Mortification (band)
Encyclopedia
Mortification is an Australian Christian
extreme metal
band which was formed in 1987 as a heavy metal group, Lightforce, by mainstay Steve Rowe
on bass guitar and vocals. By 1990, in the Melbourne suburb of Moorabbin
, they were renamed as Mortification with the line-up of Rowe, Michael Carlisle on guitar and Jayson Sherlock
on drums. Mortification has released over twenty albums and several videos on major record labels such as Nuclear Blast
. As one of the earliest internationally successful Christian death metal bands from Australia, they serve as inspiration for later similar groups.
During the early 1990s Mortification "belonged to the elite of the death metal movement," especially with their 1992 album Scrolls of the Megilloth
. After the departure of Sherlock, Mortification began experimenting with groove metal
, hardcore punk
and power metal
. They achieved commercial success with Blood World
in 1994 and received critically acclaim for 1996's EnVision EvAngelene
. Despite the lack of subsequent commercial success or mainstream critical recognition, the band has maintained its status as "some kind of superstars in the Christian metal scene," and have been described as "a legend in the death metal scene." In late 1996, Rowe was diagnosed with acute lymphatic leukaemia
and took 18 months to recover. Mortification issued their tenth album, Triumph of Mercy
in August 1998 and accompanied it with a tour of North America. By August 1999, the band had sold a total of a quarter of a million albums across Europe and the US. They returned to their deathrash roots for the 2004 album, Brain Cleaner
.
formed the Australian power metal band LightForce with Murray Adams on guitar, Steve Johnson on vocals and Errol Willenberg on drums. The group played on the local metal scene and signed with United States label, Pure Metal Records
to release their debut album, Mystical Thieves in May 1989. They supported US Christian glam metallers, Stryper
on their 1989 tour of Australia. In 1990, Rowe, was determined to play heavy music with a Christian message, and was joined by drummer Jayson Sherlock
and guitarist Cameron Hall under the LightForce name to record the demo, Break the Curse
. The group had changed musically towards thrash metal
with a death metal
influence and when Michael Carlisle replaced Hall on guitar, they were renamed as Mortification. According to Rowe, the name comes from the King James Bible, "Mortify therefore the deeds of the flesh." Break the Curse was released in 1991 as Mortification's second album.
In early 1991, they released their self-titled
debut album on the US Christian label Intense Records
. The direction of the music had changed once again. A lot of the songs were taken from their demo Break the Curse, but the band tuned their guitars down, and the feel to the songs was a lot more heavy and doomy than on previous material. Also, Rowe proved to be an excellent death metal vocalist, presenting his "Grind Baritone vocals of extreme reality" throughout the album. According to Allmusic, the band "sought to provide a positive alternative to traditional death metal acts such as Carcass
, Death
, and Obituary
. On the strength of their self-titled 1990 debut, Mortification quickly gained a reputation in their native Australia for being one of the loudest and fastest bands around."
In 1992, the band signed a deal with Nuclear Blast Records in Germany, which had many European death metal groups on their roster. Mortification released their third album, Scrolls of the Megilloth
, which had great success and, in the Christian metal scene, is considered a classic as well as a piece of Australian metal history. The line-up had outdone themselves, playing some fast death metal with a few doom metal influences on a couple of tracks. According to Allmusic, the album contains "some of the most frightening vocals ever recorded." A video-compilation titled Grind Planets which featured eight Mortification music-videos shot by film maker Neil Johnson was also released. Grind Planets, the title is a word play of the term 'Rock Star'. It presented a more humorous side of Mortification on the "On the Road" material in contrast with their serious message about spiritual warfare - a common theme among Christian extreme metal bands during early 1990s when anti-Christian bands such as Deicide and Morbid Angel gained popularity.
The band conquered new ground with their 1993 release Post Momentary Affliction
. Most notably, the vocal style shifted, adding some thrash-like screams to the already-familiar metal growls. The band also experimented with the industrial style. The album also featured one of Mortification's most popular songs, "Grind Planetarium". Jayson Sherlock had his last concert with the band at the Blackstump Festival '93, and the concert was released both on CD and also VHS under the name Live Planetarium
. A big US major magazine cited the Live Planetarium video as the best live album and video they have ever seen and heard. Jayson joined Paramæcium, and Phil Gibson replaced him as Mortification's drummer.
. They leaned more towards modern groove/thrash with classic metal and hardcore punk influence rather than death metal, and Steve mainly used his shouts rather than growling. Phil and Michael left the band, and Steve stood by himself. The strange combination of extreme styles began setting Mortification apart from the crowd of same sounding bands and widened the band's audience as they became quickly recognised as innovators and not imitators. Blood World received rave reviews in America and Europe. Horror Infernal Magazine gave the album 13 out of 13 points. Blood World eventually became their best selling album.
1994 also saw the birth of Steve's own record label, "Rowe Productions." Also, Break the Curse was remixed and re-released by Nuclear Blast Records with a bonus track called "Butchered Mutilation".
Together with numerous friends, Steve recorded the album Primitive Rhythm Machine
which was released in 1995. The sound of the album is really nasty and messy with a tribal-percussion to it. Musically, Steve mixed all the styles Mortification had played in the past, death metal, thrash metal and groove metal.
Also, Mortification's The Best of Five Years
were released. A compilation album of older material. 2 songs from each previous release made a good introduction to new fans, and showed the bands innovation. This was the last album to be released by Mortification through Intense Records.
In 1996, Steve Rowe started his search for a new drummer and guitarist. The drum position was filled by long time roadie Keith Bannister, who had become a Christian during the first Mortification tour back in 1990. He learned how to play the drums while Mortification was on tour, and when they came back, Steve saw that he had been practicing, and was amazed at his progress, and instantly chose him to fill the spot as the drummer of the band. The guitar position was filled by guitarist Lincoln Bowen. Together, they recorded the album EnVision EvAngelene
. This disc mixed elements of classic metal, thrash metal and added a punk feel to some of the songs. The first cut is an epic 18+ minute about Christ's crucifixion from the angels point of view.
Two live EPs were also released, Noah Sat Down and Listened to the Mortification Live EP While Having a Coffee
and Live without Fear. Unlike their first live album Live Planetarium from the Black Stump Music and Arts Festival
, this was recorded at a small club, with a raw sound.
A video compilation called EnVidion was released, containing numerous music-videos and interviews. Also released this year was a novel by Steve Rowe titled "Minstrel."
In 2006, their song "Livin like a Zombie" was played in the background of the BME Pain Olympics: Final Round.
, and after 18 months he was in remission despite a seemingly failed bone marrow transplant
. Soon after, Mortification recorded their tenth album, Triumph of Mercy
, and released it in August 1998. It was issued by Rowe Productions in the US and Nuclear Blast Germany in Europe. Lyrically, the album focused on the experiences of Rowe and the band during the previous two-years. The style of the album was a mixture of groove
and thrash. They followed with a North American tour.
1999 saw the release of Hammer of God
, also a mix of thrash and groove. The death metal elements had vanished, but the religious message of the lyrics remained. The band's line-up was Rowe, with Keith Bannister on drums and Lincoln Bowen on guitar. They undertook another European tour to promote Hammer of God. By August that year, the group had sold a total of a quarter of a million albums across Europe and the US.
In 2000, Mortification released another live album, recorded at Blackstump Festival in 1999, called 10 Years Live Not Dead
, which mainly featured material from their newer albums plus a new song called "Dead Man Walking". Keith Bannister left the band, and a replacement was found in the very young drummer Adam Zaffarese.
The new line-up released the album The Silver Cord is Severed
in 2000 and the band went on its first world tour. The music continued to be thrash and groove. While many fans thought the album was the weakest effort in the band's career, The Silver Cord is Severed sold well like its precessors. This was due to the fact that - like Nuclear Blast founder Markus Staiger stated in a newsletter - had become "some kind of superstars in the Christian metal scene". At the end of 2000 Lincoln Bowen left, and the band was split, which seemed like it was the end of Mortification.
A collection of Mortification songs was released in 2002 on the compilation-album Ten Years 1990 - 2000 Power, Pain, and Passion
.
However, things changed when the guitarists Jeff Lewis and Mick Jelinic joined the band, and in 2002 they released Relentless
. The band went in a slightly more heavy direction with a good dose of thrash and classic metal. The band played live as a 4-piece only a couple of times, as Jeff Lewis left the band.
, now with ex-Cybergrind and current Martyrs Shrine drummer Mike Forsberg. This was the heaviest release from the band in 10 years, and fast thrash dominates the album with lots of groove and death metal influences.
In 2006, Mortification released a new album. It was originally titled Impaling the Goblin, but after many complaints that in some cultures this term had a sexual connotation to it, they changed the name to Erasing the Goblin
. The album, with a cover which features a warrior throwing a sword into a goblin sitting on a rocking chair in a cave, is said to be a take on their older death/thrash sound around the time of their first 2-3 albums.
In early 2008, the band's nine early records were re-released by Polish Metal Mind Productions
. In July 2008 Steve Rowe announced on his website that drummer Damien Percy was leaving after 3 years in the band and has been replaced by Dave Kilgallon, who is also the drummer for Australian Christian metal bands Grave Forsaken and Scourged Flesh.
On 6 June, it was announced that Mortification will record a new album in 2009 On 5 August, the band stated that they would record a demo for the new album. On 4 February, Rowe announced that the album titled The Evil Addiction Destroying Machine
was partially completed, and it was released early June. Confusing many fans, Steve Rowe has reportedly called the new musical direction "easy-listening thrash." Rowe noted in a message for The Metal Resource about the reception of The Evil Addiction Destroying Machine: "With all new Mort releases there have been mixed response; pretty black and white. Some Really Like It and some really Don't Like It. But I knew with presenting the band in a reinvented way it was an excitingly dangerous move!"
in 1999:
According to Australian writers Gary Garson and Peter Schultz, Mortification is the world's most successful Christian extreme metal band. Their first three albums are respected efforts of death metal. Blood World was a commercial hit and EnVision EvAngelene gained some respect for its music. During the tour for Blood World they played with Napalm Death
, Sick of it All
and Entombed
for audiences consisting of thousands of people, and sold more merchandise than the other bands in the venues. Several Mortification tribute albums have been released by Christian metal bands that have been influenced by Mortification.
Records released after Steve Rowe's leukemia have received poor reviews from critics, though they kept selling well. A critic wrote that "The weakest link of current Mortification are the lyrics. They are just somewhat naive and cheesy. On the old albums sinners screamed in pain in the fiery pits of hell, Satan was slaughtered; the rhetorics fit the spirit of the brutal music better. Apparently the fatherhood and going through the disease has calmed Rowe down too much, although on the early records the previous members Jayson Sherlock and Mick Carlisle wrote a lot of the lyrics." The different singing style Rowe did for many years after Post Momentary Affliction was another target for criticism, being called "poor screaming".
Bill Rice recorded "Primitive Rhythm Machine" as guest musician
Jason Campbell, Dave Kellogg and George Ochoa recorded "Primitive Rhythm Machine" as guest musicians
Scrolls of the Megilloth - Mortification (previously unreleased)
Christian metal
Christian metal, also known as white metal, is a form of heavy metal music usually defined by its message in a song's lyrics as well as the band's dedication to Christianity...
extreme metal
Extreme metal
Extreme metal is a loosely defined umbrella term for a number of related heavy metal music subgenres that have developed since the early 1980s. The term usually refers to a more abrasive, harsher, underground, non-commercialized style or sound nearly always associated with genres like black metal,...
band which was formed in 1987 as a heavy metal group, Lightforce, by mainstay Steve Rowe
Steve Rowe
Steve Rowe is the founder, bass guitarist, and vocalist of the Australian Christian death metal band Mortification which was considered to be a major pioneer in the genre. Prior to forming Mortification he was in a traditional heavy metal styled Christian band known as LightForce...
on bass guitar and vocals. By 1990, in the Melbourne suburb of Moorabbin
Moorabbin, Victoria
Moorabbin is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 15 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Kingston. At the 2006 Census, Moorabbin had a population of 5,170....
, they were renamed as Mortification with the line-up of Rowe, Michael Carlisle on guitar and Jayson Sherlock
Jayson Sherlock
Jayson Sherlock was the drummer for the Australian death metal band Mortification, which was considered to be a major pioneer in the genre.Sherlock was the founder of the one-man project Unblack metal band Horde, in which he played every instrument...
on drums. Mortification has released over twenty albums and several videos on major record labels such as Nuclear Blast
Nuclear Blast
Nuclear Blast is an independent record label and mail order record distributor with subsidiaries in Germany, the United States and Brazil. The record label was founded in 1987 by Markus Staiger in Germany. Originally releasing hardcore punk records, the label moved on to releasing albums by melodic...
. As one of the earliest internationally successful Christian death metal bands from Australia, they serve as inspiration for later similar groups.
During the early 1990s Mortification "belonged to the elite of the death metal movement," especially with their 1992 album Scrolls of the Megilloth
Scrolls of the Megilloth
Scrolls of the Megilloth is the Christian extreme metal band Mortification's third release and second full length recording, released in 1992. The band's most famous release, this album is full-on death metal, with the thrash metal roots barely showing, and possibly their most extreme album to date...
. After the departure of Sherlock, Mortification began experimenting with groove metal
Groove metal
Groove metal is a subgenre of heavy metal. It was often used to describe Pantera and Exhorder.- Characteristics and origins :Pantera's Cowboys from Hell album from 1990 was described as "groundbreaking" and "blueprint-defining" for the groove metal genre...
, hardcore punk
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
and power metal
Power metal
Power metal is a style of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. The term refers to two different but related styles: the first pioneered and largely practiced in North America with a harder sound similar to speed metal, and a...
. They achieved commercial success with Blood World
Blood World
Blood World is the sixth release and fourth studio album of Christian metal band Mortification, released in 1994. The album was a commercial hit, and the band's most successful album....
in 1994 and received critically acclaim for 1996's EnVision EvAngelene
EnVision EvAngelene
EnVision EvAngelene is the sixth studio album released 1996 by Christian metal band Mortification. Musically, this particular album is known for having more of a traditional heavy metal and thrash metal sound then previous Mortification offerings, which focused mainly on death metal...
. Despite the lack of subsequent commercial success or mainstream critical recognition, the band has maintained its status as "some kind of superstars in the Christian metal scene," and have been described as "a legend in the death metal scene." In late 1996, Rowe was diagnosed with acute lymphatic leukaemia
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is a form of leukemia, or cancer of the white blood cells characterized by excess lymphoblasts.Malignant, immature white blood cells continuously multiply and are overproduced in the bone marrow. ALL causes damage and death by crowding out normal cells in the bone...
and took 18 months to recover. Mortification issued their tenth album, Triumph of Mercy
Triumph of Mercy
Triumph of Mercy is the seventh studio album released by the Australian Christian metal band Mortification on 6 October 1998.-Track listing:#"At War With War" - 4:54#"Triumph Of Mercy" - 7:00#"Welcome To The Palodrome" - 4:16#"From Your Side" - 4:18...
in August 1998 and accompanied it with a tour of North America. By August 1999, the band had sold a total of a quarter of a million albums across Europe and the US. They returned to their deathrash roots for the 2004 album, Brain Cleaner
Brain Cleaner
Brain Cleaner is the eleventh studio album by the Australian Christian metal band Mortification.-Track listing:# "Boaconstrictor" — 5:04# "Too Much Pain" — 3:35# "Purest Intent" — 4:05# "Free As A Bird" — 2:10...
.
Original line-up
In 1987, bass guitarist and vocalist Steve RoweSteve Rowe
Steve Rowe is the founder, bass guitarist, and vocalist of the Australian Christian death metal band Mortification which was considered to be a major pioneer in the genre. Prior to forming Mortification he was in a traditional heavy metal styled Christian band known as LightForce...
formed the Australian power metal band LightForce with Murray Adams on guitar, Steve Johnson on vocals and Errol Willenberg on drums. The group played on the local metal scene and signed with United States label, Pure Metal Records
Refuge Records
Refuge Records was a Christian record label founded in 1980 by Greg Nelson and Ray Nenow.Refuge Records became an important label in the development of the West Coast Christian alternative music scene...
to release their debut album, Mystical Thieves in May 1989. They supported US Christian glam metallers, Stryper
Stryper
Stryper is a Christian glam metal band from Orange County, California. The group's lineup consists of Michael Sweet , Oz Fox , Tim Gaines , and Robert Sweet...
on their 1989 tour of Australia. In 1990, Rowe, was determined to play heavy music with a Christian message, and was joined by drummer Jayson Sherlock
Jayson Sherlock
Jayson Sherlock was the drummer for the Australian death metal band Mortification, which was considered to be a major pioneer in the genre.Sherlock was the founder of the one-man project Unblack metal band Horde, in which he played every instrument...
and guitarist Cameron Hall under the LightForce name to record the demo, Break the Curse
Break the Curse
Break the Curse is Christian metal band Mortification's debut demo, recorded in 1990. The album expresses Mortification's thrashier metal, rather than their death metal yet to come.- Track listing :All songs written by Mortification...
. The group had changed musically towards thrash metal
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
with a death metal
Death metal
Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It typically employs heavily distorted guitars, tremolo picking, deep growling vocals, blast beat drumming, minor keys or atonality, and complex song structures with multiple tempo changes....
influence and when Michael Carlisle replaced Hall on guitar, they were renamed as Mortification. According to Rowe, the name comes from the King James Bible, "Mortify therefore the deeds of the flesh." Break the Curse was released in 1991 as Mortification's second album.
In early 1991, they released their self-titled
Mortification (album)
Mortification is Mortification's second studio release and eponymous debut album, released in 1991. The album before was a demo. This album leans more towards death metal, but still keeps itself in the ways of thrash....
debut album on the US Christian label Intense Records
Intense Records
Intense Records was an independent record label whose releases were mostly in the metal genre. Intense was bought out in 1989 by Frontline Records and became an imprint of that company...
. The direction of the music had changed once again. A lot of the songs were taken from their demo Break the Curse, but the band tuned their guitars down, and the feel to the songs was a lot more heavy and doomy than on previous material. Also, Rowe proved to be an excellent death metal vocalist, presenting his "Grind Baritone vocals of extreme reality" throughout the album. According to Allmusic, the band "sought to provide a positive alternative to traditional death metal acts such as Carcass
Carcass (band)
Carcass are an extreme metal band from England, who formed in 1985 and disbanded in 1995. A reunion was enacted in 2008 without one of its original members, drummer Ken Owen, due to health reasons....
, Death
Death (band)
Death was an American metal band founded in 1983. The band's founder, Chuck Schuldiner, is considered "a pioneering force in death metal and grindcore". The band ceased to exist after Schuldiner died of brain cancer in 2001, though remains an enduring heavy metal brand.Death is considered one of...
, and Obituary
Obituary (band)
Obituary is an American death metal band formed in 1984 in Tampa, Florida under the name Executioner, then changed the name's spelling to Xecutioner, and later changed their name to Obituary in 1988. The band comprises vocalist John Tardy, drummer Donald Tardy, guitarists Trevor Peres and Ralph...
. On the strength of their self-titled 1990 debut, Mortification quickly gained a reputation in their native Australia for being one of the loudest and fastest bands around."
In 1992, the band signed a deal with Nuclear Blast Records in Germany, which had many European death metal groups on their roster. Mortification released their third album, Scrolls of the Megilloth
Scrolls of the Megilloth
Scrolls of the Megilloth is the Christian extreme metal band Mortification's third release and second full length recording, released in 1992. The band's most famous release, this album is full-on death metal, with the thrash metal roots barely showing, and possibly their most extreme album to date...
, which had great success and, in the Christian metal scene, is considered a classic as well as a piece of Australian metal history. The line-up had outdone themselves, playing some fast death metal with a few doom metal influences on a couple of tracks. According to Allmusic, the album contains "some of the most frightening vocals ever recorded." A video-compilation titled Grind Planets which featured eight Mortification music-videos shot by film maker Neil Johnson was also released. Grind Planets, the title is a word play of the term 'Rock Star'. It presented a more humorous side of Mortification on the "On the Road" material in contrast with their serious message about spiritual warfare - a common theme among Christian extreme metal bands during early 1990s when anti-Christian bands such as Deicide and Morbid Angel gained popularity.
The band conquered new ground with their 1993 release Post Momentary Affliction
Post Momentary Affliction
Post Momentary Affliction is the fourth release and third studio album of Christian metal band Mortification, released in 1993. The album goes back to Mortification's thrash roots, but with the death metal elements still showing...
. Most notably, the vocal style shifted, adding some thrash-like screams to the already-familiar metal growls. The band also experimented with the industrial style. The album also featured one of Mortification's most popular songs, "Grind Planetarium". Jayson Sherlock had his last concert with the band at the Blackstump Festival '93, and the concert was released both on CD and also VHS under the name Live Planetarium
Live Planetarium
Live Planetarium is a live album and fifth release of Christian metal band Mortification, released in 1993.- Track listing :All songs written by Mortification except where noted# "Grind Planetarium" - 5:16# "Distarnish Priest" - 7:50...
. A big US major magazine cited the Live Planetarium video as the best live album and video they have ever seen and heard. Jayson joined Paramæcium, and Phil Gibson replaced him as Mortification's drummer.
Commercial Success
The band released a new album in 1994 called Blood WorldBlood World
Blood World is the sixth release and fourth studio album of Christian metal band Mortification, released in 1994. The album was a commercial hit, and the band's most successful album....
. They leaned more towards modern groove/thrash with classic metal and hardcore punk influence rather than death metal, and Steve mainly used his shouts rather than growling. Phil and Michael left the band, and Steve stood by himself. The strange combination of extreme styles began setting Mortification apart from the crowd of same sounding bands and widened the band's audience as they became quickly recognised as innovators and not imitators. Blood World received rave reviews in America and Europe. Horror Infernal Magazine gave the album 13 out of 13 points. Blood World eventually became their best selling album.
1994 also saw the birth of Steve's own record label, "Rowe Productions." Also, Break the Curse was remixed and re-released by Nuclear Blast Records with a bonus track called "Butchered Mutilation".
Together with numerous friends, Steve recorded the album Primitive Rhythm Machine
Primitive Rhythm Machine
Primitive Rhythm Machine is the fifth studio album released in 1995 by Christian metal band Mortification. This album was produced by and features guitar work from George Ochoa who also played in Deliverance, and features guest vocals by Vett Roberts of Recon.-Track listing:# "Primitive Rhythm...
which was released in 1995. The sound of the album is really nasty and messy with a tribal-percussion to it. Musically, Steve mixed all the styles Mortification had played in the past, death metal, thrash metal and groove metal.
Also, Mortification's The Best of Five Years
The Best of Five Years
The Best of Five Years is a compilation album by Mortification spanning of over five years of greatest hits.-Track listing:#"Blood Sacrifice" - 3:36#"New Beginnings" - 2:37#"The Destroyer Beholds" - 3:19#"The Majestic Infiltration of Order" - 1:06...
were released. A compilation album of older material. 2 songs from each previous release made a good introduction to new fans, and showed the bands innovation. This was the last album to be released by Mortification through Intense Records.
In 1996, Steve Rowe started his search for a new drummer and guitarist. The drum position was filled by long time roadie Keith Bannister, who had become a Christian during the first Mortification tour back in 1990. He learned how to play the drums while Mortification was on tour, and when they came back, Steve saw that he had been practicing, and was amazed at his progress, and instantly chose him to fill the spot as the drummer of the band. The guitar position was filled by guitarist Lincoln Bowen. Together, they recorded the album EnVision EvAngelene
EnVision EvAngelene
EnVision EvAngelene is the sixth studio album released 1996 by Christian metal band Mortification. Musically, this particular album is known for having more of a traditional heavy metal and thrash metal sound then previous Mortification offerings, which focused mainly on death metal...
. This disc mixed elements of classic metal, thrash metal and added a punk feel to some of the songs. The first cut is an epic 18+ minute about Christ's crucifixion from the angels point of view.
Two live EPs were also released, Noah Sat Down and Listened to the Mortification Live EP While Having a Coffee
Noah Sat Down and Listened to the Mortification Live EP While Having a Coffee
Noah Sat Down and Listened to the Mortification Live EP While Having a Coffee is an EP by Mortification.-Track listing:#"Envision A Beginning" - 2:10#"Buried Into Obscurity" - 3:25#"Steve Talks" - 0:49#"Noah Was A Knower" - 3:22...
and Live without Fear. Unlike their first live album Live Planetarium from the Black Stump Music and Arts Festival
Black Stump Music and Arts Festival
The Black Stump Music and Arts Festival is a four day Christian festival that is held in the Greater Sydney Metropolitan region over the labour day long weekend, often the first weekend in October.-Features:...
, this was recorded at a small club, with a raw sound.
A video compilation called EnVidion was released, containing numerous music-videos and interviews. Also released this year was a novel by Steve Rowe titled "Minstrel."
In 2006, their song "Livin like a Zombie" was played in the background of the BME Pain Olympics: Final Round.
Rowe diagnosed with leukaemia
In late 1996, Steve Rowe was diagnosed with acute lymphatic leukaemiaAcute lymphoblastic leukemia
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is a form of leukemia, or cancer of the white blood cells characterized by excess lymphoblasts.Malignant, immature white blood cells continuously multiply and are overproduced in the bone marrow. ALL causes damage and death by crowding out normal cells in the bone...
, and after 18 months he was in remission despite a seemingly failed bone marrow transplant
Bone marrow transplant
Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is the transplantation of multipotent hematopoietic stem cell or blood, usually derived from bone marrow, peripheral blood stem cells, or umbilical cord blood...
. Soon after, Mortification recorded their tenth album, Triumph of Mercy
Triumph of Mercy
Triumph of Mercy is the seventh studio album released by the Australian Christian metal band Mortification on 6 October 1998.-Track listing:#"At War With War" - 4:54#"Triumph Of Mercy" - 7:00#"Welcome To The Palodrome" - 4:16#"From Your Side" - 4:18...
, and released it in August 1998. It was issued by Rowe Productions in the US and Nuclear Blast Germany in Europe. Lyrically, the album focused on the experiences of Rowe and the band during the previous two-years. The style of the album was a mixture of groove
Groove metal
Groove metal is a subgenre of heavy metal. It was often used to describe Pantera and Exhorder.- Characteristics and origins :Pantera's Cowboys from Hell album from 1990 was described as "groundbreaking" and "blueprint-defining" for the groove metal genre...
and thrash. They followed with a North American tour.
1999 saw the release of Hammer of God
Hammer of God (album)
Hammer of God is the eighth studio album by the Australian Christian metal band Mortification, released in 1999.-Track listing:#"Metal Crusade" - 7:15#"Martyrs" - 5:27#"Lock Up The Night" - 3:30#"In The Woods" - 2:57#"A Pearl" - 6:15...
, also a mix of thrash and groove. The death metal elements had vanished, but the religious message of the lyrics remained. The band's line-up was Rowe, with Keith Bannister on drums and Lincoln Bowen on guitar. They undertook another European tour to promote Hammer of God. By August that year, the group had sold a total of a quarter of a million albums across Europe and the US.
In 2000, Mortification released another live album, recorded at Blackstump Festival in 1999, called 10 Years Live Not Dead
10 Years Live Not Dead
10 Years Live Not Dead is a live album by Christian metal band Mortification. It was released in 2000 and features one new song called "Dead Man Walking".- Track listing :# "Dead Man Walking" 4:13# "Buried Into Obscurity" 3:19...
, which mainly featured material from their newer albums plus a new song called "Dead Man Walking". Keith Bannister left the band, and a replacement was found in the very young drummer Adam Zaffarese.
The new line-up released the album The Silver Cord is Severed
The Silver Cord is Severed
The Silver Cord Is Severed is the ninth studio album by the Australian Christian metal band Mortification.-Track listing:#"Metal Blessing" - 4:51#"Access Denied" - 3:10#"Hardware" - 6:02#"Bring The Joy" - 3:40#"Standing At The Door Of Death" - 4:13...
in 2000 and the band went on its first world tour. The music continued to be thrash and groove. While many fans thought the album was the weakest effort in the band's career, The Silver Cord is Severed sold well like its precessors. This was due to the fact that - like Nuclear Blast founder Markus Staiger stated in a newsletter - had become "some kind of superstars in the Christian metal scene". At the end of 2000 Lincoln Bowen left, and the band was split, which seemed like it was the end of Mortification.
A collection of Mortification songs was released in 2002 on the compilation-album Ten Years 1990 - 2000 Power, Pain, and Passion
Ten Years 1990 - 2000 Power, Pain, and Passion
Ten Years 1990 - 2000 Power, Pain, and Passion is a compilation album by Mortification.-Track listing:#"Human Condition" - 4:37#"Toxic Shock" - 3:21#"Death Requiem" - 5:10#"Martyrs" - 5:27#"Satan's Doom" - 6:08#"Hammer Of God" - 3:48...
.
However, things changed when the guitarists Jeff Lewis and Mick Jelinic joined the band, and in 2002 they released Relentless
Relentless (Mortification album)
Relentless is the tenth studio album by the Australian christian metal band Mortification.-Track listing:#"Intro" - 1:03#"Web of Fire" - 4:52#"God Shape Void" - 5:11#"Priests of the Underground" - 5:01#"Bring Release" - 4:01#"Syncretize" - 6:29...
. The band went in a slightly more heavy direction with a good dose of thrash and classic metal. The band played live as a 4-piece only a couple of times, as Jeff Lewis left the band.
Return to death/thrash roots
2004 saw the released of Brain CleanerBrain Cleaner
Brain Cleaner is the eleventh studio album by the Australian Christian metal band Mortification.-Track listing:# "Boaconstrictor" — 5:04# "Too Much Pain" — 3:35# "Purest Intent" — 4:05# "Free As A Bird" — 2:10...
, now with ex-Cybergrind and current Martyrs Shrine drummer Mike Forsberg. This was the heaviest release from the band in 10 years, and fast thrash dominates the album with lots of groove and death metal influences.
In 2006, Mortification released a new album. It was originally titled Impaling the Goblin, but after many complaints that in some cultures this term had a sexual connotation to it, they changed the name to Erasing the Goblin
Erasing the Goblin
Erasing the Goblin is the twelfth studio album by the Australian Christian metal band Mortification.Erasing the Goblin was released on Rowe Productions as well as MCM Music, the only differences were that the Rowe Productions version has the tenth song as "Dead Man Walking" but the MCM Music...
. The album, with a cover which features a warrior throwing a sword into a goblin sitting on a rocking chair in a cave, is said to be a take on their older death/thrash sound around the time of their first 2-3 albums.
In early 2008, the band's nine early records were re-released by Polish Metal Mind Productions
Metal Mind Productions
Metal Mind Productions is a Polish record label founded in 1987. Currently it is one of the lead independent labels in Poland with over 1000 of licences and over 10 million of data mediums sold. The label focuses mainly on rock and heavy metal genres...
. In July 2008 Steve Rowe announced on his website that drummer Damien Percy was leaving after 3 years in the band and has been replaced by Dave Kilgallon, who is also the drummer for Australian Christian metal bands Grave Forsaken and Scourged Flesh.
On 6 June, it was announced that Mortification will record a new album in 2009 On 5 August, the band stated that they would record a demo for the new album. On 4 February, Rowe announced that the album titled The Evil Addiction Destroying Machine
The Evil Addiction Destroying Machine
The Evil Addiction Destroying Machine is the thirteenth studio album by Australian Christian death metal band Mortification, released in May of 2009...
was partially completed, and it was released early June. Confusing many fans, Steve Rowe has reportedly called the new musical direction "easy-listening thrash." Rowe noted in a message for The Metal Resource about the reception of The Evil Addiction Destroying Machine: "With all new Mort releases there have been mixed response; pretty black and white. Some Really Like It and some really Don't Like It. But I knew with presenting the band in a reinvented way it was an excitingly dangerous move!"
Reception and legacy
Mortification was described by Australian rock music historian, Ian McFarlane in his Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and PopEncyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop
The Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop or Rock and Pop by Australian music journalist Ian McFarlane is a guide to Australian popular music from the 1950s to the late 1990s...
in 1999:
During the early 1990s, Mortification became internationally known as Australia's foremost Christian-inspired death metal band. Christian death metal: surely a contradiction in terms; but only for the uninitiated. Mortification successfully infused the down-tuned, sledgehammer riffs and gruff vocal style usually associated with the death/thrash metal genre with positive and spiritually uplifting lyric themes.
According to Australian writers Gary Garson and Peter Schultz, Mortification is the world's most successful Christian extreme metal band. Their first three albums are respected efforts of death metal. Blood World was a commercial hit and EnVision EvAngelene gained some respect for its music. During the tour for Blood World they played with Napalm Death
Napalm Death
Napalm Death are a death metal band formed in Birmingham, England in 1981. While none of its original members remain in the group, the lineup of vocalist Mark "Barney" Greenway, bassist Shane Embury, guitarist Mitch Harris and drummer Danny Herrera has remained consistent for most of the band's ...
, Sick of it All
Sick of It All
Sick of It All is an American hardcore punk band from Queens, New York. Formed in 1986, the band consisted of brothers Lou Koller on vocals and Pete Koller on lead guitar, Rich Cipriano on bass, and Armand Majidi on drums. There have been only two member changes since their inception, with Max...
and Entombed
Entombed (band)
Entombed is a Swedish death metal band which formed in 1987 under the name of Nihilist. Though Entombed began their career as an early pioneer of Scandinavian death metal which initially differed itself from its American counterpart with its distinct guitar tone, by the early 1990s their sound had...
for audiences consisting of thousands of people, and sold more merchandise than the other bands in the venues. Several Mortification tribute albums have been released by Christian metal bands that have been influenced by Mortification.
Records released after Steve Rowe's leukemia have received poor reviews from critics, though they kept selling well. A critic wrote that "The weakest link of current Mortification are the lyrics. They are just somewhat naive and cheesy. On the old albums sinners screamed in pain in the fiery pits of hell, Satan was slaughtered; the rhetorics fit the spirit of the brutal music better. Apparently the fatherhood and going through the disease has calmed Rowe down too much, although on the early records the previous members Jayson Sherlock and Mick Carlisle wrote a lot of the lyrics." The different singing style Rowe did for many years after Post Momentary Affliction was another target for criticism, being called "poor screaming".
Current members
- Steve RoweSteve RoweSteve Rowe is the founder, bass guitarist, and vocalist of the Australian Christian death metal band Mortification which was considered to be a major pioneer in the genre. Prior to forming Mortification he was in a traditional heavy metal styled Christian band known as LightForce...
- (Vocals & Bass) (1990–present) - Troy Dixon - (Guitars & Bgv) (2011-present)
- Andrew Esnouf - (drums) (2011-present)
Drums
- Jayson SherlockJayson SherlockJayson Sherlock was the drummer for the Australian death metal band Mortification, which was considered to be a major pioneer in the genre.Sherlock was the founder of the one-man project Unblack metal band Horde, in which he played every instrument...
- (1990–1993) - Phil Gibson - (1994)
- Keith Bannister - (1996–1999)
- Mike Forsberg - (2003–2005)
- Damien Percy - (2005–2008)
- Dave Kilgallon - (2008)
Bill Rice recorded "Primitive Rhythm Machine" as guest musician
Guitar
- Cameron Hall - (1990)
- Michael Carlisle - (1991–1994)
- Lincoln Bowen - (1996–2001)
- Jeff Lewis - (2002)
- Mick Jelinic (Terraphobia) -(2002-2011)
Jason Campbell, Dave Kellogg and George Ochoa recorded "Primitive Rhythm Machine" as guest musicians
Studio albums
- Break the CurseBreak the CurseBreak the Curse is Christian metal band Mortification's debut demo, recorded in 1990. The album expresses Mortification's thrashier metal, rather than their death metal yet to come.- Track listing :All songs written by Mortification...
(1990) - MortificationMortification (album)Mortification is Mortification's second studio release and eponymous debut album, released in 1991. The album before was a demo. This album leans more towards death metal, but still keeps itself in the ways of thrash....
(1991) - Scrolls of the MegillothScrolls of the MegillothScrolls of the Megilloth is the Christian extreme metal band Mortification's third release and second full length recording, released in 1992. The band's most famous release, this album is full-on death metal, with the thrash metal roots barely showing, and possibly their most extreme album to date...
(1992) - Post Momentary AfflictionPost Momentary AfflictionPost Momentary Affliction is the fourth release and third studio album of Christian metal band Mortification, released in 1993. The album goes back to Mortification's thrash roots, but with the death metal elements still showing...
(1993) - Blood WorldBlood WorldBlood World is the sixth release and fourth studio album of Christian metal band Mortification, released in 1994. The album was a commercial hit, and the band's most successful album....
(1994) - Primitive Rhythm MachinePrimitive Rhythm MachinePrimitive Rhythm Machine is the fifth studio album released in 1995 by Christian metal band Mortification. This album was produced by and features guitar work from George Ochoa who also played in Deliverance, and features guest vocals by Vett Roberts of Recon.-Track listing:# "Primitive Rhythm...
(1995) - EnVision EvAngeleneEnVision EvAngeleneEnVision EvAngelene is the sixth studio album released 1996 by Christian metal band Mortification. Musically, this particular album is known for having more of a traditional heavy metal and thrash metal sound then previous Mortification offerings, which focused mainly on death metal...
(1996) - Triumph of MercyTriumph of MercyTriumph of Mercy is the seventh studio album released by the Australian Christian metal band Mortification on 6 October 1998.-Track listing:#"At War With War" - 4:54#"Triumph Of Mercy" - 7:00#"Welcome To The Palodrome" - 4:16#"From Your Side" - 4:18...
(1998) - Hammer of GodHammer of God (album)Hammer of God is the eighth studio album by the Australian Christian metal band Mortification, released in 1999.-Track listing:#"Metal Crusade" - 7:15#"Martyrs" - 5:27#"Lock Up The Night" - 3:30#"In The Woods" - 2:57#"A Pearl" - 6:15...
(1999) - The Silver Cord is SeveredThe Silver Cord is SeveredThe Silver Cord Is Severed is the ninth studio album by the Australian Christian metal band Mortification.-Track listing:#"Metal Blessing" - 4:51#"Access Denied" - 3:10#"Hardware" - 6:02#"Bring The Joy" - 3:40#"Standing At The Door Of Death" - 4:13...
(2001) - RelentlessRelentless (Mortification album)Relentless is the tenth studio album by the Australian christian metal band Mortification.-Track listing:#"Intro" - 1:03#"Web of Fire" - 4:52#"God Shape Void" - 5:11#"Priests of the Underground" - 5:01#"Bring Release" - 4:01#"Syncretize" - 6:29...
(2002) - Brain CleanerBrain CleanerBrain Cleaner is the eleventh studio album by the Australian Christian metal band Mortification.-Track listing:# "Boaconstrictor" — 5:04# "Too Much Pain" — 3:35# "Purest Intent" — 4:05# "Free As A Bird" — 2:10...
(2004) - Erasing the GoblinErasing the GoblinErasing the Goblin is the twelfth studio album by the Australian Christian metal band Mortification.Erasing the Goblin was released on Rowe Productions as well as MCM Music, the only differences were that the Rowe Productions version has the tenth song as "Dead Man Walking" but the MCM Music...
(2006) - The Evil Addiction Destroying MachineThe Evil Addiction Destroying MachineThe Evil Addiction Destroying Machine is the thirteenth studio album by Australian Christian death metal band Mortification, released in May of 2009...
(2009)
Live albums
- Live PlanetariumLive PlanetariumLive Planetarium is a live album and fifth release of Christian metal band Mortification, released in 1993.- Track listing :All songs written by Mortification except where noted# "Grind Planetarium" - 5:16# "Distarnish Priest" - 7:50...
(1993) - Noah Sat Down and Listened to the Mortification Live EP While Having a CoffeeNoah Sat Down and Listened to the Mortification Live EP While Having a CoffeeNoah Sat Down and Listened to the Mortification Live EP While Having a Coffee is an EP by Mortification.-Track listing:#"Envision A Beginning" - 2:10#"Buried Into Obscurity" - 3:25#"Steve Talks" - 0:49#"Noah Was A Knower" - 3:22...
(1996, EP) - Live Without FearLive Without FearLive Without Fear is a live album by Mortification.-Track listing:#"Mephibosheth" - 3:50#"Northern Storm" - 3:55#"Primitive Rhythm Machine" - 4:53#"New Beginnings" - 3:00#"Grind Planetarium" - 5:00#"Bloodworld" - 4:16#"Steve Talks" - 1:59...
(1996) - Live HumanitarianLive Humanitarian-Track listing:#"Erasing the Goblin" - 5:25#"I'm Not Your Commodity" - 4:27#"Hammer of God" - 3:43#"Purest Intent" - 4:16#"Medley: Lymphosarcoma/The Destroyer Beholds/Distarnish Priest/Love Song" - 7:50#"Priests of the Underground" - 4:48...
(2006)
Compilation albums
- The Best of Five YearsThe Best of Five YearsThe Best of Five Years is a compilation album by Mortification spanning of over five years of greatest hits.-Track listing:#"Blood Sacrifice" - 3:36#"New Beginnings" - 2:37#"The Destroyer Beholds" - 3:19#"The Majestic Infiltration of Order" - 1:06...
(1996) - 10 Years Live Not Dead10 Years Live Not Dead10 Years Live Not Dead is a live album by Christian metal band Mortification. It was released in 2000 and features one new song called "Dead Man Walking".- Track listing :# "Dead Man Walking" 4:13# "Buried Into Obscurity" 3:19...
(2000) - Ten Years 1990 - 2000 Power, Pain, and PassionTen Years 1990 - 2000 Power, Pain, and PassionTen Years 1990 - 2000 Power, Pain, and Passion is a compilation album by Mortification.-Track listing:#"Human Condition" - 4:37#"Toxic Shock" - 3:21#"Death Requiem" - 5:10#"Martyrs" - 5:27#"Satan's Doom" - 6:08#"Hammer Of God" - 3:48...
(2002)
Bootlegs
- Australia Live (1992)
- Distarnished Priest (1995)
- Live Planetarium 2 (1995)
- Triumph of Mercy (1998)
- Conquer The Stump (2003)
- Total Thrashing Death (2004)
Other appearances
- Death Is Just The Beginning Vol. 2 1993
Scrolls of the Megilloth - Mortification (previously unreleased)
- Nuclear Blast Presents! Summer Blast 1994
- Hot Metal V: Screaming Truth
-
- Track 7- An interview with Mortification
- Track 8- Distarnish Priest
- Godspeed: Australian Metal Compilation- Time Crusaders (Studio Demo Version)
- Tourniquet/Mortification collector's edition CD single
- Track 9- Your Life
- Track 10- J.G.S.H.
- Track 11- Love Song
- Track 12- A Short Interview with Steve Rowe on the History of Mortification
Videos
- Metal Missionaries (1991, video)
- Grind Planets (1993, video, 55 minutes)
- The History of Mortification (1994, video)
- Live Planetarium (1994, video, 60 minutes)
- EnVidion (1996, video, 60 minutes)
- Conquer The World (2002, DVD, 95 minutes)
- Grind Planets ReissueGrind PlanetsGrind Planets is the first official DVD released by MortificationThere are three versions of Grind Planets. The first was a VHS released in1992. A second VHS was released in 1994...
(2005, DVD, 89 minutes) - Live PlanetariumLive Planetarium (DVD)Live Planetarium is the second official DVD released by Mortification.-Music Videos:* Grind Planetarium* Distarnish Priest* The History So Far* Brutal Warfare* Scrolls of the Megilloth* On Playing Live: Part 1* Symbiosis* Time Crusaders...
(2006, DVD, 90 minutes)