Genre: Groove Metal/Metalcore/Metal
MLVLTD / Nuclear Blast
20 June 2025
Links: https://www.facebook.com/MalevolenceRiff
Line Up:
Alex Taylor – vocals
Konan Hall – guitars, vocals
Josh Baines – guitars
Wilkie Robinson – bass
Charlie Thorpe – drums
Tracklist:
1. Blood From The Leech
2. Trenches
3. If It’s All The Same To You
4. Counterfeit
5. Salt The Wound
6. So Help Me God
7. Imperfect Picture
8. Heavens Shake
9. In Spite (ft. Randy Blythe)
10. Demonstration Of Pain
11. With Dirt From My Grave
We first covered Malevolence back in 2014, shortly after their debut on the scene during that memorable tour with Dying Fetus and Goatwhore when they hit Dublin. These Sheffield natives have been building an intensive repertoire of punishing groove metal and metalcore ever since. It’s refreshing to see bands grow organically while continuing to push themselves and remain relevant in an ever-evolving scene. Their most recent major tour saw them opening for Five Finger Death Punch at the OVO Arena last year—a long way from their humble beginnings on the small club circuit.
Malevolence has always maintained a no-frills, straight-business approach, but what set them apart was the relentless intensity of their music and those crushing groove metal riffs that became their calling card.
Sheffield’s groove metal powerhouse returns with their most refined assault yet. The riffs are bigger, the hooks sharper, and the songs tighter than ever before, building on their signature blend of Southern-fried sludge and Yorkshire grit. It’s a feast of belligerent metalcore heaviness destined to ignite live audiences, combining crushing breakdowns with infectious grooves that recall the best of Pantera and Hatebreed. Malevolence continues proving they’re the UK’s definitive answer to American groove metal, delivering meaty riffs, muscular catchiness, and hostile attitude in abundance.
Photo Credit: Ramsey Ramone
Right from the onset, the punishing, neck-breaking groove of “Blood from the Leech” sets the tone, later followed by the supremely catchy chorus in “If It’s All The Same To You.” Nice and crunchy with irresistible hook lines, this track serves as a blistering reminder of what happens when metal perfectly balances brutality and melody—pure thrash bliss. The next standout arrives with “Counterfeit,” featuring more melodic guitar riffs where the intensity blends seamlessly with singer Alex Taylor’s commanding vocals. The chorus lines and razor-sharp axe work pay dividends, culminating in a breakdown groove where everything cohesively clicks.
The album shifts gears with the ballad opening of “Salt the Wound,” bringing flashes of Pantera’s golden era before launching into another riff-laden groove fest. The guitar solo accentuates the composition beautifully. The sounds of desperation flow through the lyrics of “Heaven’s Shake,” where Taylor’s screams bring the song’s poignant message into visceral existence. The guitars continue their relentless assault on the senses—more melodic, more pain-infused, and laden with groove-heavy hooks. Another crushing highlight comes via “In Spite,” featuring the legendary Randall Blythe, whose collaboration doubles the aggression as this battering ram continues its destructive path.
This record doesn’t deal in facades or empty gestures; it’s an unfiltered expression of the struggles, victories, and unshakable brotherhood that have carried them this far. As frontman Alex Taylor explains, “The story behind each song comes from lived experiences rather than just meaningless words on the page. There’s a lot of weight in the words across the whole album, whether that’s addressing personal struggles, the state of the world, or the highs and lows of life.”
MALEVOLENCE aren’t following in anyone’s footsteps—they’re carving their own path through modern metal. Their ascent from Sheffield’s underground to commanding festival main stages proves that authentic heavy music, built on genuine foundations rather than industry machinations, still resonates powerfully with audiences hungry for something real.
Written by: Shadow Editor
Ratings: 8/10
About Author
