Intense Records has been the home of many of Christian metal's premier bands, such as Vengeance Rising, Sacred Warrior, and Deliverance. Just as they have done for these bands at the end of their tenure at the label, Intense has put out a best-of compilation for Mortification, the Australian grind planets themselves (as opposed to "rock stars").
The Best Of... Five Years, spans the history of the band, which has been led from the start by bassist/vocalist Steve Rowe, who also writes virtually all the songs. A brief history of the band is included in the liner notes, as well as photos from the lineup for each of their six studio albums (one for each year from 1990 to 1995). Two songs from each of the band's seven albums (including Live Planetarium) are included, showcasing the musical evolution the band has gone through.
The hard-hitting retrospective begins with two songs previously unreleased in the United States. From Break The Curse 1990, "New Beginnings" and "Blood Sacrifice" are tight and speedy with Stryper-esque guitar solos, and contain a decisively evangelical message. The vocals see Rowe using the relatively discernible growl he would develop further in Post Momentary Affliction.
The guitars and vocals get tuned down a notch or two for the next two helpings. "The Destroyer Beholds" and their anthematic "Majestic Infiltration Of Order" (also known as "God Rulz") represent the band's 1991 self-titled Intense debut. Mortification's heaviest album of their career thus far, Scrolls Of The Megilloth, is sampled next with "Nocturnal" and the title cut, which are death metal onslaughts. The lyric sheet, thankfully included, is put to good use here as Rowe's "grind baritone" vocals growl as deep as is humanly possible. Guitarist Michael Carlisle and drummer Jayson Sherlock, the other players on most of the album, rip through the songs like well-oiled machines.
Post Momentary Affliction explores a slower, more experimental territory. Here, Rowe trades back and forth between the death vocal and thrashy screaming. "Grind Planetarium" proclaims the band's mission as "grind planets:"
Mortification Bringing forth flesh denial Kill the stars exalt the cause Mass exposure Is what we want but for our Lord
Two songs are featured from Live Planetarium, recorded live [with an excellent mix] at Australia's Black Stump Festival in 1993 - "Brutal Warfare" from the self-titled record and "Time Crusaders," which further explains the band's purpose:
Many may like to sit within the sound of the church bell I'd rather run a rescue shop Within a yard of hell.
"Your Life" and the title cut from 1994's Blood World show a departure from the death vocals, in favor of a more hard core/thrash feel. "Mephibosheth" and the title cut from Primitive Rhythm Machine, Mortification's latest and last album with Intense, are more of a combination of all the styles than anything else.
As the exposition on the band explains, the most important aspect of Mortification is the fact that "all the members are born-again Christians, whose primary aim with the band has been to share with others their faith in Jesus Christ. In a world of music where evil, anti-social and satanic messages are so prevalent, Mortification's message is a breath of fresh air to all who listen in." This is strongly evidenced by the lyrics contained in every song they've ever put out, which are just as intense as their music. And interestingly enough, early on in their career, the lyrics focus on simple, yet urgent, messages of salvation, and then later progress into more "meaty" subjects. This is best exemplified by the last song-which is almost an Old Testament study put to music-on the story of David, Jonathan, and Mephibosheth. Pride, sanctification, God's use of music as ministry, and of course Satan's ultimate doom, are other topics tackled along the way. The liner notes also include a salvation prayer.
Though there are a number of songs that could easily have been included here but were not, this album clocks in at a full hour. It is an excellent retrospective for one of Christian metal's premier bands, and serves as a great introduction to their powerful ministry as well as the history of Christian metal in general.
More from Mortification
2001The Silver Cord Is Severed
1993Live Planetarium (Video)
1999Hammer of God
1994Blood World
1995Primitive Rhythm Machine
1993Live Planetarium
