MORTAL SIN Calls It Quits

Guitarist Ryan Huthnance of Australian thrash metal veterans MORTAL SIN has released the following statement:

"It's time the rumours were laid to rest. Yes, MORTAL SIN is finished. Due to changing personal circumstances, as well as priorities, Luke [Cook, drums] and Nathan [Shea, guitar] have both decided that their time with the band is at an end. This decision was not made lightly, and was not a result of the actions and words made by other parties who would lead you to believe it was. The truth is, without passion, conviction, and love for the music you play, being in a band means nothing.

"While Andy [Eftichiou, bass], Dave [Tinelt, vocals] and myself could easily continue and find new band members, without the core songwriting unit from the last two albums, it wouldn't be MORTAL SIN.

"We're extremely proud of our last album 'Psychology Of Death', and we've completed the longest and most intense tour of the band's career — the Thrashfest Classics tour. These two milestones are a fitting way to close the 25-year journey that was MORTAL SIN.

"On behalf of MORTAL SIN, I'd like to thank you — the fans — for staying loyal to a band that's had more ups and downs than any other in Australia. Without you, this journey would have ended long ago.

"For those who'd like to follow the future musical exploits of this final lineup, Dave's band NEKROFEIST are about to release their new album, my band THE SEER just released a new single, and Luke will continue playing with his cover bands.

"We sincerely apologise to those who hoped to see us on the road in the shows we had booked. Thank you, and goodbye."

Fan-filmed video footage of the most recent lineup of MORTAL SIN performing the song "Deny" on March 31 at The Patch in Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia can be seen below.

Vocalist Mat Maurer quit MORTAL SIN in February "for personal reasons and irreconcilable differences." He added, "Last year was an incredibly difficult year for me personally and I have decided to put my family first."

MORTAL SIN's latest album, "Psychology Of Death", was released in Europe on November 18, 2011 via NoiseArt Records. The effort includes the group's classic debut LP, "Mayhemic Destruction", as a bonus disc in the limited digipak version. The follow-up to 2007's "An Absence of Faith" was mixed with producer/engineer Darren "jENK" Jenkins and marks the recording debut of guitarist Ryan Huthnance, who replaced Mick Sultana.

Once hailed as the next METALLICA, MORTAL SIN have become legends in their home country Australia, having been inducted into the Kerrang! Heavy Metal Hall of Fame in 2005 and being the only Australian band to have played with the big five of thrash — METALLICA, SLAYER, ANTHRAX, MEGADETH and TESTAMENT — on tours in Australia and overseas.