Band:	Mortal Sin
Album:	Face Of Despair
Style:	Thrash metal
Release date:	1989
Guest review by:	Cynic Metalhead

01. I Am Immortal
02. Voyage Of The Disturbed
03. The Infantry Corps
04. For Richer For Poorer
05. Martyrs of Eternity
06. Innocent Torture
07. Suspended Animation
08. H
09. Terminal Reward
10. Robbie Soles

I've nosedived earlier into unrecognised, overlooked and underappreciated thrash units from Brazil, Canada, Italy, Germany, and a smatter from US, pulled from the greatest eras of thrash metal—the early '80s to late '90s. This time, my radar locked onto an Australian thrash machine, namely Mortal Sin. Being heavily influenced by the US thrash pioneers, Mortal Sin accumulated quite an agglomeration of attention with their raw yet exhilarating debut Mayhemic Destruction. The follow-up released in 1989, Face Of Despair, doubled down with even more vigor and focus, drawing influence from Metallica's Kill 'Em All. However, in contrast to Metallica's raw, unpolished aggression, it takes a more refined approach in production, coming off as a faster, more aggressive version of Ride The Lightning—minus the balladry.

Face Of Despair finds its roots deeply embedded in the thrash traditions of the mid-to-late 1980s, echoing the ferocity of Slayer’s Reign In Blood and the structural complexity of Metallica’s ...And Justice For All in "I Am Immortal" and "Martyrs Of Eternity" ripping with breakneck speed and tightly woven riffs, exhibiting the band’s relentless energy and technical precision.

The production on Face Of Despair marks a significant improvement over their debut. The mix is clearer, allowing the intricate guitar work of Paul Carwana and Keith Kristofferson, with delicately crafted razor-sharp solos, to stand as some of the album’s finest moments (taking "The Infantry Corps" and "Voyage Of The Disturbed" as prime examples here). The drums deliver a menacing approach with steady double bass, which is somewhat atypical and adds a layer of intensity to the album; bobbing and weaving between tempos and tones keeps Face Of Despair firing on all cylinders for nearly its entire duration. A standout track, "For Richer For Poorer", may initially seem spastic with its scattershot rhythms, but the band expertly tugs on the reins, keeping the flow natural and cohesive.

At times, the album's pace feels disjointed, stumbling horribly in the middle section and creating a sense of redundancy. That's where I felt the urge for some high-octane tracks to snap the album back on track and restore its drive. This is a common pitfall in thrash metal, when bands are tempted to introduce some well-timed balance to the intensity and energy, and the end result often hinders the album's momentum.

Despite these palpable drawbacks holding Face Of Despair back from reaching the masses, it still deserves recognition for its craft. Some fans might be quick to attribute its success to Metallica’s influence, but Face Of Despair tops anything Metallica produced post-1986, and gives many of the stronger Bay Area acts that followed a real run for their money. No, I'm not high and haven't gone fucking nuts here. These Australians punched out a significantly strong album that will try to resonate with you.

Highlights: "The Infantry Corps", "Voyage Of The Disturbed", and "For Richer For Poorer"