Mortal Sin was a thrash metal band 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. The group formed around singer Mat Maurer and drummer Wayne Campbell in Sydney. At first Campbell had attempted to get Maurer into another band called Wizzard but the rest of that band was reluctant to support the idea, so the pair struck out on their own, quickly recruiting Wizzard's guitar Keith Krstin, bass player Andy Eftichiou from a band called Judge and a second guitarist Neville Reynolds. Reynolds was fired for not being available to play at the band's very first show and was replaced by Paul Carwana.
Mortal Sin quickly developed a solid following and only seven months after their first live show the band recorded an album-length demo in a mere three days in July 1986. The eight-track recording was eventually released in late 1986 as 'Mayhemic Destruction' and released as an album on the band's own label Mega Metal Productions. Reaction to the album was immediate and the band was snapped up for an international album deal by Phonogram Records UK, who then re-released 'Mayhemic Destruction' worldwide in 1987. In the meantime, Krstin was replaced by Mick Burke from fellow Sydney thrash act Slaughter Lord. Mortal Sin spent much of 1988 recording a second album with producer Randy Burns, who had previously worked with Kreator and Megadeth.
The release of 'Face of Despair' was held over until early 1989; shortly afterward the band gained further prominence with an Australian tour with Metallica in May, but Campbell was sacked shortly after. Another former Slaughter Lord member in Steve Hughes replaced him. In January 1990, Mortal Sin toured Europe and the UK then played some shows in the US but after their final show there Maurer quit the band. On its return to Australia, the band split, only to reform a short time later with Steve Sly replacing Maurer. The vocal power and range of Sly immediately captivated the "die hard" fans and acceptance was swift, giving new life to the classic Mortal Sin tunes, propelling them to a new musical level, however by the end of the year, due to past management and touring issues Hughes, Burke and Carwana had all left the band to pursue other interests.
Eftichiou and Sly developed a brotherly bond and continued rebuilding the band recruiting Alex Hardy (guitar), Dave DeFrancesco (guitar, ex-Enticer) and drummer Nash Hall, the band toured for 12 months and recorded a third album entitled 'Every Dog Has Its Day' (released as 'Rebellious Youth' in some markets) that showcased a more traditional metal style than previously which was accepted with varying degrees of enthusiasm throughout the "metal market". The band suffered issues of being too big for the club/pub circuit in Australia which was exemplified when Sly and band returned to his home base of Newcastle (the first time the band had played there in any form) at the Cambridge Hotel, as the band played mayhem and disorder exploded in Hunter Street, an overwhelming fan turn out, 100's more than the venue could accommodate, arrests, injuries, and a ban from Newcastle imposed.
It was not until 1996, when Campbell and Maurer then reformed Mortal Sin with Eftichiou and Carwana, plus Anthony Hoffman from Campbell's band Grungeon. Carwana departed almost immediately and was replaced by Troy Scerri, who had previously played alongside Campbell in White Trash. This version of the band released the album 'Revolution Of The Mind' independently and launched the first full-scale Australian tour that Mortal Sin had ever undertaken. The tour was not particularly successful and eventually Eftichiou was sacked, replaced briefly by the bassist from Sydney death metal band Tscabeze for the group's only appearance at the annual Metal For The Brain festival in Canberra. Jason Thorncraft of Sydney's Headlifter took Eftichiou's place after this but Mortal Sin split up once more in September 1998.
The original Australian thrash metal band's reformation had lasted less than two years. However, the band still was not finished, and in February 2004 Mortal Sin returned once more, this time as Campbell, Maurer, Eftichou and former Addictive guitarists Joe Buttigieg and Mick Sultana. A year later, Mortal Sin was inducted into the Hall of Fame at the inaugural Australian Heavy Metal Music Awards but within a month the line-up changed again when Campbell and Buttigieg were replaced by Luke Cook and Nathan Shea. In April 2005, Mortal Sin toured Australia with Anthrax and a comeback album was recorded. On 4 February 2006, the band played a show in Sydney that featured them performing the 'Mayhemic Destruction' album live in its entirety for the first time; this performance was filmed for a proprosed DVD release, however Mortal Sin announced in late June 2006 that the project was abandoned due to poor audio quality. In August 2006, the band returned to European stages to play some shows in Germany, firstly with Rock over Hamburg alongside Michael Schenker Group, Rose Tattoo, Metal Church, Victory, Gorilla Monsoon and Tourettes Syndrome.
The band also performed at the Wacken Open Air Festival. Mortal Sin's fourth full-length album 'An Absence of Faith' was recorded in February 2007 at The Basement Studios in Sydney with producer Phil McKellar. It was released in July 2007 in Australia through Riot! Entertainment and in Europe in September through Germany's Armageddon Music. In late 2007, the band also released reissued versions of 'Mayhemic Destruction' and 'Face Of Despair' through Riot!, both of which contained bonus tracks. Mortal Sin returned to Europe in March 2008 as support to Overkill to tour and promote the new album. In the Summer of 2008, the band played some festival gigs like theWacken Open Air and Jalometalli. Back in Australia, they supported Judas Priest and Testament in 2008 and late in 2009 undertook a two-week tour of South America.
In June 2011 Mortal Sin finished recording a new album 'Psychology of Death'. Ryan Huthnance replaced Mick Sultana on guitar. The band completed an extensive european tour with Exodus, Sepultura and Heathen in late 2011 as part of the "Thrashfest Classics" tour. In 2012 Mat Maurer announced his departure from Mortal Sin. Dave Tinelt from the Wollongong band Nekrofeist was announced as his replacement but after only two live performances, Luke Cook and Nathan Shea left the band, ending Mortal Sin on 30 April . Luke Cook has performed with Wollongong band Carbon Black and Sydney thrash band Killrazer. Wayne Campbell rejoined Temtris in January 2015. Mick Burke, guitarist from 1987-1990, passed away on August 24, 2017. His death was reported on the band's Facebook page. On August 30, 2018, former drummer Wayne Campbell teased a possible reunion on his Facebook page, writing, "If Mortal Sin played a show again would you come to see?" As of October 2021, there have been no further updates on a reunion. Campbell has been listed as a missing person since August 20, 2022.
Members
Andy Eftichiou (bass), Mat Maurer (vocals), Wayne Campbell (drums), Paul Carwana (guitar), Keith Krstin (vocals), Mick Burke (guitar), Steve Hughes (drums), Steve Sly (vocals), Tom Dostoupil (guitar), Dave DeFrancesco (guitar), Nash Hall (drums), Troy Scerri (guitar), Hefty Hoffman (guitar), Joe Buttigieg (guitar), Mick Sultana (guitar), Nathan Shae (guitar), Luke Cook (drums)
''Every Dog Has Its Day / See No Evil'' 1991 Virgin
EPs
'The Polygram Hot Metal Hell Ep 2' 1989 Polygram
'Out Of The Darkness' 2006'Mayhemic Destruction' 1987 Mega Metal Productions
'Face Of Despair' 1989 Vertigo
'Every Dog Has It's Day' 1991 Under One Flag
'Revolution Of The Mind' 1997 Mega Metal Productions
'An Absence Of Faith' 2007 Riot! Entertainment
'Mortal Thrashing Mad' 2007 Mortal Sin Records
'Into The Inferno - Live In Oslo' 2009 Riot! Entertainment
'Psychology Of Death' 2011 Riot! Entertainment
References
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortal_Sin_%28band%29
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