Austrian Metal Pioneers Mortician Hit Shanghai

By Ned Kelly, September 8, 2025

This weekend sees the China debut of legendary Austrian heavy metal band Mortician.

Known for their raw power, melodic hooks, and high-octane performances, the rockers are bringing their fierce energy to The Pearl for two electrifying nights.

Expect a heavy-hitting setlist drawn from their extensive discography, including fan favorites and rare deep cuts.

We caught up with bass player Patrik Lercher ahead of the shows.

Patrik Lercher in action

This will be your first-ever performance in China. What are your expectations for connecting with the metal community in Shanghai?
In the last few weeks, following the promotion and getting in touch with some local metal fans, I recognized that there is quite a big interest in metal music.

So, I hope we can spark the interest of the local metalheads to show up at one of our shows.

What does it mean for you to be among the first Austrian metal bands to bring your music to a Chinese audience?
We are very proud to be among the first Austrian metal bands performing in China. That’s something extraordinary and a big milestone in our 40-year history.

Playing in a country with a quite different culture, and knowing that heavy metal isn’t mainstream, makes the whole trip an adventure.

I hope we also find the time to meet and talk with locals about the music scene.

The message of your classic EP No War has been revisited throughout your career, even on your latest album with No War Symphony. Why has this theme remained so central to Mortician Austria's identity for over 40 years, and how do you feel the message resonates with metal audiences today?
In 1987, as young and wild metalheads, it’s not the first theme you think about when writing lyrics. But somehow, inspired by movies and the news on TV and radio, this theme inspired us.

After the release and during our first shows playing 'No War,' we received an extremely positive response, and since then the song has been part of every one of our shows.

Thirty-six years later, no longer inspired by movies but by the brutal reality on our planet, we knew we had to refresh this theme again. And still today, I guess even more than in the 80s, the metal audience honors it.

A signature of your sound is catchy choruses that are designed for audience participation. When writing songs like ‘Shout for Heavy Metal’ or ‘Worship Metal,’ do you consciously craft them to be massive live anthems, or does that sing-along quality emerge naturally from the riffs and melodies?
We do not have a specific process for writing songs and lyrics. For most of the songs, we first have the guitar riffs, and then I deal with the lyrics.

For some songs, like ‘Worship Metal,’ the chorus melody was already in my head when writing the lyrics. Other choruses get worked out during rehearsal, using the singer’s skills to put my words in a singable order.

The interplay between two guitars is also a cornerstone of your music. How do the guitarists work together to create that classic 'twin guitar' harmony and the fast-paced, galloping riffs that define your sound?
Thomas, our guitar player, is a riff machine. He always delivers plenty of heavy and fast riffs.

Supported by Twain, our singer and studio guitarist, they work out the melodic parts and the harmonies of our guitar sound.

This always results in a catchy guitar melody.

Your live performance is described as a journey through 40 years of metal evolution. How do you structure a setlist?
Our setlist is not structured for a conscious narrative. It’s a mix of 80s and new songs to blend the styles together, but also to mix the melodic ones with the hard, rough, and screaming ones.

You have a renowned ability to create an inclusive and shared atmosphere at your shows, making even first-time metal concert-goers feel welcome. What is the secret to building that immediate connection and energy with a crowd, and what can the Shanghai audience expect from your live energy?
I would say the biggest part of our connection to the audience is that we are honest in what we are doing.

Each riff, each lyric, and each move on stage comes straight from our heart and soul. That’s what the audience feels, and I guess that’s why everyone feels immediately connected to us.

At our show, you will experience four metalheads on stage delivering the full power of hard and catchy guitar riffs with lots of lyrics that you will be asked to sing with us.

So, you will experience your transformation into a wild and crazy metalhead on a fantastic night at the Pearl.

Tickets

Whether you're a longtime metalhead or a newcomer to the scene, don’t miss your chance to see one of Austria’s finest metal exports live in the heart of Shanghai.

This is more than a concert—it’s a headbanging initiation into Mortician’s world.

Tickets are just RMB228, and look set to sell out. Scan the QR to get yours now: