MORTAL SIN “MAYHEMIC DESTRUCTION” (1987)

GENRE: Thrash Metal
COUNTRY: Australia

YEAR: 1987
STAND-OUT TRACK(S): Lebanon, Blood Death Hatred, Women in Leather

Mortal Sin were an Australian thrash metal band (from Sydney) that formed in 1985, and arguably the first band in Australia to play purely thrash metal. The band have split up and reformed numerous times.

One of Australia's earliest and most well-known thrash bands, Mortal Sin was tabbed by the British metal magazine Kerrang! as a Next Big Thing, and their debut album, the raw, early Metallica-inspired Mayhemic Destruction, drew critical praise and a worldwide fan base. 

After a capable follow-up in Face of Despair, internal strife led to an initial break-up in 1990. Bassist Andy Eftichiou recruited an all new line-up that eventually produced Rebellious Youth. This drew the ire of the other original members who eventually initiated legal action, and this version of the band also folded. 

Photo credit goes to Metal Forces

Finally, four of the five original members came back together in 1996 and, one member change later, released a mini-LP of reworked and re-recorded songs along with a few new tracks, but the personal differences amongst the members arose once again, and by late 1998 the band was once again done. Then in 2004 the band was back in business. They called it quits in 2012.

OPINION: This one feels like an extremely overlooked 1980’s Thrash gem. Maybe because it was released on a small label, or maybe because they weren’t Americans. Often you get a “Kill em all” feeling of it. Lebanon, Blood Death Hatred, Women in Leather are just amazing tracks.

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Interview with the band