Wonrowe Vision

The Pictures of the Past Present and Future

The Pictures of the Past Present and Future is the second release from Steve Rowe’s latest project, Wonrowe Vision. The title gives us a clue of what to expect from the release; it is a compilation of sorts, starting with two new studio tracks. “That’s Total Evil” is a new composition from Rowe, while “Pictures” is a newly recorded version of a Lightforce demo song from 1986. (The demo song is also included as a bonus track, alongside a live version.) Both new songs bounce along with a big punk rock vibe that falls somewhere between the Ramones and early Motorhead. Rowe, mostly known for his death growls and Lemmy-like raspy vocals on Mortification releases, sings in a mostly clean voice on both tracks.

The bulk of the release is live songs recorded at a late-2012 show in Australia called “The Metal Bible Launch.” The song selection is mostly taken from the band’s debut release, also released on Australian label Silver Bullet Records. The record closes with the demo recordings from Lightforce, allowing longtime fans to see the band’s transformation from inception to now. The closing track is Mortification’s 2004 recording of “12 Men,” which sits aside the 1986 Lightforce version of the same song.

Wonrowe Vision is very different from the heavy metal, thrash and death metal of Mortification and is Steve Rowe’s attempt to explore his love of classic hard rock and punk. Wonrowe Vision may not be every Mortification fan’s taste, but those willing to go outside the box might find this release to be a fun listen.