Mortification - "Relentless"

Mortification - Relentless
2002/2013 Soundmass

1. Intro
2. Web of Fire
3. God Shaped Void
4. Priests of the Underground
5. Bring Release
6. Syncretize
7. The Other Side of the Coin
8. Altar of God
9. Sorrow
10. 3 of a Kind
11. Arm the Anointed
12. New York Skies
13. Apocalyptic Terror

If you're looking for one of the best albums of the post-EnVision era, this is it. The jump in quality versus what I've heard so far is amazing. This is the first album with Terrorphobia's Mick Jelinic. I thought maybe he was maybe the main songwriter here. But, nope. It's actually Steve Rowe and second guitarist Jeff Lewis. Relentless is a thrash album for the most part. It's filled with tasty, infectious riffs and a lot of attitude. "Sorrow" is a doom metal track and I'm not usually one for doom metal, but this one rocks. Again, largely due to some stellar riffing and guitar work. "Apocalyptic Terror" is full on death metal - reminding me of the old B-side "Butchered Mutilation." Steve is using his clean thrash vocals, but they're not annoying. Though I do think that if he did the whole album in growls it would be better. Also, there are a couple tracks that I could do without. "Bring Release" and "Arm the Anointed" come to mind. They're not bad but the rest of the tracks are so good these bring down the vibe a little bit. Despite my minor complaints, Relentless is just as good as stuff from the early era. I wished this quality would have continued...

Also, I can't tell if the cover art is awesome or cheesy. Both, maybe? I do like it, I can tell you that.

Useless Fact: This is the only time in the band's history to have four people (two guitar players) in the line-up.

Mortification - "Erasing The Goblin"

Mortification - Erasing The Goblin
2006/2013

1. Razorback
2. Erasing The Goblin
3. The Dead Shall Be Judged
4. Escaping The Blasphemous Tabernacle
5. Your Time
6. Forged In Stone
7. Way, Truth, Life
8. Humanitarian
9. Short Circuit
10. Dead Man Walking
11. Servants of the Supreme Message
BONUS TRACKS:
12. Erasing The Goblin (Live)
13. Brutal Warfare (Live)
14. Hammer of God (Live)
15. Purest Intent (Live)
16. Standing At The Door of Death (Live)
17. Spoken Word (Live)
18. Chapel of Hope (Live)
19. 12 Men (Live)
20. God Rulz (Live)

Finally! I found one! A good later-era Morty disc. Actually, good isn't right - great. Yes. This is great. From the pummeling opener "Razorback" you can tell the band is in top form. The songs here are far more exciting and interesting than just about anything I've heard so far from this era. My favorites include "Razorback," "Way, Truth, Life," and the punk-inspired "Short Circuit." Steve's vocals are sort of a cross between his clean shouts and growls. They work with the music and didn't annoy me at all. Probably the only song I didn't like is the title track. It just seems kind of boring to me. However, it's leaps and bounds above anything off of Brain Cleaner. Speaking of which, the lyrics have taken on more of an evangelical slant and aren't nearly as cheesy or whiny. All in all an awesome album! My edition is a recently reissued edition with improved cover artwork and bonus live tracks. The live tracks are okay but Steve's vocals are not very good and the production on the tracks is kind of spotty. Live Planetarium they are not.

Useless Fact: The original title for this album was Impaling The Goblin, but Steve Rowe was informed that that phrase had some sexual connotation in some countries so it was changed. Also, when this album was originally released the last track was either "Dead Man Walking" or "Servants of the Supreme Message" depending on whether you go the Rowe Productions or MCM version. Thankfully, this reissue has both.

Mortification - "Break the Curse 1990 (2010 20th Anniversary Gold Edition)"

Mortification - Break the Curse 1990 (2010 20th Anniversary Gold Edition)

2010, Roxx Productions

1. Blood Sacrifice

2. Brutal Warfare

3. Impulsation

4. Turn

5. New Beginnings

6. Break the Curse

7. Illusion of Life

8. Your Last Breath

9. Journey of Reconciliation

10. The Majestic Infiltration of Order

Bonus Tracks
11. Time Crusaders (Studio Version)

12. Eyes of Destruction (1987 Lightforce Recording)

13. Envision a Beginning/Buried Into Obscurity

14. Steve Talks/Noah Was a Knower

15. Interview With Steve

I've never heard Steve Rowe's original band, Lightforce. I saw Mystical Thieves in a Christian bookstore a long time ago but I never bought it. Therefore, I can't really talk about the differences between Lightforce and Mortification. I have always wanted to hear Break the Curse though. It's the album that they put out before the official debut on Intense Records. The band's not quite as tight as they would become on the debut. They're more thrashy and Steve's vocals haven't quite found the sweet spot yet. They're growly, but he hasn't added the baritone/guttural aspect so they end up a little shrill. It doesn't bother me though. It's also fun to hear some old favorites like "Brutal Warfare" and "Journey of Reconciliation" as straight forward metal tunes. I'm also surprised that cool cuts like "Illusion of Life" and "Your Last Breath" never made it onto the debut. I would to have loved to hear beefed up death versions of them. This disc also comes with a studio version of "Time Crusaders" (it's not as good as the live version), an old Lightforce recording, and the Noah Sat Down and Listened to the Mortification Live E.P. While Having A Coffee. In addition to an interview. And if that wasn't enough the package includes a DVD of Mortification's first concert ever. While I can't say I like Break the Curse more than the debut it's a great listen and I'm glad to have it in my collection.

Useless Fact: Steve Rowe once penned a novel called Minstrel. I can't remember what album it was advertised with but I've always wondered if it was any good. If anyone has read it and has more information on it, leave a comment!

Mortification - "Brain Cleaner"

Mortification - Brain Cleaner

2004, Rowe Productions

1. Boaconstrictor

2. Too Much Pain

3. Purest Intent

4. Free As a Bird

5. Brain Cleaner

6. I'm Not Your Commodity

7. The Flu Virus

8. Livin' Like a Zombie

9. 12 Men

10. Louder Than the Devil

11. E.D.

"Brain cleaner! Yeah, brain cleaner!" I heard the title song's chorus on Itunes and I smiled. It's silly, but still kind of cool. Though I confess after having heard this album in its entirity sometimes I don't know whether Steve Rowe wants me to take Mortification seriously or not. On the one hand you have the return of blast beats, furious riffs, and the deep growls of the old albums. On the other hand you have some more of the simplistic song structure and downright silly lyrics of the newer discs. Steve's got a couple songs like "Purest Intent" and "I'm Not Your Commodity" in which he defends his art but it's hard to take him seriously when he writes lyrics which are, and I am not making these up, "I like the grind and I like death metal/I like the thrash crossover that's simple/I like the power metal extremes/I like the doom and shouting out Jesus!" Good heavens... lyrics like these are just lazy in my opinion. If you want to make art... then MAKE ART, don't just yell at me about how you don't care what I think! Then there's "The Flu Virus" - I have no idea what this song is about. Is the flu shot like salvation? Is he saying everyone gets the flu? I don't know. On the plus side, I do like "Livin' Like a Zombie" and its autobiographical lyrics about how busy he is and I think that the title song, "Brain Cleaner" strikes the perfect balance between decent message, toungue-in-cheek humor, and metal. I wish the whole album was like that song. So yeah... despite the return to their thrashier roots, I'm still not a later-era Morty believer just yet. This is way better than Hammer of God though.

I would also like to point out that in the liner notes "Boaconstricter" and "I'm Not Your Commodity" are misspelled.

Useless Fact: The cover art is, I suspect, a parody of Harry Potter. The little boy on the cover is Steve's son, I think.

Mortification - "Blood World"

Mortification - Blood World

1994/2008 Metal Mind

1. Clan of the Light

2. Blood World

3. Starlight

4. Your Life

5. Monks of the High Lord

6. Symbiosis

7. Love Song

8. Live By the Sword

9. J.G.S.H.

10. Dark Allusions

Bonus Tracks:

11. Altar of God (Studio)

12. New Beginnings (Live)

13. Blood World (Live)

14. Entering the Eternal Dawn (Studio)

Mortification got a lot of guff for this disc when it originally came out. The Intense Records cover had the tamed logo. There were simpler song titles like "Your Life," "Starlight," and "Love Song." The liner notes were handwritten, which was something just about every alternative band was doing at the time. Oh, and let's not forget that Steve relies on his clean vocals for most of the album. Like I said, they got a lot of guff and I was one of the guff givers. When I first heard this I thought it was kind of a sellout and as a result Blood World never ranked among my favorite albums. However, a couple years ago I downloaded the track "Blood World" off Limewire (don't tell Steve!) and it was a lot better than I remembered. So when it came time to fill out my Morty CD collection I took a chance and bought this reissue. I can now say that it is by no means a sellout. Actually it's a natural evolution from the sound the band refined on Post Momentary Affliction. Jayson Sherlock is gone but Phil Gibson is a suitable replacement - doesn't quite have that Sherlock flair but not many drummers do. Michael Carlisle is still around (though this is his last disc) to give the tracks some old school death metal flair. The songs themselves lean more toward thrash this time around and "Your Life" has a cool groove section. It sounds a lot heavier than it did before but I think that's because of the remastering on this edition. They've also spelled all the songs correctly and used the cooler Nuclear Blast cover art. The extra tracks are quite enjoyable, especially "Entering the Eternal Dawn" but I'm not sure why they put "Altar of God" on here. Isn't that from Relentless? Anyway, I am enjoying this disc so much more these days. It's a fine addition to the Mortification collection!

Useless Fact: There's a studio version of "Symbiosis" on here. Given that Michael Carlisle thanks both Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , I'm almost positive he got the idea from this song from Deep Space Nine. Maybe someone can confirm it...

Mortification - "Hammer of God"

Mortification - Hammer of God

1999, Metal Blade

1. Metal Crusade

2. Martyrs

3. Lock Up the Night

4. In the Woods

5. A Pearl

6. Hammer of God

7. Liberal Mediocrity

8. Extreme Conditions

9. Ride the Light

10. D.W.A.M

11. Medley

12. God Rulz

13. At War With War (Demo 1997)

14. Visited By an Angel (Demo 1997)

15. Unified Truth (Demo 1997)

16. Metal Crusade (Instrumental)

After Primitive I went through a period where I just wasn't into music anymore. I was only listening to worship music and some other odd stuff here and there. Unfortunately the world of metal trudged along without me so when EnVision Evangeline came out I was really out of the scene. Now that I'm back I've never had much affection for the later-era Morty discs. Steve's clean vocals annoy me. He's got the absolute coolest, most unique growl in metal but his shouts sound... I don't know... obnoxious. So anyway... Hammer of God. Not really impressed. "Martyrs" is a cool thrash tune and that's about all I like here. Everything else just doesn't hook me like the older stuff does. "Lock Up the Night" is a simplistic song to which I made up my own lyrics, which are as follows: "Lock up the dog!/Take out the trash!/Clean up your room!/ Doooooo your home work!/." Maybe I'll give this another chance at some point but right now I think it's probably the weakest disc I've heard from the guys.

Useless Fact: There's demos from Triumph of Mercy on here. Kind of weird to have demos from your last album on your new album but it's Steve's band he can do what he likes!

Mortification - "Primitive Rhythm Machine"

Mortification - Primitive Rhythm Machine

1995, Intense

1. Primitive Rhythm Machine

2. Mephibosheth

3. Seen It All

4. The True Essence of Power

5. Toxic Shock

6. 40:31

7. Gut Wrench

8. Confused Belief

9. Providence

10. Killing Evil

Blood World was a pretty disappointing album to me back in the day. Strangely enough, this one seemed like a return to form. It's just ol' Stevie boy this time around with help from the likes of George Ochoa and some others. This is another return to more of a thrash sound with bits of hardcore and groove thrown in for good measure. "The True Essence of Power" has the coolest groove section. "40:31" almost reminds me of the debut and "Providence" is a soaring classic metal-esque tune with guest vocals from Vett Roberts (Recon). The production is a little thin on this one but it still remains one of my favorites from this band. In my opinion, this was the last great Mortification disc that I truly loved.

Useless Fact: There are some slight differences between the Intense records version and the Nuclear Blast version of the disc. The BlabberJesus vault says the inside tray liner art is different depending on which version you have.

Mortification - "Live Planetarium"

Mortification - Live Planetarium

1993, Intense

1. Grind Planetarium

2. Distarnish Priest

3. Brutal Warfare

4. The Destroyer Beholds

5. Inflamed

6. Scrolls of the Megilloth

7. Symbiosis

8. Time Crusaders

9. Black Snake

10. From the Valley of the Shadows

11. Human Condition

12. The Majestic Infiltration of Order

13. This Momentary Affliction

I got this for Christmas way back in '93... so guess what makes me think of Christmas that year? That's right... Live Planetarium! Reminiscence aside, this is probably one of the best live albums of any band I have ever heard. This was recorded at Australia's Black Stump Festival. The sound quality is excellent and the band is in top form! The music is performed flawlessly! Definitely captures what it would have been like to be there. This disc also has, what to me, is the definitive version of "Symbiosis.""Time Crusaders" is a new speedy tune that has a good crunchy riff. Heck, I even like the cover of Bloodgood's "Black Snake" even though the solo isn't very good. And by saying "not very good" I'm wildly overpraising it. Let me take a little time to praise Jayson Sherlock's drumming... it's phenomenal. Definitely a highlight of the disc.

I remember hearing Steve Rowe's speaking voice for the first time on this record. I thought it was funny how he can do this low, throaty growl but his speaking voice is all high tenor. It's especially funny when he introduces a song. "This is off our first album and this is *switch* BROOTAL WARFARE!!!"

Useless Fact: This was the last time Jayson would play drums for the band. So sad... he was the best drummer they ever had.

Mortification - "Post Momentary Affliction"

Mortification - Post Momentary Affliction

1993/2008, Metal Mind

1. Allusions from the Valley of Darkness

2. From the Valley of the Shadows

3. Human Condition

4. Distarnish Priest

5. Black Lion of the Mind

6. Grind Planetarium

7. Pride Sanitarium (reprise)

8. Overseer

9. This Momentary Affliction

10. Flight of Victory

11. Impulsation

12. Liquid Assets

13. Vital Fluids

14. The Sea of Forgetfulness

Bonus Tracks:

15. Butchered Mutilation

16. Grind Planetarium (live)

17. Distarnish Priest (live)

18. From the Valley of the Shadows (live)

I'm glad these guys decided to move away from the grindcore. Post Momentary Affliction is actually a good mix of the previous album's death metal/grindcore sound with the catchy thrash of the debut. When it works, it totally works. "Distarnish Priest" and "Grind Planetarium" are awesome songs. As well as "Human Condition" and "Impulsation." However, "Overseer" is a 9-minute long epic track that's not nearly interesting enough to justify its length. Also, the album has a lot of filler - interludes like "Black Lion of the Mind" and "Liquid Assets." For me, the disc kind of falls apart during the second half, with not as many "real" songs on it. The stilted rhythm and structure of "Vital Fluids" kind of ruins the momentum established by the other tracks. Still, I pull this one out more often than Scrolls.

*Update* This disc, especially the second half has grown on me with repeated listens. I used to hate "Overseer" but now I'm okay with it. Likewise, the momentum isn't nearly as broken as I seemed to think it was at first. I'm actually enjoying it far more than I ever did originally!

My edition is the Metal Mind reissue that has been remastered with extra tracks. I don't care much for the live tracks (as I already have Live Planetarium) but it's great to have "Butchered Mutilation" on here. That track is brutal and heavy. I wish they would have done a few more technical songs like this one. I should also mention that there are several misspellings on the track list, and the person who wrote the liner notes obviously has English as a second language. It's disappointing, but there's no problems with the music.

Useless Fact: There were two covers for this album. One was drawn by Jayson Sherlock and was used for the Christian market. The other, pictured above, was used by Nuclear Blast in the secular market. Truth be told, I like Jayson's better. This was also his last studio album with the band.

Mortification - "Scrolls of the Megilloth"

Mortification - Scrolls of the Megilloth

1992/2004, Soundmass

1. Nocturnal

2. Terminate Damnation

3. Eternal Lamentation

4. Raise the Chalice

5. Lymphosarcoma

6. Scrolls of the Megilloth

7. Death Requiem

8. Necromanicide

9. Inflamed

10. Ancient Prophecy

Bonus Tracks:

11. Terminate Damnation (Demo)

12. Lymphosarcoma (Demo)

13. Necromanicide (Demo)

14. Scrolls of the Megilloth (Demo)

This disc is usually hailed as the band's best but I don't care for it as much. Seems to be a pattern with me. This one is full on death metal and it's all about speed and blast beats and less about riffing and hooks. I think that's why I don't enjoy it as much. Loved the hooks on the debut but this one is just pounding. Granted, there's still great songs here. I like "Nocturnal," "Scrolls..." and "Inflamed." "Ancient Prophecy" is the band's first try at an epic tune but I think it's just boring. I've just never been one for death metal or grindcore so I only spin this once and awhile.

My Soundmass rerelease has some cool demo bonus tracks that I ended up liking more than the studio versions.

Useless Fact: Jayson Sherlock drew the cover for this disc too.

Mortification - "Mortification"

Mortification - Mortification

1991/2007, Soundmass

1. Until the End

2. Brutal Warfare

3. Bathed in Blood

4. Satan's Doom

5. Turn

6. No Return

7. Break the Curse

8. New Awakenings

9. The Destroyer Beholds

10. The Journey of Reconciliation

11. The Majestic Infiltration of Order

Man... when Morty first arrived on the scene in '91 I didn't think there was anything more intense. They were billed as death metal but really they were just a tight thrash unit with death metal vocals. I still think to this day Steve Rowe's growl is the best growl in metal. The guitars are downtuned and dark and the whole album just has cool riff after cool riff. Jayson Sherlock's drumming is simply amazing. He's just all over the place. I usually listen to the guitars when I'm listening to metal but on here... I listen to the drums too. How could you not? Not only can he play fast but he's got this cool rolling style to his playing that just makes the drums really seem like another instrument unto themselves instead of just a backing for the rest of the band. This debut is truly an amazing, groundbreaking record that remains one of my favorites today.

Soundmass recently reissued this CD in a digipak. The disc has been remastered and I think it makes the disc sound heavier than it did before. The sound quality on the original was nothing to write home about. There's no extra tracks unfortunately. Still a good buy if you can't find the original.

Useless Fact: This album had two covers. One was plain black with the band's logo and the other one was pictured. At one point I had both covers on tape. Now I just have the one pictured.