Triumph of Mercy
Artist: Mortification
Label: Rowe Productions/ Metal Blade
Time: 9 tracks/42:34
Steve Rowe, under the Mortification moniker, has put out more Christian metal albums than anyone else. Fans held their breath and tossed up prayers over the past year or so as Rowe struggled for his life with leukemia, until he was apparently cured miraculously (even visited by an angel, as he sings on the imaginatively-titled "Visited By An Angel"). As soon as he could summon the strength to pick his fat bass strings again, Rowe kicked this latest album out. Mortification moshes on.
Many have complained of the lack of consistency in Mortification's career, since they seem to change metal styles with each new album. But that was always what kept me returning--that element of surprise, never knowing if they would grind out a keeper or a loser. Triumph of Mercy is musically and vocally a cross between the classic/power metal throwback of EnVision EVangeline and the classic metal-meets-hardcore of Blood World, with watered-down grindcore elements from Post Momentary Affliction baring their worn fangs from time to time. More than anything, though, it's the lowest common denominator of the Mortification sound: Rowe's tiresome gallop picking, his jangly bass-less(!) bass tone, the mid-range unimaginative rhythms, the straight-forward cheesy cliche-ridden lyrics. Lincoln Bowen's excellent leads (the atmospheric tone two-thirds of the way through the title track, the wah in "Raw is the Stonewood Temple") are the only spice in an otherwise dull meal.
While Mortification sounds like no one else, this is just one tired-sounding album, lacking in energy or intensity...which is completely understandable! The man behind it has been vomiting in bed for a long time, after all, and he's to be commended for putting out an album so soon after his fight with death. Fans will no doubt be looking for the next one for a true comeback, but they should buy this anyway to help Rowe pay his medical bills.
By Josh Spencer (10/28/98)
This album has all of the markings, good and bad, of a typical "post-Scrolls of the Megilloth" Mortification album. Steve Rowe's bass playing and various vocal styles are on par with other releases, giving the songs a familiar feel, and the music ranges from death metal to classic metal. Also present and accounted for are the occasionally awkward vocal deliveries or musical passages which have plagued this band since their second album. For the most part, the lyrics are still straight ahead, simple, and unpoetic. Steve Rowe seems to just say what he means to say and that's that. Not really much thought was given to the phrasing or how the words go with the music.
An unfortunate example of this weakness comes up in the song "Unified Truth." This is a slow-moving, lurching song with a very uncomfortable vocal delivery during the following lyric:
Nonetheless, there are some really great moments musically and emotionally throughout this album. Following along with the lyrics to the title track (which are a narrative of Steve Rowe's fight with cancer) can add a lot to the experience of the song, with an especially moving moment near the end:
Warrior upon warrior
around our distant globe
Kept the vigil fight
of prayer of power that can't be stopped.
And as the folks cried
out to God, He heard them and I live to stand for Him.
The music sounds very triumphant at this point. Truthfully, I got a bit choked up the first few times I listened to this song.
All in all, I would recommend this album to any Mortification fan
who likes the last three albums (Envision EvAngeline, Primitive
Rhythm Machine, Bloodworld). For those fans who have been disappointed
since Scrolls of the Megilloth or even Post Momentary Affliction,
this album will likely generate similar sentiments.
Chris King (5/22/99)
