Gig Review: Mortal Sin + Hidden Intent + Killrazer + Metreya at the Underground, Sydney

Live review: Mortal Sin, Hidden Intent, Killrazer and Metraya at The Underground, Sydney, Saturday, March 14 2026

By BRIAN GIFFIN

MY FIRST live encounter with Mortal Sin was in a basement bar in Castlereagh Street called the St James Tavern, sometime in 1987. It was crowded and ran late because neither of the support bands turned up for some reason. It was the first time I’d ever been to a local metal show. I knew no one. I found a spot at the front and somehow managed to hold onto it as the crowd seethed and swirled around behind me.

Somehow it’s 39 years later and I’m in another basement bar in Sydney that’s filling up with people, waiting to see Mortal Sin. The beer is flowing. This time, the support bands have showed up, ready to do business and I know plenty of people. 

As the first wave of the crowd was still entering the venue, Wollongong veterans Metreya stepped up. With no pause for ceremony, strong vocals and a confident stage presence from Michael Demov helps to propel a short but effective set of classic no frills thrash metal, including a new track being aired for the first time. 

Long time death-tinged thrash campaigners Killrazer took to the stage next. While struggling with some stage gremlins they still managed to rip out an aggressive and heavy set that featured a good dose of new songs. Doug’s vocals were up against a poor mix but Zoran’s backing roars helped to give them some weight. Even with the issues, Killrazer proved their mettle, getting the night’s first full-blown mosh happening

By the time it was Hidden Intent’s turn, the Underground was very full indeed. At close to 500 punters, it was difficult to remember when I’d seen a crowd like this at a local thrash gig. 

With four albums and several jaunts overseas behind them, Adelaide power trio Hidden Intent are a force to be reckoned with. Chris McEwen is an intimidating wildman as he throws his bass around and bellows into the mic, then becomes a gentle giant as he tells the crowd how honoured he is to be on tour with his thrash metal idols. His band blaze through an explosive set of seven songs from across a solid catalogue of thrash of various stripes. “Addicted to Thrash” perfectly sums up the mood of the evening and frantic old favourite “Drop Bears Are Real” tears off a few faces in the warm-up to the main event.

Now it was time for the old masters to make their grand entrance. One of Sydney’s pioneering metal bands was returning after more than a decade. 

“The Curse” acts as the build up to drag the smokers back inside. Mat Maurer enters the picture, rouses the crowd. The band launch into “Deny”. Madness begins. 

I had the privilege of seeing their first show back in Adelaide and they blew the doors off the place. Another four shows down since then – including a huge one in Wagga Wagga last night – and they’re firing with all guns blazing. 

Maurer and the always energetic bassist Andy Eftichiou lead the charge as Mortal Sin hand down their hook-ridden, catchy thrash wares. The room seethes. With not even a metre between the stage and the barrier, the singer issues a warning to the punters as they start coming over the top of the crowd. But it’s barely heeded. A dude hangs off the rail above the stage until security physically pulls him down. An old school mosh pit opens in the middle of the floor. Ryan Huthnance and Nathan Shea tear out instantly familiar riffs while George Delinicolis keeps a tight ship while adding some flair from behind the kit. Before he went on, Maurer was expressing both surprise and delight at the huge turn-out. “Is it 1985?” he asks at one point, engaging the crowd with warmth and the confidence and familiarity of someone who’s found himself again. 

There were a couple of flubs and the sound wasn’t exactly spot on but everyone was having so much fun no one noticed or cared. “Blood, Death, Hatred” got the room roaring along, “Women in Leather” was a surprise, “Voyage of the Disturbed” ruled. Originally written about the civil war but equally as relevant right now, “Lebanon” descends and carries the crowd with its singalong refrain and Huthnance’s winding solo. 

The set almost done, Maurer brings out the erstwhile Steve Hughes to deliver a rambling and hilarious testimonial to Mick Burke and Wayne Campbell. Ripping versions of “I Am Immortal” and “Mayhemic Destruction” follow, bringing the walls down. It wasn’t 1987 again but the vibe was the same. The Sinners had returned and they did not disappoint.