Malevolent is the newest band to join the ranks of the so-called ‘cinematic metal’ trend, with its debut self-titled EP released on 21st December 2023, courtesy of Necktwister Records. Mostly an offshoot of symphonic metal, which has also been merged with components of gothic metal, fans can expect the usual dark undertones, epic harmonies, and rich orchestral arrangements of these styles to be at the core of their identity.
You might think ‘Malevolent‘ is a rather strange choice for the band’s moniker at first, given the symphonious nature and overall pleasantness of their music. It feels like it is perhaps more befitting of a technical death metal band (or something to that effect). But it starts to make a little more sense when you take into account the basic underlying theme for this release, with the lyrics of each song revolving around a “post-apocalyptic malevolent world”. Even more of a surprise though is that at the heart of Malevolent’s line-up lies just two integral band members: the veteran Belgian composer, guitarist, and producer, Nikolaas Van Riet, and Spanish lead vocalist Celica Soldream.
However, they are helped out in the studio by a few session musicians, and you can easily imagine this needing to be the case considering the sheer size and scale of their sonority. Amongst the recruited talent is none other than Mark Jansen (guest vocals), who scarcely requires any type of introduction for fans of this style of metal, due to his highly influential work in After Forever/Epica. Also contributing to this project is Koen Herfst (drums), Jan Verschueren (lead guitar), and legendary producer/mixing engineer Joost Van den Broek (Powerwolf, Epica, Ayreon). Each of their qualifications ensures that the finished product embodies the highest possible standards, and has an extremely polished quality.
The EP has a total of 4 individual tracks (or more, if you are lucky enough to have access to the bonus song “The Awakening“). The first of these is “Gaze“, which commences with the sacred-sounding chants of a male choir, soon immaculately overlaid with the graceful, and angelic singing of Celica’s silky voice. As the number picks up momentum, so too does the fullness and heaviness of the created soundscape as the band swings into a full offensive. The Spanish-influence of Celica’s voice also becomes a little more noticeable, and at times is reminiscent of Mexican singer Marcela Bovio, though with a smoother, softer edge. As a peculiar sidenote, each of the song titles may seem a tad nondescript on their own, but one assumes this is because they are designed to be read in combination with the band’s name (i.e. Malevolent Gaze, Malevolent Ways, etc).
Wherever you look, a malevolent gaze
Malevolent – “Gaze”
Whatever we try, a lost race
We are the last suffering against unholy ruthless kings
A rush of fear is taking control
The introduction to “Ways” indulges in a more neo-classical sound palette, whereas “Light” is sprinkled with a healthy profusion of piano notes and catchy, vowel vocalisations atop a swirling symphony of orchestral strings and crunchy guitar distortion. It is easy to observe the Celtic/Medieval influences of Celica’s tonality throughout the EP, but especially so with songs such as these two. And she delivers a much needed calm and heroic atmosphere to the crafted compositions, particularly given the tense subject matter. The greatest song is saved for last in my humble opinion, as “Creations“ features both Celica and Mark singing the most memorable vocal melodies in unison over the heavy and ornate instrumentation. Despite this fact, I feel compelled to point out that the artistry is better consumed as whole package, rather than as individualised items. The songs are kind of lacking the commercial elements that are required for any one of them to be a sure-fire hit single. Malevolent may want to hone their efforts in this area to enhance their marketability, and have a chance at making a more immediate impact on potential listeners. But aside from this critical detail, this is still a highly absorbing first entry that is likely to leave you salivating to hear more.
Verdict: Malevolent’s eponymous EP is an ambitious new endeavour that already matches the industry benchmarks laid down by their more illustrious peers in the symphonic metal sub-genre. However, due to its brief running time, it shall only serve to whet your appetite, instead of truly satisfying it. Here’s hoping we get to experience a longer release from this promising band in the very near (and hopefully still apocalypse-free) future.
