2010 celebrates 20 years of quite an extraordinary band: Mortification. Mortification came to prominence in both Christian and secular metal scenes in the early '90s with their first few death metal albums, most notably their seminal sophomore album 'Scrolls of the Megiloth'. The beast which is Mortification was birthed in 1990 by bassist/vocalist Steve Rowe after his previous band Light Force disbanded. Not content to let his musical creativity fade away, Steve reformed the band. But it soon became clear by pursuing a much heavier direction that this was a completely different animal and thus a new name was necessary. Mortification was the epitome of all that the band stood for both lyrically and musically as an extreme Christian metal band. The band's third album, and my personal favourite to date, 'Post Momentary Affliction' saw the band progress into more experimental realms of metal, whilst still retaining their death metal roots. Post Momentary Affliction provided a watershed that saw the band embark on a musical journey, never remaining content to reproduce the same album twice. Evolution has been an integral part of Mortification ever since.
The band's longevity is remarkable, especially when the personal circumstances surrounding the founding member (and only original member left) Steve Rowe. Steve suffered from two bouts of particularly aggressive cancer in the mid '90s, both occassions proving potentially fatal, which has since left him as a partial paraplegic. Yet miraculously God protected him and despite his disability has continued to write and play new music. Conversely despite overcoming ill health Mortification have spent the best part of their 20 year long career as an independent, underground band. Sadly for the band after their contract expired with influential metal record label Nuclear Blast after their fourth album 'Blood World' they were never able to resign to another label with quite the same exposure. Financial limitations notwithstanding, as well as numerous line up changes, Steve perservered and Mortitication survived. For the last 10 years the band has enjoyed more stability through the inclusion of and talent of lead guitarist Mick Jelinic.
Since Mortification's last full length album was released in 2009, Steve has been concentrating his creative energy into a Christian Rock band he has formed with former Mortification guitarist Lincoln Bowen called WonRowe Vision. WonRowe Vision are set to release their debut album later this year and Steve has expressed his desire to keep Mortification an exclusively extreme metal band, returning to the band's old skool death metal roots. This will be enthusiastically welcomed, no doubt, by many long time Mortification fans and indeed I myself am very happy about Steve's decision regarding the artistic and musical direction of Mortification's future releases.
As Steve's musical and creative energy seems to know no end, I am positive Mortification will continue to make music for several years to come, refusing to become extinct like so many other bands before them. Mortification's legacy to Christian metal is unquestionable. Steve Rowe's convictions and his dedication to playing Christ centred extreme music has been unwavering for the past 20 years and the eminence and popularity that Christian metal now enjoys as one of the largest growing sub-genres of metal is in no small terms influenced by Mortification, especially of the impact of their early death metal albums. Many a lesser band would have succumbed to the harsh world of the music industry and disbanded long before reaching such a monumental milestone as 20 years. This is what makes Mortification such an intriguing and genuinely sincere musical experience. As a Christian Mortification's music has been both inspirational and motivational in my walk of faith. It is a band I am positively grateful for.
For more information about Mortification visit http://www.roweproductions.com/
To buy Mortification music legitimately from their official webstore visit http://www.soundmass.com/
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