Malevolence performing during the Ashes of Leviathan at the Germania Insurance Amphitheater in Austin, Texas on July 20, 2024, with Alex Taylor, Josh Baines, Konan Hall, Wilkie Robinson, and Charlie Thorpe. (Photo: Ralph Arvesen)
“We wanted to write an album that encompasses our sound but push it further and go deeper,” says Malevolence frontman Alex Taylor. With their third album, "Malicious Intent," the Sheffield-born band has indeed achieved this. Anyone who has seen them ignite tiny hardcore gigs or massive metal festival pits can attest that this is their moment. Malevolence has truly arrived. Formed in northern England, Malevolence has crafted a unique sound that struts with the swagger of a band from New Orleans, embracing both the power of the riff and the brutality of the breakdown. “We made it a point to step outside our comfort zone,” says Taylor, “while staying true to our roots—playing the metal we want to hear.”
From the hard-as-Sheffield-steel title track that opens the album, Malevolence has raised their own bar. To paraphrase one of their biggest influences, Pantera, it’s the sound of a band on a “New Level.” You can hear the influences—those unforgettable, wrecking-ball riffs rooted in the sludge of Crowbar, the guitar finesse of Dimebag Darrell, and the brutal catchiness of Hatebreed. Malevolence has established themselves not just as contenders, but as a formidable force in the metal scene.
It’s not all bluster and brutality. While “Life Sentence” hits like a ten-ton baseball bat, “Higher Place” is a surprisingly plaintive, almost ballad-like moment where guitarist Konan Hall seamlessly blends his voice with the usually gruff Taylor. “If you’re a Malevolence fan, you expect the hard, fast, and aggressive, but there’s also a heartfelt, moving side that invites self-reflection,” explains Taylor. “When you combine them, that’s where we’re at with this album. People ask if we’re a hardcore band, a metal band, or a metalcore band. To me, it’s just heavy metal. It’s simply us, Malevolence.”
The origins of Malevolence stretch back to 2010 when childhood friends, guitarists Josh Baines and Hall, who had been playing together since 2005, joined up with bassist Wilkie Robinson and drummer Charlie Thorpe to record the first proper Malevolence demo with Taylor on vocals. Fueled by a steady diet of Roadrunner Records samplers and Road Rage tours, the seeds for Malevolence were planted. “Seeing Chimaira and Killswitch Engage were some of my earliest metal concerts,” says Taylor, “and they remain some of my favorite bands. The diversity they brought to the table inspired us to do what we do without limiting ourselves to one sound.” In 2013, Malevolence burst onto the global stage with their debut album "Reign of Suffering" on Siege of Amida/Century Media, touring Europe with Dying Fetus and then charging through America with Kublai Khan and Jesus Piece.
“Realizing our music could take us to other countries and seeing the praise for our first album was a complete surprise,” recalls Taylor. “We had incredible shows in the US, like at Chain Reaction in Anaheim, California. Then, in 2019, touring for our second album, "Self Supremacy," we went to Asia for the first time. Playing for kids who had very little but saved for months to see us was completely humbling and inspiring. Screaming has taken me around the world, and I’m so grateful for that.”
With plaudits for their self-released 2020 3-track EP, "The Other Side," featuring Knocked Loose vocalist Bryan Garris on the track “Keep Your Distance,” Malevolence set about writing and recording "Malicious Intent" during the COVID lockdown. Amidst praise, including a prophetic review from Kerrang!: “Brace for impact when their full-length finally hits,” the band turned isolation into focus.
“As soon as we realized the pandemic would disrupt our daily lives, we threw ourselves into our work,” recounts Taylor. “We found a warehouse space in Sheffield that we converted into our writing and rehearsal space. I even recorded my vocals for the album there. While the world seemed to be falling apart, we stayed positive, and that’s reflected in the album.” Produced by Jim Pinder and co-mixed by Jim Pinder and Carl Bown at Treehouse Studios in Derbyshire, UK (Bullet For My Valentine, Bring Me The Horizon), the results speak for themselves.
“Malicious Intent is the sound of Malevolence being utterly true to ourselves,” says Taylor. “The song ‘Salvation,’ which features Matt Heafy from Trivium, is probably the most honest I’ve been lyrically. It deals with mental health, and having Matt on the track was huge for me. Trivium’s "Ascendency" was one of the first heavy albums I ever listened to. 13-year-old me would be blown away!”
Malevolence is set to explode. Already distinguishing themselves in the UK metal scene, they’ve stepped to the forefront with force and finesse. Their intent has never been more fully realized.
Fan reviews:Setlist for the show at the Germania Insurance Amphitheater
Excellent band!
Awesome atmosphere, the four bands smashed it and were also super friendly.
Holly molly, was incredible!
Best set I have ever seen!
Awesome night, what a set! The place was absolutely bouncing the whole time. Loved it!
This band go so hard! There breakdowns are like beatdowns but slow and heavy!
Such a badass performance! We got to meet them after the show.
- Malicious Intent
- Life Sentence
- Still Waters Run Deep
- Self Supremacy
- Higher Place
- Keep Your Distance
- On Broken Glass
Malevolence shared the stage with Kerry King, Mastodon, and Lamb of God at the Germania Insurance Amphitheater. They continue across the United States and Canada with the last stop at the The Astro Amphitheater in Omaha, Nebraska on August 31, 2024.
Malevolence
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Photos by Ralph Arvesen
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