July Update From Steve Rowe (Mortification)

Uncle NecRo · Number of posts: 1451 Registration date: 2007-04-09

BAH!
...okay, I'm going to have to back away a bit, get some perspective and pray about things right now, before doing anything rash and knee-jerk, and mayhaps I can ask for prayer on this matter too...

...after reading the update for myself, I am seriously considering pulling all Mortification from future playlists of my show. Maybe temporarily, maybe permanently, maybe even not at all. I don't want to, mind you, because Steve Rowe and Mort has been such an influence on me in those oh-so formidable younger Christian days of mine, and I've always wanted to try and support him and the band the best I can. I haven't liked everything Mort's put out, but always supported the passion and diligence to proclaiming Christ Jesus...

HOWEVER...I can't bring myself to promote and support anyone who uses guilt-trips like that, especially when there's Scripture involved. Maybe I'm blowing things out of proportion, but...seriously, I can't be the only one who feels their intelligence has just been insulted. So, yeah, I need to step back, pray a bit, maybe try and get ahold of Steve himself, I don't know...maybe some perspective from my fellow breathren (and sisteren) here...

...and yes, I realize that if I do that, I would have to completely redo the intro, as it uses the opening clip from the Mort song "Nocturnal"...and quite frankly, I'm too lazy to do that Wink

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Guest

I think that what we are reading from Steve is his total frustration over illegal downloads, and there is no doubting that they would have affected sales to some extent.

Maybe the use of certain Scripture to justify his position was not correct, but there is no way to justify stealing music ever and under any circumstances.

**Black Rider** · Man in Morph Number of posts: 14438 Age: 41 Registration date: 2007-04-09

I agree Headshrinker. I don't agree with his analogy but I know Steve tends to shoot form the hip sometimes and I think this is one of them. Uncle Necro, I wouldn't due anything in a hurry, Steve's just a man and though maybe a little over the top, nothing he's done is unforgiveable.

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I don't have time for all if it, so I pick my battles. I concentrate on spotting and weeding out satanic paper, handkerchiefs (do you really want Satan that close to your nose?) and eggs. I can spot satanic eggs at Wal Mart like a frickin' drug sniffing dog.

**ultmetal** · Number of posts: 3339 Registration date: 2006-12-26

I've had private conversations with Steve, trust me, he is just frustrated right now and can certainly use our prayers.

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**exo** · Number of posts: 8533 Age: 34 Registration date: 2007-04-07

Quote:

Just an FYI, the price tag for him includes studio time, mastering, paying the artist for the cover, paying an artist for the layout of the booklet and digi, CD duplication, printing the digi's, etc. I doubt he spent $20,000 in the studio alone.

I'm well aware of what goes into the "production budget", ult.....are you trying to tell me that Ultimatum and the label have 20 grand wrapped up in Lex Metalis? Or that you guys and Rowe had that much involved in Puppet?

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hellig · Number of posts: 589 Registration date: 2007-04-10

ultmetal wrote:

Just an FYI, the price tag for him includes studio time, mastering, paying the artist for the cover, paying an artist for the layout of the booklet and digi, CD duplication, printing the digi's, etc. I doubt he spent $20,000 in the studio alone.

There must be some dude walking around with $19,500 in his pocket.

angelofdarkness · Number of posts: 542 Age: 32 Registration date: 2009-05-14

That's it.....I've lost the last shred of respect I had for Steve Rowe....the guy is clearly off his rocker and is full of bitterness and resentment against people simply because his music has gone from great to passable at best. Why would people buy something they don't like!?!? He wants people to send him $23 in Australian currency......"and i'll forgive you" Uh Steve....the Bible says to forgive 70 times 7.......regardless of whether people "pay you back or not". I've known people like him....and they go through so much that the suffering makes them crazy. I can have compassion for that, but to bombard people with all of this ludicrous bitterspeak is just unacceptable.

Miguel Melo · Number of posts: 645 Age: 37 Registration date: 2007-08-21

This is _exactly_ the kind of tripe talk and going on holier than thou tangents that I mentioned in a recent thread and that makes me not like Mortification.

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**ultmetal** · Number of posts: 3339 Registration date: 2006-12-26

exo wrote:

Quote:

Just an FYI, the price tag for him includes studio time, mastering, paying the artist for the cover, paying an artist for the layout of the booklet and digi, CD duplication, printing the digi's, etc. I doubt he spent $20,000 in the studio alone.

I'm well aware of what goes into the "production budget", ult.....are you trying to tell me that Ultimatum and the label have 20 grand wrapped up in Lex Metalis? Or that you guys and Rowe had that much involved in Puppet?

Hey exo,
I wasn't trying to belittle you. I know you are not ignorant of production costs. I was mostly just saying that it's not a stretch for the cost to be close to 20k.

Let's see. The studio/engineer/producer for "Lex Metalis" cost us close to $3,000. $800 went into promotions for compilation CDs in magazines (S.O.D. Magazine & Heavens Metal) to promote the CD. (Mort will be on some of the same comps.) There is the cost of the ads in the magazines. $60 on shipping alone of master tapes to our record company. Our particular CD didn't have large art costs, as I designed the cover, but they did pay Rexorcist to finish off the layout by adding logos, bar codes, catalog numbers, etc. etc. (not sure of that cost), then there is mastering (our guy charges around $400 for good mastering, I've seen if for as cheap as $200) duplicating the disc, printing, etc. I would guess we have around $7-8,000 wrapped up in it. So, for Mortification, since they took a few years to record everything, probably would have paid more for the studio than we did and I'm sure they paid Troy Dunmire a good amount to paint the cover. They paid someone else to do the layout of the booklet, the CD and the digi. He pressed 2,000 copies of the digi, w/ die cut, 8-page insert and full color printing on the disc itself. He wanted this album to look and sound the best it could. Assuming Steve is talking Australian dollars, I can see where he may have spent close to $20,000.

I really wish you guys wouldn't be so down on the man. He's been at this a long time and when a bit of frustration has set in, you all are ready to throw him the wolves.

Also, I don't think Steve's letter was addressed to you guys who are not stealing his music, but rather those who feel justified in free downloads of MP3s on "Christian" sites. Whatever the rational is behind it, it's stealing. Yes, Steve's comparing it to pre-marital sex is a BIG stretch, but regardless it's still wrong. He feels ripped off. He's frustrated. Instead of stomping him. Let's pray for him.

Regardless how anyone feels about his music, Steve feels this album is one of his best. Steve is far from a lunatic. He's just frustrated right now.

EDIT Just for the heck of it, I threw $20,000 Australian dollars into US dollars and it's the equivalent of $15,000 US.

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STX · Number of posts: 49 Age: 27 Registration date: 2009-07-04

One of my favorite discs of Mort is Primitive...
The music for me is so cool that the productions doesn't bores me
I think Steve forget that are many great albums with low production with great songs

the download thing is inevitable, since we are in the end of the times

I read somewhere, maybe steve's page, that his guitarplayer has an home studio
I belive they could have done some great job with low coast and don't spend so much, passing this troube, and his ministry vision could continue

There's a Brazilian Extreme Metal Band called Krig, they released 3 albuns in their homestudio, the last the production is top, and was made in a homestudio!!

What we need to do is pray for Steve. Really, I'm a little preocuped with his anger against illegal dowloads, this could be bad for his spirituality

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angelofdarkness · Number of posts: 542 Age: 32 Registration date: 2009-05-14

I can see the jusitification of being angry about people downloading his music, but to sit there and attack people for what he thinks is people stealing his music....to use that kind of guilt trip against people....I find that to be reprehensible. I mean, what if people are being uplifted in their walk or even being led to Christ through his music, regardless of if they've payed for it or not? It's almost as if he's lost faith in his own God. Doesn't the Bible say that God will supply all your needs, according to his riches and glory? It's one thing to be frustrated in private conversations.....but to spew all of that bitterness and resentment from a very public site......that's just going to turn people away. This is the EXACT same road that Roger Martinez went down before he flipped out. It reeks of desperation.

**ultmetal** · Number of posts: 3339 Registration date: 2006-12-26

angelofdarkness wrote:

This is the EXACT same road that Roger Martinez went down before he flipped out. It reeks of desperation.

All the more reason to pray for him then, correct?

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namelessjuan · Number of posts: 130 Registration date: 2009-06-15

I'll pray for Steve.

^^^ One of the first Christian metal albums I listened to.

ETA: I have liked what I have heard of the new one.

**Black Rider** · Man in Morph Number of posts: 14438 Age: 41 Registration date: 2007-04-09

I highly doubt Steve will go the Roger road. He's trying to earn a living doing something he loves and it's become very hard for him. I'm praying.

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I don't have time for all if it, so I pick my battles. I concentrate on spotting and weeding out satanic paper, handkerchiefs (do you really want Satan that close to your nose?) and eggs. I can spot satanic eggs at Wal Mart like a frickin' drug sniffing dog.

namelessjuan · Number of posts: 130 Registration date: 2009-06-15

I'm gonna put Steve up for prayer at both of the churches I attend (I'm gonna put Roger up as well).

Steve, I forgive you for insulting my intelligence. I hope you forgive me for listening to your new album before I came to a decision to purchase it. I had only heard what was up on youtube before I read the update you posted on soundmass. Then after reading what you wrote, I decided to listen to the whole album, and then decided I liked it enough to buy it. GOD bless you bro.

19:24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the
eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
19:25 When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying,
Who then can be saved?
19:26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is
impossible; but with God all things are possible.

^^^ For the people that think Roger's too far gone.

scrolls09 · Number of posts: 1 Registration date: 2009-07-04

Yes you are right STX, the guitarist Mick does have his own studio. Erasing the goblin was recorded there and Mick was the producer. (it's in the credits of erasing) He also did the audio for live Humanitarian I had a listen to both cds today and I thought erasing sounded better than teadm and it probably cost nothing for the recording? Also he has no song writing credits on teadm Question

**exo** · Number of posts: 8533 Age: 34 Registration date: 2007-04-07

Quote:

I really wish you guys wouldn't be so down on the man. He's been at this a long time and when a bit of frustration has set in, you all are ready to throw him the wolves.

I'm not "down on the man", nor am I "tossing him to the wolves".

It's INCREDIBLY frustrating to see a grown man simply NOT exercise common sense, and then lecture other folks about what they're doing wrong. This "downturn" in the music business isn't exactly a new phenominon, nor has it been so long in between CDs that it should be a "shock" to see numbers like he claims, yet it seems like we go thru this little rigamarole of the "don't steal my music" speech with the included sense of "shock and indignation" every couple of months (and the speech is nothing new, it' sbeen included in the liner notes of all his works for YEARS...it's VERY possible he's triggered a backlash of downloading BECAUSE of it. humanity is petty like that)

....only this time we got the added little bonus of "don't steal the music or I can't buy my meds", (which isn't EXACTLY what was said....but WAS what was implied) AND a gross misapplication of scripture to try and support a position.....

and THAT burns me up. If he is REALLY and TRULY going without meds to drop the money into an album.....my opinion is that he's being a fool. If someone can PLAINLY SEE a declining pattern in the sales (and that's EXACTLY what theres been over the last 10 years)....then they are a COMPLETE AND TOTAL FOOL to count on things being different "this" time, and DESPITE the actions of others in regards to downloading....he's got NO-ONE to blame but himself and a failure to plan/adjust. Am I harsh in my analysis? probably....but if there's needed medications that youi are forgoing to put out a CD.....man.....I just don't have words for how flabbergasted I am at that......to be blunt, that's just stupidity...or perhpas a gross denial of the situation. That's why you've seen me use the phrase "out of touch" a LOT.

Between the fact that Mort's material has shifted away from my personal tastes, and the WAY he voices his frustrations.....I'm not exactly inspired to go out and pick up a Mort disc unheard. I also think it's sort of apparent that while I may be the most vocal person about it in this thread......I'm NOT the only person who has these feelings, or ones similar to them.

Rather than lecture and "whine" about the situation (because that's EXACTLY how it comes off to a GOOD portion of the people it reaches), if he was to actually DEAL with the concerns at hand, he MIGHT just experience an upswing in things.....but I'm not exactly sure that concept has occured to him. I certainly can't see that he fully understands the reasons for the declines.....just that he's lashing out at those he perceives to be at fault, without taking a look at what he could/should be doing differently.....

I mean, does the guy actually understand that he's inspiring THIS sort of a reaction from the very folks who used to go out and buy his material? REGARDLESS of how technically correct his positioning and frustrations may be?

_________________
Obama is no more the Anti-Christ than George Bush is Sauron, sending his armies into Iraq searching for the One Ring.....

Dwarven gravitational theory states that enough ale will make anything fall down.

Madness does not always howl. Sometimes, it is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "Hey, is there room in your head for one more?"

**Black Rider** · Man in Morph Number of posts: 14438 Age: 41 Registration date: 2007-04-09

I agree exo but I view this more with sadness. I'm guessing and praying that Steve will come around and put this behind him.

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I don't have time for all if it, so I pick my battles. I concentrate on spotting and weeding out satanic paper, handkerchiefs (do you really want Satan that close to your nose?) and eggs. I can spot satanic eggs at Wal Mart like a frickin' drug sniffing dog.

Angel with Attitude · The Emperor Has No Clothes Number of posts: 3445 Registration date: 2007-04-09

Just an general observation that may (or may not) be helpful to factor in viewing Steve's statements that have nothing to do with making cd's or how people acquire music...

People with alot of chronic pain can be short, sharp and grumpy...and very much without meaning to be. I've seen it in various people I've known and a couple times on this very board.

Some very valid points have been made, but I think it is important to remember, whether one likes the music or does not, this brother has some underlying struggles that have been with him for awhile. IF he is being transitioned into something new, as any of us would, he could use our prayers more than anything else.

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only symbols can be twisted ,burned,spat on etc.NOTHING truly Holy can be desecrated..... - Sabbath Steve

MetalFRO · Number of posts: 356 Age: 32 Registration date: 2009-03-15

Here's a dumb question: is Steve not able to get disability in AUS due to his extensive health problems? One would think he could supplement his wife's income w/ disability income & try to do the next record "on the cheap" even if it means he has to cut a few corners. Or, perhaps he can't do Mortification anymore at all. I think perhaps Steve is having a hard time coming to grips with the fact that perhaps he just can't do it anymore. As much as I've enjoyed the new Morty album (being "Im-Mort-Alized" was cool too!), exo is right - the former "glory" is gone, and what you have is a retro-styled album that will only appeal to the retro-conscious crowd, i.e. either old-school metalheads like some of us, or the handful of fans that are into new stuff like Toxic Holocaust or Warbringer who might like a punked-up melodic thrash album. But I think the larger issue is that Steve may need to come to the realization that Morty may have to take a back burner to either him getting a part-time job (non-taxing physically) to help pay the bills, or perhaps he needs to see about some disability income & put the band on the back burner for a while.

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