MORTIFICATION To Release New Album In 2009, 20th-Anniversary CD In 2010

Steve Rowe of the Australian Christian metallers MORTIFICATION has issued the following update:

"Welcome to the Rowe Productions and MORTIFICATION June update. This is a very different update to usual, just seeing if some supporters out there who have had their lives affected in a good way by this ministry may be able to partner me in support.

"I have spent the past 22 years offering the best metal productions possible with a strong Christian message. As you are all well aware, it has been difficult to survive all these years in this ministry area that loses money every year. On top of this, I went through cancer 12 years ago which killed Rowe Productions' real ability to continue and almost killed me physically. I was given just two hours to live twice. The backlash from that time has been serious health issues, including paraplegia, and the inability to keep Rowe Productions afloat. Somehow MORTIFICATION survives and I lend a hand to a select few Aussie Jesus metal bands. From now on, it has come down to just keeping myself and MORTIFICATION alive.

"The cost of my medical and natural therapies just gets higher and higher each year. As you all know, I still keep fit competing in Para sports and doing MORT shows and small tours as I am able. Every year there is some new health issue relating back to the hell I went through in '96, '97 and '98. I am at the point where I am going to have to stop vital medical visits, therapies and medications because the medical debts just keep rising. God has been good to my wife Kate and I but the pressure on Kate has become more difficult each year.

"MORTIFICATION is not a profit system it never has been. It is purely a vision to provide quality metal music with a strong Christian message. Next April I am planning to record a new MORTIFICATION album, followed by a 20th anniversary album. The idea is to release the new MORT album mid-2009 and the 20th anniversary album in 2010. The 20th anniversary album will be quite special; we plan to re-record eight classic MORT songs with bigger, brighter production and tons of new guitar solos. The songs will be vocally true to the original recordings. The album will also include six never-before-released live tracks three from 2007 and three from 1990.

"We have had a hard time trying to get the 'Live Humanitarian' DVD finished in edit, not helped by the fact that the main editor was very ill throughout May. We are still planning to have the DVD available in the next three or four months and it will be worth the wait.

"I am planning some shows and possible small tours for the 20th anniversary but everything is just in the ideas stage right now. We may be playing at a Christian festival later this year.

"Nothing happens in this ministry without money and nothing happens in this ministry if I cannot receive needed medical treatments due to financial debt. Playing music and being actively involved in metal ministry is part of why I have survived these past years. There are only three people from the hospital where I had the bone marrow transplant who have lived more than 10 years from the leukemia that I suffered, let alone the secondary spinal cancer. I am now over eleven and a half years out from the transplant.

"There are many areas where I need your support. Medical bills, both phamaceutical and natural medicines, the recording of the above MORTIFICATION projects, tour planning expenses and sporting costs. I was out training this morning the sport keeps me healthier and walking better. If this seems to be a mission God lays on your heart to support, you can make a donation via PayPal to [email protected]

"If you do decide to send some support, please email me at the same address so that I can thank you in person. I did not really want to write this update but after praying about it, I feel that some who feel they have gained from this ministry may be in a position to help in return."