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Australian Thrash/Death Metal band Mortification has been around for 20 years. They released some real prizes early in their career, including the self-titled debut, Scrolls of the Megilloth and Post Momentary Affliction. In 2009 the band put out The Evil Addiction Destroying Machine, a solid effort with a long title.

On this new album, Mortification has tried to take their music beyond their usual Thrash/Death leanings and has started to explore some of the other metallic sub-genres. There are elements of straight up Heavy Metal, both in song structure and on some crazy guitar solos, as well as Punk, most notably in the riffs. While not as evil or brutal as the first 3 albums, Mortification does a pretty good job of blending those new elements in with their more traditional style.

As you would expect with a veteran band, Mortification appears to have taken sufficient time and drawn on their experience to maintain their musical standards on The Evil Addiction Destroying Machine. However, something is clearly missing. It is as if their brutal, yet magical, spirit from the past is no longer present (and don't think it is due to their age.) In the past we were treated to the crushing "Brutal Warfare" and "Terminate Damnation," both excellent moshers. No one was left standing when they were done. On The Evil Addiction Destroying Machine the best tracks are "Elasticized Outrage," "Alexander the Metal Worker" and "The Master of Reinvention." Listening to those songs you can tell something changed. It's like Mortification had a sort of semi crash-and-burn which gave their music a different flavor. There are some great moments to be had, notably the solos, groovy riffage, etc., but, in the big picture, the spice is gone. While I don't think Mortification has lost all their magic and they still possess the ability to deliver a fierce strike that will chop up the listener, only time will tell if that will ever happen.

With The Evil Addiction Destroying Machine, Mortification is exploring different areas of metal, some of which they employed during the mid to late 90s. If they turn back to their older selves, rest assured they will blast through the door and back to glory.

Other worthy tracks: "Resurrection Band (A Tribute to Rez)" and "One Man with Courage Makes a Majority."