Arena level sound in a club room (for now) — here's why the hardcore ensemble are high on the "must-see" list.
Text, Photos by Raymond Camacho (@punk_monk_ray) at
Chain Reaction in Anaheim, CA on May 18, 2024:
Over the last few years, Sheffield's Malevolence have been on an upwards trajectory, one that has found them inking a record deal with Nuclear Blast Records, releasing their towering latest album Malicious Intent (2022), The Aggression Sessions (2023) three-way split with acclaimed contemporaries Fit For An Autopsy and Thy Art Is Murder, and placement on bills across the globe to name a few. More recently, the band headlined their first show in California and metal/hardcore stronghold Chain Reaction was host to the special occasion — a fitting primer to the band's arena tour run with Mastodon and Lamb of God.
We could talk about their accomplishments as much as we want, but it's their performing presence and towering songcraft that attributes to such acclaim. Though small at a 240 cap, Chain Reaction felt like an arena with track after track expanding upon the sonic scope of a Malevolence ready to take over any stage. As the title track from Malicious Intent raged on, so did the bodies that swarmed towards frontman Alex Taylor, who capitalized on the enthusiasm.
The joyous aggression of all in the room was mutual and a discography spanning set kept the night active from beginning to end. Razor sharp riffs and tide turning breakdowns filled the room as bass lines rumbled alongside the rhythmic excellence of Charlie Thorpe's drumming. Self Supremacy, Serpent's Chokehold, and Life Sentence among other Malevolence staples stood tall and commanded an audience keen to take it all in, which will only grow so much more in months and years to come. Very little breathing room was to be had throughout the vibrant Chain Reaction, and rightfully so.
This is a band still climbing the ranks of a flooded metal and hardcore arena, growing internally while building off the high praise that surrounds them. All eyes are on Malevolence and for those who arrive early during Lamb of God's and Mastodon's tour, they'll be taken aback by the grandeur of the crossover act. Head below to scroll through a photo gallery of the band's performance and check out upcoming tour dates.
Malevolence Photo Gallery
Malevolence Tour Dates (w/ Mastodon & Lamb of God) (Tickets):
7/19 – Grand Prairie, TX – Texas Trust CU Theatre
7/20 – Austin, TX – Germania Insurance Amphitheater
7/21 – Houston, TX – 713 Music Hall
7/23 – Jacksonville, FL – Daily’s Place
7/24 – Orlando, FL – Orlando Amphitheater
7/25 – Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
7/27 – Raleigh, NC – Red Hat Amphitheater
7/28 – Richmond, VA – Virginia Credit Union LIVE!
7/30 – Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE
7/31 – London, ON – Budweiser Gardens
8/1 – Montreal, QC – Bell Centre
8/3 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena
8/4 – Manchester, NH – SNHU Arena
8/6 – Bangor, ME – Maine Savings Amphitheatre
8/8 – Reading, PA – Santander Arena
8/9 – Cleveland, OH – Jacobs Pavilion
8/10 – Sterling Heights, MI – Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre @ Freedom Hill
8/13 – Moorhead, MN – Bluestem Center For The Arts Amphitheater
8/15 – Calgary, AB – Scotiabank Saddledome
8/16 – Penticton, BC – South Okanagan Events Centre
8/17 – Kent, WA – accesso ShoWare Center
8/18 – Portland, OR – Theater of the Clouds
8/21 – Los Angeles, CA – The Kia Forum
8/23 – Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Financial Theatre
8/24 – Rio Rancho, NM – Rio Rancho Events Center
8/25 – El Paso, TX – El Paso County Coliseum
8/27 – Magna, UT – The Great Saltair
8/29 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre
8/31 – Omaha, NE – The Astro Amphitheater