Thrash has come into metal fashion and faded. Over the years even bands as big as Megadeth et al., have succumbed to fashions and donned chequered/plaid shirts (see the emasculated band profile circa Risk), but it seems Aussies Mortal Sin have stuck to the admirable credo of tight jeans, high tops, long hair, and technical metal from the start.
Keeping thrash alive from the first sparks of the movement in ’85, feeding on the embers of Metallica (before that flame was extinguished under the self indulgent double helpings of arse gravy that are St. Anger and now the fetid abortion of Lulu), Mortal Sin do nothing more then play metal fast, hard, incisive, political, and brutal, all without deploying Dethklok style death grunts.
Veterans of the Southern Hemisphere, and well versed in the double guitar attack of true thrash, Mortal Sin have stored up a continent of riffs for the listener. Title track and opener “Psychology of Death” heaves with blast beats and thrash riffs, the almost melodic opening being battered into submission by the main assault of guitars, drums, bass, and angry spat out vocals. Honestly, if Australasia was as isolated now as it was during the rise of the marsupials, this sound would have been unique. As it is, it falls nicely, brutally, and crushingly, into the canon of modern speed metal. I’ve seen interviews where front man Mat Maurer was quoted as saying, "This time around we said we wanted to go back to our roots, we we’re going to write an album like Destruction, simple old school thrash.” In this, Mortal Sin have succeeded, and succeeded in spades. Forget trends, forget subtlety, and just indulge yourself in pure thrash!
‘Blood of My Enemies’ is a pure metal challenge to all comers, whilst ‘Paralysed’ braces itself for a backlash where no alternative will be accepted! Do you want to front up to Mortal Sin? Bad fucking idea! These thrashers will probably pound you into mince meat in the pit and then slap you for a roasting on the barbeque. ‘Paralysed’, ‘Burned Into Your Soul’ and ‘Deny’ blast out in very short order, each track a Blitzkrieg of blasting bass, slashing guitars, and blasting drums. I’d love to thrash lyrical about the originality of ‘Kingdom of Pain’, ‘Down In The Pit’, and ‘Hatred’, but I can’t. These songs are in fact fast, uncompromising, and accomplished slices of pure thrash. Even the breakdown of ‘Deny’ doesn’t sound like a plea, rather it sounds like a challenge of the relevant.
You want thrash? You want a new band? Aim your sights at Mortal Sin, and ignore the cabaret act that is Metallica playing two decade plus albums in their entirety. Old isn’t always good, new isn’t always bad, and Mortal Sin prove that.
http://www.mortalsin.com.au
Spenny Bullen
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