Gig Review: Mortality + Deprivation at Darling Nikki’s, Sydney

Live review: Mortality and Deprivation at Darling Nikki’s, Sydney. Saturday, August 3 2024

By BRIAN GIFFIN

FOR a few years in Sydney in the 1990s, Mortality were one of the top guns of the local metal scene. More than a few of us back then believed they could have gone on to bigger things, but for a variety of reasons they parted ways shortly after their only album, Structure, was released almost 30 years ago. 

News that two of the original members had reformed Mortality early this year was warmly greeted by both older fans and friends, as well as by those who had never had the chance to see them. Sadly, two weeks out from tonight’s show came news of the death of former guitarist Craig Figl, making the show into a memorial night as well as a comeback.

Anoxia had already played by the time I arrived so the place was being given over to rambunctious Canberra crew Deprivation. Originally from Orange, this band has existed in various forms since at least 2005 and have a couple of overseas jaunts in their past, including an appearance at Wacken exactly 12 months ago. I’m kind of ashamed I’ve never actually seen them before, especially because they’re fucking great! Deprivation navigate musical territory that covers thrash, death and heavy groove with consummate ease. Meanwhile, vocalist Benn Weber and Jesse Withear on bass keep the entertainment factor high, clowning around with the crowd, charging through it and encouraging drinking sessions as the band rip through a high energy, sweaty set, the singer from Immorium getting up to help out along the way. If it had been any other gig these lads would have won the night. Shame on me for never having checked them out live before.

If Structure had been made by an American band in the early 00s, it would have shaken the world. Alas, Mortality split so soon after it was released that even Aussie crowds never really got the chance to appreciate it. All was about to set right, at last, as drummer Dave Pietersz and guitar team Aaron Bilbija and Jason Turnbull filled the stage around original members Darren Maloney and Luke Ford, Maloney leaning into the mic and with a roar that’s lost exactly zero power, bellows “This  is what it’s coming to!” The room, now fully packed, explodes. 

Mortality are playing like they never went away. Every song is like a fresh memory, the colossal groove churns the crowd, Maloney’s voice a force of nature. “Slave Drive”, “What God?”, “Inventory” – each sounds as potent and aggressive as they did way back then. 

“This is an angry song,” Maloney says, as if none of the others were angry enough, “Luke wrote about his step-dad. About wanting to bash him!” Ford throws the bird and barks “Fuck that guy!” as they unleash the fury of “Step”. There’s a pit at the front and this song sounds positively barbarous. It’s actually astonishing how great Mortality is right now. 

After this, Ford takes a moment to remember the fallen – a photo of Craig Figl has been taped to his rig all night and as he holds up another to the room, dedicates “Wonderland Again” to the late guitarist. Before we’re ready for it, “Bad Seed” is crashing to an end and the band closes their set with the pulsating carnage of “Society In Progress”, ringing out long into the night. A guy behind me starts a one man chant of “’It’! ‘It’!”, but that’s just not going to happen. The stage empties and the crowd hesitates before it begins to slowly dissipate. Mortality has left everyone stunned. A crushing, powerful and methodical return. Craig Figl would have been proud.