History & Biography Sydney, Australia’s Mortal Sin was formed in 1985 featuring two former Judge members. A Dutch band with the same name had existed since 1984. Singer Mat Maurer had gone to audition for Wizzard, but the heavy metallers found his voice too aggressive. As such, Mat and two Wizzards, Wayne Campbell (drums) and Keith Krstin (guitar) formed their own more aggressive act.
The forerunner thrash metal band of Australia initially lasted three albums and seven years. In that period, the band became Australia’s best-known thrash metal band largely through its 1987 debut album, Mayhemic Destruction. The debut was recorded at EMI 301 Studio in Sydney in 1986. Initially, it was to be a demo and the band was pressing and selling it independentlt. The line-up was Mat Maurer (vocals), Paul Carwana and Keith Krstin (guitars), Andy Eftichiou (bass) and Wayne Campbell who would run a local watering hole called Forest Inn. A UK-based major label got wind of its success and signed the band. Riot! Entertainment reissued the record in 2007 with live tracks recorded in Germany. Keith Krstin was pushed out in 1987. This was attributed to his inability to deliver live. Vertigo picked up the next record for Europe too and also issued an EP, called Face Of Despair, in the UK. This EP promoted the upcoming full-length with the same name. Support from Metal Forces magazine abetted the act. Mick Burke from Slaughter Lord replaced Krstin for Face Of Despair. The band’s single, unprophetically, was called I Am Immortal. A show was recorded in Sydney, which soon became a live video called Face Of Mayhem - Live. The group also supported Metallica in Australia. The group's tour of Europe occurred, with Testament and then Faith No More, in 1990 and the members did not get along. So Mat Maurer departed.
Wayne Campbell was supplanted by Steve Hughes also of Slaughter Lord. Campbell left as he was having, er, personal issues. Every dog may have its day, but by 1991 Immortal Sin’s was done and gone and new singer Steve Sly, Dave DeFrancesco, Tom Dostoupil, sole remaining original member Andy Eftichiou and Nash Hall were not having or imparting much fun. The departing members threatened Andy with a lawsuit - some might think for the logical mistake of the new line-up’s album! The less thrashy Every Dog Has It's Day (sic) was released as Rebellious Youth in Australia. The band broke up after the ex-members initiated legal action against Andy's Mortal Sin.
Naturally, the band reformed in 1996 and issued the Revolution Of The Mind demo in 1998. Maurer was back on vocals, Anthony Hoffman and Troy Scerri were on guitars, Andy Eftichiou and Wayne Campbell constituted the rhythm section. Paul Carwana was initially part of this reformation as well. Andy left at this stage. 1998 was also the year the band again broke up.
A Demo 2005 heralded the return of Mortal Sin. The 2004 reformation included two Addictive guitarists, Joe Buttigieg and Mick Sultana. This is followed by another demo, Out Of The Darkness. Maurer was singing, Mick Sultana and Nathan Shea were on guitar, Andy was there and so was drummer Luke Cook. The band obtained a recording contract with Armageddon Music and issued An Absence Of Faith. Seizing the momentum the band also issued a live album, albeit independently, called Mortal Thrashing Mad - Official Live Bootleg. It was recorded in 2005 as the band supported Anthrax. The group appeared at Wacken in 2006. The group performed the entirety of Mayhemic Destruction live and intended it to be the premise for a live DVD. Alas, the recording was not up to par. The band played at Wacken again in 2008. Earlier in that year the band opened for Overkill in Europe. Riot! Entertainment issued the band’s early album including bonus tracks, as well as 2009’s Into the Inferno (Live In Oslo). The material stemmed for 2008. In the summer of 2009, Kreator hit Australia for a tour whose support was provided by Mortal Sin.
Sultana was replaced by Ryan Huthnance for Psychology Of Death. Sultana had left in March of 2010 for the famous “personal reasons." The album was issued in November of 2011 although it was initially announced for 2010 and then announced for September of 2011. It included the band’s early LP, Mayhemic Destruction, as a bonus disc in the early limited edition. The group disbanded again six months later when Mat Maurer left due to “personal differences." Dave Tinelt of Nekrofeist was indeed recruited, but that lasted for two months and it was over. The disbanded group was nonetheless contemplating a 2015 box set to commemorate its 30th anniversary. Mick Burke died in 2017. Wayne Campbell was reported missing in 2022. Maurer sang with Hidden Intent in 2023. Mat Maurer was singing a set of Mortal Sin songs with the help of Hidden Intent at Adelaide's Churches of Steel Open Air festival.
Reviews MORTAL SIN - AN ABSENCE OF FAITH - ARMAGEDDON 
Some 20 years after the surprising Mayhemic Destruction, the Aussies are back with An Absence Of Faith. Surely, one can confidently say that every single '80s band has reformed now. When such bands reappear sometimes one hopes for something more modern to come out of the speakers but in some other cases it is perhaps better if the band stick to what it knew.
Arguably Mortal Sin is better off doing the latter. Out Of The Darkness starts things off and is more reminiscent of the '90s, shades of Overkill and the 'groove oriented' here but the song manages to speed up enough times to leave a good impression by the time its over. Deadman Walking, with an intro similar to Susperia’s Chemistry, is next and is more like the Mortal Sin of the '80s complete with the distinctive Mat Maurer vocal style. Tears Of Redemption is Lebanon Part II and at nearly nine minutes captures all the catchiness and feel of the original song and as a bonus adds death metal sounding heaviness and speed towards its end. Before The Bough Breaks is a solid thrashy heavy metal song. Rise Or Fall is dated speed metal. My Nightmare features thick riffs and moves towards the Biohazard sound complete with typical screaming background vocals. The speedy Say Your Prayers is effective, and at times reminiscent of Slayer’s Mind Control, though perhaps it could do without the chunky riffs scattered throughout and stick to the high tempo. Lost Within is similar to My Nightmare with a bit of Suicidal Tendencies thrown in. Eye In The Sky is another politically tinted song. Broken Promises closes this release and provides another dose of the quintet. An Absence Of Faith is not a spectacular comeback release but has enough to justify the rating seen to the right of the album title above. Watch for live videos for Mayhemic Destruction and Blood Death Hatred included on the CD. - Anna Tergel
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