Up until this point, Australia was really only known for AC/DC and Rose Tattoo. Two Great bands, but it was time to get some metal on the radar for my country. Well, this my friends was the band to do it. Mortal Sin where the first Metal band from Australia to get any serious attention in the overseas markets with this album, Mayhemic Destruction from back in 1987.
The band open up with a great intro and then into and then into the title track “Mayhemic Destruction” which instantly puts the lads alongside then contemporaries like Testament. Some of this maybe Aussie pride showing through but I always thought the band wrote better and more listenable songs than many of the trash bands of the time. Then next up “Lebanon”. This is addictive thrash, very easy to rock out to riffage that and vocals that stick in your head. I heard some of these songs in the very early 90s and was instantly blown away by it. So were a few record companies as the band started to get songs featured on international compilations punching with some very well known Heavy Metal bands of the time.
Anyway back to the album, there’s the slower intro to “Liar” which soon kicks in to a thrash classic. So far everything on this is pretty much A grade thrash which crosses Testament with Metallica in almost perfect fashion. The Track “Into the Fire” provides a bit more of a classic Metal influence and flavour to the album. All in All, this is a really fun record to listen to and there’s not a dud track on here. The only thing I can say is give this a listen. I don’t know what your chances of getting a physical copy of this is is (The band have just reformed I hear so maybe they’ll do a repress) but at least give it a listen on youtube!