Album Type : Full Length
Date Released : 11/11/2013
Label : Siege Of Amida / Century Media Records
Reign of Suffering, album track listing :
1). In The Face Of
Death
2). Condemned To Misery
3). Serpents Chokehold
4). Eternal Torment
5). Reign Of Suffering
6). Delusions Of Fear
7). Turn To Stone
8). Wraith
Bio :
MALEVOLENCE, one of
the UK's
fastest rising crossover bands, will release their debut album through Siege Of
Amida this winter.
This signing follows the recent announcement of UK Doom crew Hang The Bastard, in
wake of the label's recent partnership with Century Media Records.
After releasing a two track demo, which caught the attention of every hardcore
and metal kid in the North of England, it was only a matter of time before the
ripples Malevolence were creating would turn into nation wide tidal waves.
The band's reputation for explosively heavy live shows and some of the most
devastating pit action this side of hell resulted in shows with the likes of
Hatebreed, While She Sleeps, Vision Of Disorder and The Acacia Strain.
Like a bastard hybrid of Pantera, Biohazard, Hatebreed, Life Of Agony and Lamb
Of God, Malevolence's sound is remarkable in its influences given the band's
average age of 20
The Band :
Alex Taylor | Vocals)
Wilkie Robinson | Bass
Konan Hall | Rhythm Guitar,
Vocals
Josh Baines | Lead Guitar
Charlie Thorpe | Drums
Review :
It’s been a while since I could use the term ‘groove
metal’ in association with a band, but I think I’ve found a troupe worthy of
being part of that genre. In fact, I’d
even go so far as to say this group is hyper groove metal. Meet Sheffield’s
Malevolence, a quintet of mental metallers whose new album ‘Reign of Suffering’
has just recently graced my inbox. It’s
time to get my mosh-pit dancing shoes on and have a true look at what all the
fuss is about.
As expected, this album takes no quarter right from
the get-go: ‘In The Face Of Death’ fairly demolishes your eardrums right from
the start, vocalist Alex hurling out a brutal shout of ‘MOTHERFUCKER!!!!’
before the hammer crashes down and the drummer Charlie’s beat begins to
brutalise. It grinds like an industrial
drill, slams like a pile driver and is as powerful as a blast from an
anti-aircraft cannon. So yeah, that sets
the benchmark for the rest of the hyperactive awesomeness that follows.
This hyper groove that I mentioned, let me explain a
little bit more about how it sounds: it’s basically taking Pantera, putting it in a
gym and giving it steroids for six months, then allowing it to bare knuckle box
with Lamb of God, Hatebreed, and Machine Head in a barbed-wire octagon, while
Trivium plays the ring girl. It’s that
kind of raucous spectacle that awaits you when you press play on this bad
boy.
However, the Malevolence lads show that sonic carpet
bombs aren’t the only munitions in their arsenal. Penultimate album track ‘Turn to Stone’ is as
mighty a track as ever I’ve heard, giving the listener over seven minutes of pure
doom delight. Alex channels the spirit
of Phil Anselmo as though he was possessed by the Growly One himself. Guitarists Konan, Josh and bassist Wilkie
churn up the wild waters of dark metal and create a tidal wave of slow,
magnificent doom, which crashes down near the finale with a bone-liquidising
power. If you have ears, they need to
listen to this. Like, right now.
It’s always uplifting to me to see that the spirit of
Dimebag Darrell still flows strong in new and upcoming metal bands, and
Malevolence are exemplars of the art.
Their brand of hyper groove should see them soon become household names
in the metal neighbourhood. ‘Reign of
Suffering’ is an album any lover of genuine no-bullshit, all-adrenaline metal should
buy. It’s a reign you’ll be glad to be a
part of.
Words by : Chris Markwell
