Break the Curse Gold Edition 1990-2010 CD/DVD
Artist: Mortification
CD 15 tracks 63:07 DVD 14 tracks 23:00
Label: Roxx Productions
URL: www.roxxproductions.com
 
In celebration of the 20-year anniversary of Break the Curse, Mortification's first album, a strictly limited edition (1000 CDs) two-disc gold letter edition has been released.

Break the Curse, long out of print and much sought after, was the ground breaking Christian death metal album that started it all for Mortification and pretty much the entire Christian death metal genre.

Disc one includes the full re-master of that historic release as well as eight bonus tracks. Included in this material is the very rare Noah Sat Down and Listened to the Mortification Live EP While Having a Coffee. Also, for the first time ever, a studio version of "Time Crusaders" and the track "Eyes of Destruction" from the long out-of-print Lightforce album. These hard-to-find tracks make this a true must-have for any fan of Christian extreme metal.

The re-mastering has cleaned up the vocals. The music is crisp and thunderous. Many people have a problem with this genre because of the growled vocals and relentless, tumultuous attack (exactly why the fans love it!) but given the chance there is a special beauty in this extreme music. Granted it does take some attention, and a lyric sheet is a necessity for a while (unfortunately not available with this release), but when you put in the time, you will hear it. One of the high points of extreme metal are the words. Lyrically, Mortification has always been especially God inspired. Check out "Blood Sacrifice."

"Bruised for our transgressions / Crushed he was for our iniquities / He was surely broken / Died to set us free / He was whipped / He was crushed / Christ was nailed / He was mocked / He was bruised / Christ our Lord."

Also included on the first disc is an eleven minute interview from the late '90s that gives a nice history of the band and its music.

The DVD release of the very first Mortification show ever captured live in Melbourne, Australia on June 15, 1990 at the Harvest Centre. Completely re-mastered and restored, the DVD is important for the reason that there is little live music from the early days of Mortification, much less a DVD of them playing live. The show--around 23 minutes long--is shot with one camera. Cameron Hall, ace guitarist, is all over the place, Steve Rowe, though somewhat tied to vocal microphone--gets around, too. Jay Sherlock, largely hidden by drum and his hair, keeps a steady beat. The light set up behind the band, flashes old school, but gives the right idea. The band and audience seem to be having a great time-stage diving, head banging-really into the music.
However necessary it is to see this concert DVD, the sound is below par. The lead guitar is nearly non-existent in the mix, and the over all sound is muddy, thin and unclear. But the DVD is still more than worthy of watching for the ground it is breaking and disciples it is making with the testimonies by Steve Rowe.

It's a decent package, too! The six-page booklet has interesting notes by Steve Rowe, unpublished photos of the band and some memorabilia. The inset black and white photo is the cover of the Noah EP.

Bob Felberg  March 29, 2010