Get ready for a trip back metal lane. But the real trip is your tour guide--he looks like he's stuck in the eighties, he plays like he's stuck in the eighties, but I'm glad he's in the nineties. Yes, Mortification has released yet another album.
Right from the start you get the metal fix you've been craving for so long, but you may question if you really wanted it in the first place. Steve Rowe wants to deliver to his fans. Unfortunately, his fans are the only people he delivers to this time. If you like Mortification, get this album to complete your collection. If you've never heard of them, keep it that way--avoid this album and save a few dollars. This album is not the album to be introduced to them by, and quite frankly, I'm not sure which one would be.
I do compliment his production on this album. Rowe's new 24 track studio gives out a nice, crisp sound. He also incorporates a tad of the Faith No More sound into some songs, and it gives the songs more depth than his usual speed/metal/thrash/death chord progression. And by the way, he is a great bass player.
His lyrics are humorous and all about God. I laughed hard at the lyrical "depth" of "God Rulz":
God Rulz, God Rulz,
God Rulz, God Rulz,
God Rulz, God Rulz, God Rulz!"
That was the whole song, and that was Steve Rowe at his finest, being himself, and doing a good job of it. Then there's the song "DWAM" (Daniel Was A Mosher), which will once again appeal to all those that have banged their heads against the wall so much that they don't care for deep lyrics. These lyrics amuse and sometimes minister, but they don't impress me. However, he holds nothing back and puts all he has into it telling you about the LORD (and hurts your eardrums while doing so, which appealed to the child in me).
Hammer of God is mediocre at best, and it seems they're sounding dated. I would have loved this album when I was getting my driver's license, but now it's too shallow for my metal taste. But for you Mort-heads out there, you're gonna like it more than myself, and don't throw any punches in the pit. I wouldn't want Keith Bannister after me, even if he is a Christian.
2 tocks
Other coverage for this album
HM Magazine #78Reviewed by Doug Van PeltMortification has played a true tribute to the classic metal sounds that influenced it from the beginning. What we first heard on Blood World comes out more prominently here, but it's played so aggressively and tight that it beats the "old school" criticism to death. The album has good songs on it. The guitar tones bite a la Iron Maiden, the vocals are less grindy, but still close to the Steve…Art for the Ears 1999Reviewed by Marco PovervestThe mortified guys are back with a hammering thrash-album. Wow, start the first tune with powerful thrash (Metal Crusade). New here are the keyboards which add so much more atmosphere. The guitar comes clearly out of the mix so that's good. It's an aggressive song with a great guitarsolo. I only think the song could have been shorter. I didn't know Mortification could be this good nowadays, you…Similar sounding releases
1998ExtolBurial
1997Theocracy A.D.Welcome to our Island
2003TourniquetWhere Moth And Rust DestroySeraphDemo
1999TornTree
1997Unleashed PowerMindfailureMore from Mortification
1998Triumph Of Mercy
1993Live Planetarium
1993Post Momentary Affliction
1991Mortification
200010 Years Live Not Dead
1996The Best Of... Five Years
