MORTALITY – For Whom the Bomb Tolls
- by Matt Coe
- Posted on 30-01-2017
Resurrecting a late 80’s/early 90’s thrash band, Sweden’s Mortality is finally able to issue a full-length album with "For Whom the Bomb Tolls". Down to a one-member project at this point, Danne Andersson handles all the instrumentation, songwriting and production duties. Expect songwriting that falls in line with the late 80’s thrash scene – very riff-centric and melodic a la many of the Bay Area bands of that period. Danne has adept skills on the guitar and bass – although the vocals seem a touch forced (in that Schmier vein, less venomous) and the drum programming detracts from the overall power of the songs.
"Dead by Dawn" with its Slayer-ish stutter step chord progressions and the tribal themes throughout "Mortality Will Strike Again" represent two of the stronger offerings, but overall Mortality would work much better if Danne expands his horizons back into a full lineup. To these ears this can’t compete against much of the present thrash masterpieces like "Gods of Violence" or "The Grinding Wheel" – so proceed with caution.