worship just the king
But Daniel prayed three times a day
To our God on high.
[Chorus repeat]
[Bridge 1]
The enemies observed him pray
They went & told the king his ways
The king was sad he'd signed the plot
Daniel was a trusted man.
[Bridge 2]
There was no way out for the king
Bound by law to stick to his
Laws he made cannot be changed
Into the pit offenders thrown.
[Verse 3]
Daniel was throw into the lions den
But God closed their hungry mouths
And he was not dead.
[Chorus repeat]
All the lyrics on the album are full on for Christ and thought provoking as you can see in this tune too:
"Extreme Conditions"
Under the hideous spell,
Masses are tormented
Under the fate of death,
Heathen are burning
Seek the way of Life,
Christians are forgiven
He died to save us,
Bringing us to Heaven
[Chorus repeat]
[Verse 2]
The gates open wide,
Millions truding forth
Satan rises laughing,
Taking the young ones
Close the gates in your life,
Look to the Master
See the blood dripping,
Salvation through the cross
Under the hideous spell,
Masses are tormented
Under the fate of death,
Heathen are burning
Seek the way of Life,
Christians are forgiven
He died to save us,
Bringing us to Heaven
[Chorus repeat]
[Verse 2]
The gates open wide,
Millions truding forth
Satan rises laughing,
Taking the young ones
Close the gates in your life,
Look to the Master
See the blood dripping,
Salvation through the cross
(See Site Info for Sword Scale Meaning)This rating is for the 'Hammer Of God' album.
The following is the band's Discography:
1990-Break the Curse
1991-Mortification
1992-Scrolls of the Megilloth
1993-Post Momentary Affliction
1994-Bloodworld
1994-live Planetarium
1995-Primitive Rhythm Machine
1996-The Best of Five Years
1996-Envision Evangelene
1996-Live without fear
1996-Noah sat down and listened to the Mortification live EP While Having a Coffee
1998-Triumph of Merch
1999-Hammer of God
2000-Ten Years Live not Dead
2001-The Silver cord is Severed
2002-Ten Years:1990-2000 Power, Pain, and Pashion
2002-Relentless
2004-Brain Cleaner
2006-Erasing the Goblin
2007-Live Humanitarian
2009-The Evil Addiction Destroying Machine
2010-Twenty Years in The Underground
2012-Scribe of the Pentateuch
1990-Break the Curse
1991-Mortification
1992-Scrolls of the Megilloth
1993-Post Momentary Affliction
1994-Bloodworld
1994-live Planetarium
1995-Primitive Rhythm Machine
1996-The Best of Five Years
1996-Envision Evangelene
1996-Live without fear
1996-Noah sat down and listened to the Mortification live EP While Having a Coffee
1998-Triumph of Merch
1999-Hammer of God
2000-Ten Years Live not Dead
2001-The Silver cord is Severed
2002-Ten Years:1990-2000 Power, Pain, and Pashion
2002-Relentless
2004-Brain Cleaner
2006-Erasing the Goblin
2007-Live Humanitarian
2009-The Evil Addiction Destroying Machine
2010-Twenty Years in The Underground
2012-Scribe of the Pentateuch
If you are looking for some traditional Thrash to add to your arsenal, then Mortification's "Hammer of God" is a great option and a must for all Thrash Metal fans. Mosh On!!
Musicians:
Steve Rowe-Vocals, Bass
Lincoln Bowen-Guitars
Andrew Esnouf-Drums
Musicians:
Steve Rowe-Vocals, Bass
Lincoln Bowen-Guitars
Andrew Esnouf-Drums
