As arguably the first band in Australia to play purely thrash metal, Mortal Sin quickly developed a solid following and only seven months after their first live show the band recorded an album-length demo in a mere three days in July 1986. The eight track recording was eventually released in late 1986 as Mayhemic Destruction and released as an album on the band's own label Mega Metal Productions. Reaction to the album was immediate and the band was snapped up for an international album deal by Phonogram Records UK, who then re-released Mayhemic Destruction worldwide in 1987. In the meantime, Krstin was replaced by Mick Burke from fellow Sydney thrash act Slaughter Lord. Mortal Sin spent much of 1988 recording a second album with producer Randy Burns, who had previously worked with Kreator & Megadeth. The release of Face of Despair was held over until early 1989; shortly afterward the band gained further prominence with an Australian tour with Metallica in May but Campbell was sacked shortly after. Another former Slaughter Lord member in Steve Hughes replaced him. In January 1990, Mortal Sin toured Europe and the UK then played some shows in the US but after their final show there Maurer quit the band.
On its return to Australia, the band split, only to reform a short time later with Steve Sly replacing Maurer, however by the end of the year Hughes, Burke and Carwana had also been replaced. The line-up of Eftichiou and Sly plus Alex Hardy (guitar), Dave DeFrancesco (guitar, ex-Enticer) and drummer Nash Hall toured briefly and recorded a third album entitled Every Dog Has Its Day (released as Rebellious Youth in some markets) that showcased a more traditional metal style than previously but the new combination and sound ultimately failed and by late 1991 Mortal Sin split up.
For the next few years Wayne Campbell featured in bands such as White Trash and Grungeon and also worked as a promoter and Steve Hughes played in Presto and Nazxul. Andy Eftichiou formed Who's Guilty, a heavy rock band that achieved minor significance with an EP and ironically also included two former members of Wizzard. Mick Burke moved into the area of sound engineering. Mat Maurer formed his own band Omega which supported Scatterbrain, but the band did not progress into a writing stage.
It was not until 1996, when Campbell and Maurer then reformed Mortal Sin with Eftichiou and Carwana, plus Anthony Hoffman from Campbell's band Grungeon. Carwana departed almost immediately and was replaced by Troy Scerri, who had previously played alongside Campbell in White Trash. This version of the band released an EP - Revolution of the Mind independently and launched the first full-scale Australian tour that Mortal Sin had ever undertaken. The tour wasn't particularly successful and eventually Eftichiou was sacked, replaced briefly by the bassist from Sydney death metal band Tscabeze for the group's only appearance at the annual Metal For The Brain festival in Canberra. Jason Thorncraft of Sydney's Headlifter took Eftichiou's place after this but Mortal Sin split up once more in September 1998. The original Australian thrash metal band's reformation had lasted less than two years.
However, the band still wasn't finished, and in February 2004 Mortal Sin returned once more, this time as Campbell, Maurer, Eftichou and former Addictive guitarists Joe Buttigieg and Mick Sultana. A year later, Mortal Sin was inducted into the Hall of Fame at the inaugural Australian Heavy Metal Music Awards but within a month the line-up changed again when Campbell and Buttigieg were replaced by Luke Cook and Nathan Shea. In April 2005, Mortal Sin toured Australia with Anthrax and a comeback album is being recorded. On February 4, 2006, the band played a show in Sydney that featured them performing the Mayhemic Destruction album live in its entirety for the first time; this performance was filmed for a proprosed DVD release, however Mortal Sin announced in late June 2006 that the project was abandoned due to poor audio quality.
In August 2006, the band returned to European stages to play some shows in Germany, firstly with Rock over Hamburg alongside Michael Schenker Group, Rose Tattoo, Metal Church, Victory, Gorilla Monsoon and Tourettes Syndrome. The band also performed at the Wacken Open Air Festival. Mortal Sin's fourth full-length album An Absence of Faith was recorded in February 2007 at The Basement Studios in Sydney with producer Phil McKellar. It is due for released in July 2007 in Australia through Riot Entertainment and in Europe in September through Germany's Armageddon Music.
Mortal Sin will return to Europe in March 2008 as support to Overkill to tour and promote the new album.
Rebellious Youth
Mortal Sin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Rebel with a cause, frustration's fair game
To bite the hand that feeds
Staggered by the chains of youth around you
Those chains they make you bleed
Burning your bridges, taking chances
Living in a dream
Toward individuality
Don't try to run my life
Just let me be myself
Making my own mistakes
Of the rebellious youth
Eternally try to rise above it all
The torment that you found
Authority puts up a smoke screen of lies
Don't let the bastards drag you down
Fist in the air for what you think is right
Insurmountable ignorance, don't try to fight it
Seal your blood in your youth and remain
Forever young, forever insane
So many been before
You're not gonna change the world
Forever we seek the truth
Of the rebellious youth
Lies... Anger... Torment... Humiliation
Lies... Anger... Torment... Adolescent alienation
Live your life for yourself
Your life, life, life, life, life, life
Don't lie down and take it all
The clone is always to conform
Forever we seek the truth
Of the rebellious youth
The lyrics to Mortal Sin's song Rebellious Youth may seem like a generic anthem to rebellion, but there are several layers of meaning and emotion to explore. The song begins by acknowledging the frustration youth feel with the status quo and the establishment that tries to control and manipulate them. The metaphor of chains conveys the weight of expectations and limitations placed on young people, and the rebellion against them is seen as a way of asserting their identity and autonomy. The line "Burning your bridges, taking chances, living in a dream" suggests a reckless, almost self-destructive defiance that is fueled by a sense of urgency and idealism.
The chorus of the song, with its repeated refrain of "Don't try to run my life, just let me be myself, making my own mistakes, of the rebellious youth," is a plea for acceptance and understanding, but also a warning to those who would try to control or manipulate the rebellious spirit. The verses that follow continue to explore the theme of authority and its corrupting influence, while also emphasizing the importance of staying true to one's beliefs and values, even in the face of opposition and ridicule. The repetition of lines like "Forever we seek the truth, of the rebellious youth" and "Live your life for yourself, your life" suggest a deep sense of purpose and a refusal to compromise or conform.
Overall, Mortal Sin's Rebellious Youth is a powerful and passionate song about the struggle for individuality and authenticity in a world that often tries to suppress or dismiss those qualities. The lyrics capture the intensity and urgency of youth culture, the sense of rebellion and idealism that can inspire change and transformation, and the struggle to maintain that spirit in the face of cynicism and corruption.
Line by Line Meaning
Rebel with a cause, frustration's fair game
You are a rebellious young person that has a reason why you are rebelling and it is fair to feel frustrated with society's expectations.
To bite the hand that feeds
You are rebelling against the authority that is trying to control you and deny your individuality.
Staggered by the chains of youth around you
You feel trapped by the restrictions and expectations society places on young people.
Those chains they make you bleed
These societal restrictions cause emotional pain and turmoil for young people who don't fit in or conform.
Burning your bridges, taking chances
You are willing to take risks and burn bridges to discover your true self and live an authentic life.
Living in a dream
You choose to live in your own reality rather than the one society imposes on you.
The hands of the clock move slowly
Time seems to not be moving fast enough for you as you wait to be free from societal expectations and constraints.
Toward individuality
You are moving towards self-discovery and embracing your individuality.
Don't try to run my life
You refuse to allow authority figures to control your life and make decisions for you.
Just let me be myself
You want to be free to express yourself and be your authentic self without fear of judgment or reprisal.
Making my own mistakes
You want to learn from your own experiences and mistakes, rather than being told what to do or how to live.
Of the rebellious youth
This is the unique perspective of young people who are resisting conformity and societal expectations.
Eternally try to rise above it all
You continually strive to rise above the pain and discord caused by societal pressure and expectations.
The torment that you found
The emotional anguish of feeling like you don't fit in or aren't understood by authority figures.
Authority puts up a smoke screen of lies
Those in positions of authority present a false image or facade to try and maintain control over young people.
Don't let the bastards drag you down
You refuse to let those in power bring you down or make you feel inferior for not conforming to their expectations.
Fist in the air for what you think is right
You stand up for what you believe in and will fight against oppression or discrimination.
Insurmountable ignorance, don't try to fight it
While ignorance and intolerance are rampant in society, it is futile to try and change the minds of those who refuse to see beyond their own prejudices.
Seal your blood in your youth and remain
The intensity and passion of youth should be harnessed and preserved as it is what makes you unique and special.
Forever young, forever insane
You embrace your youth and the madness that comes with it, refusing to be confined by society's idea of normal or acceptable behavior.
So many been before
Countless generations of young people have fought against societal expectations and norms.
You're not gonna change the world
While you may not be able to change the world, you can make an impact by being true to yourself and standing up for what you believe in.
Forever we seek the truth
No matter how much society tries to obscure or bury the truth, those who rebel against the norms will continue to seek and fight for it.
Lies... Anger... Torment... Humiliation
Society's expectations and restraints cause young people to feel lied to, angry, tormented, and humiliated for not fitting in.
Adolescent alienation
The sense of isolation and estrangement that young people feel from society for not conforming to societal expectations.
Live your life for yourself
You choose to live your life according to your own values and beliefs, refusing to let society dictate how you should live.
Your life, life, life, life, life, life
Your life is yours to live and should be lived to the fullest without regrets or second guessing.
Don't lie down and take it all
You refuse to passively accept societal pressure and norms, and instead choose to rebel and fight for your individuality.
The clone is always to conform
Society pressures young people to conform and fit in, to become clones of each other.
Forever we seek the truth
Despite the difficulties and obstacles, young people who resist conformity will continue to seek the truth and their authentic selves.
Of the rebellious youth
This is the unique voice and perspective of young people who resist societal pressure and expectations.
Contributed by Victoria B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Rebel with a cause, frustration's fair game
To bite the hand that feeds
Staggered by the chains of youth around you
Those chains they make you bleed
Burning your bridges, taking chances
Living in a dream
The hands of the clock move slowly
Toward individuality
Don't try to run my life
Just let me be myself
Making my own mistakes
Of the rebellious youth
Eternally try to rise above it all
The torment that you found
Authority puts up a smoke screen of lies
Don't let the bastards drag you down
Fist in the air for what you think is right
Insurmountable ignorance, don't try to fight it
Seal your blood in your youth and remain
Forever young, forever insane
So many been before
You're not gonna change the world
Forever we seek the truth
Of the rebellious youth
Lies... Anger... Torment... Humiliation
Lies... Anger... Torment... Adolescent alienation
Live your life for yourself
Your life, life, life, life, life, life
Don't lie down and take it all
The clone is always to conform
Forever we seek the truth
Of the rebellious youth