While nothing is ever set in stone, Sheffield’s Malevolence were always a prime contender to rise up in the world of heavy music. With unbridled energy and relentless drive they’ve gained success on their own terms and cleared a path for countless bands to follow. With their latest album, Where Only The Truth Is Spoken, locked and loaded and ready for release, Malevolence’s meteoric rise is set to continue and usher in a new age of British Metalcore.
It’s hard to believe that Malevolence are now in their fifteenth year, and what makes that even more puzzling is the energy with which opening shot ‘Blood To The Leech’ bursts from the speakers. The band are operating with the type of energy that characterises a debut album, not a fourth long player. However, anyone at all familiar with this South Yorkshire crew won’t be surprised with the swagger with which this album walks. The five characters who make up this crew have a kind of full-on approach to life, they are constantly switched on; there’s no downtime and not one second wasted, and that’s definitely the approach they bring to Where Only The Truth Is Spoken. There’s not an excess note on this record, the band don’t use two when one will suffice, and it is from this that it derives much of its power. Subsequently, tracks such as ‘Counterfeit’ seethe with danger and are sure to ignite pits wherever they’re unleashed. It’s a kind of musical hooliganism as pioneered by the original Cro-Mags, and Malevolence prove themselves worthy successors.
While Malevolence are kind enough to wear their influences (Pantera, Down, Despised Icon) on their collective sleeves, they are wise enough to implant their own personalities on proceedings and in doing so have put a distinctly British spin on the genre, and that comes across in the aggro that seethes from the grooves. Another inspiration on this crew were Lamb Of God and they hook up with vocalist Randy Blythe (a long time champion of the band) for a collaboration on the explosive ‘In Spite’, giving Malevolence the ultimate seal of approval.
At the end of every Bloodstock and Download festival a burning question is who will be future headliners now that the heritage bands are shuffling off to the great gig in the sky. Where Only Truth Is Spoken provides the answer.
- Where Only Truth Is Spoken is released via MLVLTD/Nuclear Blast on 20th June 2025.
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Track List:
1. Blood From The Leach
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
