Mortal Sin – Whammy Bar, 23 July 2026: Review

24th July 2026

Mortal Sin left a mark on metal 40 years ago with the release of Mayhemic Destruction. An album that defined Thrash Metal in Australia and beyond as the band toured with the likes of Metallica and Testament across the globe. In a world of AI slop, I’m all for the OG icons getting back on the road and inspiring a new generation.

Thursday’s my new Friday as I rush out of work, slip into tight snakeskin jeans, and drive to Auckland’s Whammy Bar. I mean, who would miss the opportunity to see Mortal Sin Australia’s Thrash metal royalty playing in New Zealand for the first time!

As we stand in St. Kevin’s Arcade waiting in the cold for the doors to open, I chat to 30-year-old friend Alannah about the upcoming Auckland Avatar show and their recent tour with Metallica. I start thinking about Mortal Sins’ political lyrics, their groundbreaking thrash sound, and how, like my snakeskin-print pants, they haven’t so much dated as provided context for the foundations of thrash metal sound and the scene’s geopolitical stance.

WOLFSHEAD

Wolfshead open with some honest no-bullshit heavy metal. No gimmicks needed. The band is high-energy, your-face metal. Having recently signed to Jawbreaker Records, this three-piece has good things to come with their upcoming 8-track album release later this year.

BULLETBELT

Bulletbelt, a five-piece from Wellington, certainly look the part as they take the stage, no hippies in this band. Metal as, rockstars. Diego Attinger, their vocalist, is a fitting frontman who delivers a polished, powerful vocal performance. Young guns compared to Mortal Sin, but with six albums under their belt and tours of Japan and Europe, these guys have carved out a unique space in NZ metal with an innovative sound described as blackened thrash.

They open with Burn It Up, a track off their last album. Its driving riffs, coupled with spitting, raspy lyrics, open into a big chorus hook and the crowd is ready for more. Diego, sensing the mood, says, ” Let’s not fuck around” and they are into it.

MORTAL SIN

“Here we are, and here you are.” “The first people in NZ to see Mortal Sin, ever,” Mat Mauer quips after divulging that he had no explanation for not having played in NZ before. While they may not have been physically present, the crowd’s clear devotion suggests they inhabited some part of our dark souls.

A mosh pit forms as soon as the band opens with Deny. Mortal Sin are back, just as angry as ever. Next track, Terminal Reward, is what we came for – old skool headbanging. I’m sure I heard the crowd chant “Hardcore sucks”, ha.

As you’d expect, they power through all their classics, with Lebanon a highlight for me, as it was the first song I heard from MS back in the day.

The crowd is in fine form, singing along like a drunken choir, hair rising and falling as they headbang, entranced by the rhythm. Mayhemic Destruction closes out the night with fans joining the stage to sing into the mic.

Mortal Sin did not disappoint. Thrash metal lives!