MORTAL SIN

Mat Maurer (vocals); Wayne Campbell (drums); Andy Eftichiou (bass); Joe Buttigieg (guitar); Mick Sultana (guitar)

Seminal Australian thrash metal band Mortal Sin grew out of the western suburbs of Sydney in the early 1980s and by 1987 had become the country's most important extreme metal act. With the line-up of Campbell, Eftichiou, Maurer, Paul Carwana (guitar) and Keith Krstin (guitar), Mortal Sin rose to the top of a scene which at the time offered little competition. With their Metallica-inspired sound the band became firm favourites amongst the Sydney metal fraternity and in 1987 issued the raw but inspired Mayhemic Destruction album which found favour offshore and won them an international record deal. Shortly after it was released Krstin was replaced by ex-Slaughter Lord member Mick Burke and the band solidified their reputation by supporting Metallica in 1989 shortly after releasing Face of Despair, which while technically superior seemed lacking in really good songs. Shortly afterward there was more internal turmoil and Campbell left the band. He went on to White Trash and then joined Sydney death metal stalwarts Grungeon for the first half of the 1990s. Steve Hughes (also ex-Slaughter Lord) replaced Campbell and Mortal Sin toured Europe with Testament and Faith No More, but following a disastrous benefit show in Sydney which the band organised that eventuated in the venue being damaged by the lunatic fringe in the audience, Maurer expressed displeasure with the line-up and left. Mortal Sin effectively ceased to be at this point. Steve Hughes later went on to join various bands including Presto and Nazxul.

In 1991 Eftichiou recorded and gigged with a completely different Mortal Sin line-up which brought the ire of the rest of the former members who laid claim to the name. Despite a legal dispute, an album and single were released before it ground to a halt. Eftichiou went on to join the woeful Who's Guilty. Mortal Sin reformed in late 1996 with four of the original members in Maurer, Campbell, Eftichiou and Carwana along with Anthony Hoffman from Grungeon. Carwana's stay was brief before he was replaced by Scerri (ex-This Thing, White Trash, numerous others). A mini-album was released which featured re-recordings of early songs, reworked demos and one or two new originals and the band embarked on a disastrous national headlining tour which suffered from poor attendances and the volatility of individual band members. Eftichiou was ousted shortly afterwards and replaced for the band's Metal for the Brain appearance by Chook from Tscabeze. With Jason Thorncraft from Headlifter finally taking Eftichiou's place, Mortal Sin seemed reasonably content for sometime to work up from the bottom again, but the strain began to show and in September 1998 the band played its last show. Scerri went on to a succession of bands including Daredevil, Packhorse and The Blasting Process. Campbell joined Temtris and books bands at the Forest Inn in Sydney.

During 2001 there was talk of Campbell and Maurer making plans to resurrect Mortal Sin once again. This didn't eventuate at the time, but rumours began circulating in mid-2003 of another reformation. Those rumours were proved true when it was announced in February 2004 that the band would be playing live once again, this time featuring a line-up of Maurer, Campbell, Eftichiou and former Addictive guitarists Joe Buttigieg and Mick Sultana.

Discography:

Revolution of the Mind (EP) (self release) 1997

Andy Eftichoiu (bass)
Mat Maurer (vocals)
Wayne Campbell (drums)
Anthony Hoffman (guitar)
Troy Scerri (guitar)
  1. Revolution of the Mind
  2. Voices
  3. Lebanon
  4. Terminal Reward
  5. Access Denied
  6. Violation of Your Privacy
  7. H (live)
  8. Voyage of the Disturbed (live)

Rebellious Youth (Virgin) 1991

Andy Eftichoiu (bass)
Steve Sly (vocals)
Nash Hall (drums)
Tom Dostroupli (guitar)
Dave DeFrancesco(guitar)
  1. Inside Out
  2. Access Denied
  3. Every Dog Has its Day
  4. Behind the Lies
  5. Wasted Days
  6. From the Gutter to the Grave
  7. Side Effect
  8. Blackout
  9. See No Evil
  10. The Price of Peace
  11. Rebellious Youth
  12. Why?

Face of Despair (Vertigo) 1989

Andy Eftichoiu (bass)
Mat Maurer (vocals)
Wayne Campbell (drums)
Paul Carwana (guitar)
Mick Burke (guitar)

Dude Gnarly (guitar)
  1. I Am Immortal
  2. Voyage of the Disturbed
  3. The Infantry Corps
  4. For Richer, For Poorer
  5. Martyrs of Eternity
  6. Innocent Torture
  7. Suspended Animation
  8. H
  9. Terminal Reward
  10. Robbie Soles

Mayhemic Destruction (Mega Metal) 1987 (re-issued in 1988 by Vertigo)

Andy Eftichoiu (bass)
Mat Maurer (vocals)
Wayne Campbell (drums)
Paul Carwana (guitar)
Keith Krstin (guitar)
  1. The Curse
  2. Women in Leather
  3. Lebanon
  4. Liar
  5. Blood, Death, Hatred
  6. Mortal Slaughter
  7. Into the Fire
  8. Mayhemic Destruction

Compilation track: Mayhemic Destruction -- Hot Metal 1988

Related entries: Addictive, Daredevil, Grungeon, Headlifter, Nazxul, Slaughter Lord, Temtris, Tscabeze

This page is part of The Australian Metal Guide