MORTAL SIN: An Absence of Faith

Produced by Phil McKellar

Released: 2007

An absence of faith is probably a good way to describe my attitude toward Mortal Sin when they first got back together – yet again – a few years back. But after seeing them live a few times to find them better than they ever were, my belief was rekindled. After just one spin of this corker I was almost as ready as I was back in 1986 to shout their praises from the rooftops.

You can usually tell how good an album is going to be from the very first moment. “Out of Darkness” immediately proclaims An Absence of Faith to be a really good album. It has both raw melodic catchiness and a driving groove, thus combining the band’s archetypal sound with a modern feel. When it comes to classic bands, only the best can try this and pull it off without looking like has-beens. Mortal Sin nails it time and again with a virtually endless procession of hook-laden riffs, sustained dual-guitar interplay and memorable choruses. One of the most pleasing aspects of An Absence of Faith is that Mat Maurer’s vocal delivery has developed a well-apparent depth and diversity. Similarly, his lyric-writing has also matured, making his pointed political statements far more barbed.

“Deadman Walking”, “Before the Bough Breaks” and “Rise or Fall” are all deadset rippers, paying obvious respect to the band’s origins but without sounding dated. The epic “Tears of Redemption” is the obvious centerpiece, acting both as sequel and update to “Lebanon” and a tribute to Mayhemic Destruction. This is, however, the track I like the least as it sounds like the band is trying just a little too hard. Maurer throws in an entire verse that strings together titles from the first album and the chorus with its "I refuse to be a Muslim" refrain just didn't work for me. “My Nightmare” and “Say Your Prayers” also prove that they can’t all be gems, but the great moments far outweigh the lesser ones. “Eye in the Sky” and “Broken Promises” round out the album just as well as the early tracks begin it, with darting solos from Nathan Shea and Mick Sultana and rumbling drums from Luke Cook, combined with more of Maurer’s topical observations.

If you aren’t banging your head within fifteen seconds of this album kicking in, and keeping it up for most of the next 48 minutes, you simply don’t deserve to live.

1. Out of the Darkness
2. Deadman Walking
3. Tears of Redemption
4. Before the Bough Breaks
5. Rise or Fall
6. My Nightmare
7. Say Your Prayers
8. Lost Within
9. Eye in the Sky
10. Broken Promises

Rating: 85%