Review Summary: Classic one and done ... or are they
By 1997 the metal revolution of the early 90’s had left an indelible mark, with new approaches and fresh ideas from the likes of Pantera, Machine Head and Fear Factory. Sydney Australia was not immune to these powerful sounds and bands intent of being a part of the scene soon emerged.
One such ambitious band was Western Sydney crew Mortality who had already caused a stir in the underground with their early thrash metal EPs and through appearing on their label’s compilation discs. There was healthy competition among likeminded acts which gave them the impetus to outdo their peers. This together with playing pubs and other small venues gave them the confidence in their abilities and this led to their debut LP “Structure”.
The first thing I remember noticing when this was released was the sonic advancement from their “Oppressive” EP and here we had a huge sounding record. “DForm” hits hard with razor sharp guitars and pronounced bass and double kick drums. “Slave Drive” was at the forefront of groove metal at the time. There’s no time for repetition as it moves from riff to riff and section to section.
A striking feature of the album is the consistency between songs. There are no weak moments as each song is loaded with cool patterns and grooves. There was a high bar for metal at the time with the big guns producing career best records, not least Fear Factory who could be seen as the biggest influence on “Structure”. And even though Fear Factory’s “Demanufacture” was such a lightning bolt in the metal world just 2 years earlier, Structure draws as much from FF’s debut “Soul Of A New Machine” than it does from that obvious landmark record.
As was the case in the high flux 90’s, the music is progressive beyond their bedrock influences of Metallica, Anthrax and Sepultura and there’s also the imbued strands of “Psalm 69” Ministry and even Helmet with its rumbling bass prominent in the mix. The vocals are almost death metal and well suit the music, roaring disapproval of society and societal norms with simple refrains like “Structure f**king me!!” in the title track.
The mid album run of “Inventory”, “Step” and “Wonderland” are all bangers and would have been pit favourites. They all benefit from a mid-track breakdown or change of pace, often hitting with a bounce or laying waste with speed.
It was the advent of djent courtesy of Meshuggah and “Structure” unconsciously contributed to this style even though now I firmly consider this groove metal albeit laced with uncommon time signatures. Listening to the album now, it still sounds fresh and vital even 27 years after its release, a testament to Mortality’s vision and innovation with bands like Gojira and Lamb of God later building upon.
They strangely disbanded soon after “Structure" and for the longest time they appeared to have joined an elite club of “one and done” metal bands. But Mortality are not dead - they’re back reformed and jamming this bad boy in the pubs and local venues they started in and are writing new material. But regardless of the potentials they will always remain immortalized in the patches on battle jackets of the Westie old heads.
RIP Craig Figl (guitar) 1973-2024
