Mortal Immunity

Item: Life Machine
Author: Josh Spencer

Life Machine

(1997)

Reviewed by Josh Spencer

Discogs YouTube

Label independentThe Phantom Tollbooth1998

groove metal heavy metal metal thrash metal

The Christian underground metal scene seems to be at its strongest point ever these days, with the likes of Deuteronomium, Extol, Necromanicide, and Teramaze on the foreign front and Eternal Decision, Lucid, Death List, and Faithbomb on the U.S. side. Mortal Immunity joins the latter group, working from an aggressive '80s thrash foundation and adding on more modern vocals and varied song structures, as well as different tones, riffs, and leads. The vocals are very similar to Heaven's Rage--mid-range singing with some slightly higher quavering-voice moments.

The band members have been musicians for some time, and it shows in their diverse playing. They mix faster with slower parts, rhythms with long solos, atmospheric touches with straight-out moshing, all resulting in nothing new or terribly creative, but far from dull and repetitive. The production, although mixed clearly, sounds a tad too warehouse-ish and dated (a weakness noticed especially during the soloing).

The lyrics are decent, mostly dealing with the things that bring men down and weary the soul. A lot of them are overtly evangelical and cliche-ridden, like this plea not to commit suicide (from "Under Pressure"):

His love is so real
His love it will stay
You're better off alive
God loves you today
Death ain't your choice, but God's alone
Call out to God
He's always home.

And some are a little more poetic (from "The Depth of Time"):

In the depths of time
I find that I see one solution
No more wondering
Coming to conclusion
All are joined by His word
Fellowship of man
Mortal now we may be
Eternal by His hand.

The delivery is generally competent enough to please listeners of either preference, however.

Mortal Immunity gives us a generous fifteen songs, but their sound grows a little tired (what band's wouldn't?!) by the end, and they fall into the trap of so many metal bands: none of the songs really stand out once the album is over. They would do much better with fewer tracks, spending the extra money and time on production and on crafting their many ideas into more memorable songs. Still, some fans of bands like Heaven's Rage, Eternal Decision, Corrosion of Conformity, Dearly Beheaded, Cronic, and maybe even Betrayal may find some pleasing potential here.