There are truly many directions you can go in music by taking influences from all over and finding a sound that is respectful to all of those influences. Malevich continues to evolve this approach with their latest release, Under a Gilded Sun (Church Road Records). This nearly forty-minute journey borrows from black, death, and sludge metal with dashes of grindcore mixed in. There are a few tracks on the album that feature a build-to-climax song structure, similar to how post-metal bands structure their songs.
“Cross of Gold” is a good litmus test, as this track certainly incorporates the most differing subgenres, including a punk feel. The fact that the song is just over two minutes further cements this. Blast Beats and dissonant guitar riffs are showcased in the beginning, and then the track slowly comes to a halt.
Another standout track on this album is the melancholic, cleanly sung (mostly) song, “Illusion Never Changed.” Only a clean guitar and sung vocals start off the track before the drums and bass are introduced about a quarter of the way in. The instrumentation slowly grows in terms of intensity and distortion. This leads to opening up to a sludgy, almost doomy, section before wrapping up with harsh vocals once again.
“If We Sing Towards the Heavens Maybe They’ll Let Us In” hits in the back half of Under a Gilded Sun like a supernova. Right out the gate, blast beat drumming with sludgy guitar riffs pound into your ears. There is a buildup at the end of the first minute that spills out into a much heavier, slower guitar riff and slower drumming that really drive home the hopelessness of the song.
Overall, for my first time listening to Malevich, I was quite happy with my introduction by way of Under a Gilded Sun. Every track had its own blend of characteristics from the influences each band member brings to the table. While many music listeners stay within their “true” or “pure” boundaries of genres and subgenres alike, Malevich can rest assured that many heavy music lovers will be all over this record.
Buy the album here:
https://malevichatlanta.bandcamp.com/album/under-a-gilded-sun
7 / 10
TIM LEDIN
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