Malevolence
New Years Day · 2015
42 min · 12 tracks · alternative rock
A fierce blend of alternative metal and pop-punk, laced with dark themes and anthemic choruses.
Top tracks — play these first
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Kill or Be Killed — This opening track sets the tone for the album with its aggressive riffs and powerful lyrics about survival and defiance, capturing the band's signature sound.
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Alone — A standout moment on the album, this track combines melodic elements with heavy verses, reflecting themes of isolation and inner conflict that resonate throughout the record.
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Your Ghost — 'Your Ghost' showcases a more vulnerable side of the band, blending haunting melodies with raw emotional weight, making it a memorable highlight in their discography.
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Defame Me — This track features catchy hooks and biting lyrics about reputation and resilience, serving as an anthem for those who feel marginalized or misunderstood.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends aggressive and melodic elements effectively but lacks standout compositions that elevate it further.
What we noticed
- The first five tracks maintain a high energy level with aggressive guitar riffs and driving rhythms, while the subsequent tracks introduce more melodic elements.
- Choruses are consistently anthemic, often featuring layered vocals that create a sense of urgency and emotional intensity.
- Several tracks incorporate dynamic shifts, alternating between heavy verses and softer, introspective sections, particularly in 'Alone' and 'Your Ghost'.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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5/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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5/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady mid-tempo emotional release
- cathartic anthems for frustration
- haunting melodies for introspection
- consistently engaging throughout listening
- aggressive riffs for empowerment
Maybe skip if you
- prefer immediate gratification tracks
- dislike consistent pacing and flow
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released on January 1, 2015, 'Malevolence' marked New Years Day's second studio album, following their debut 'Victim to Villain'. At this point in their career, the band was solidifying their presence in the alternative metal scene, attracting a wider audience with their combination of heavy instrumentation and catchy melodies.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Halestorm· Tonight Alive· We Are the In Crowd
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Scream
The vocal delivery shifts from soft to intense emphasizes a struggle against internal demons.
This dynamic shift in vocal intensity mirrors the lyrical theme of battling one's own fears, enhancing the song’s emotional impact.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Kill or Be Killed 3:52
- 2 I'm About to Break You 3:20
- 3 Alone 3:24
- 4 Left Inside 3:11
- 5 Relentless 3:09
- 6 Save Myself From Me 3:19
- 7 Suffer 3:50
- 8 Anthem of the Unwanted 3:30
- 9 Scream 3:27
- 10 Your Ghost 3:34
- 11 Defame Me 3:18
- 12 Malevolence 4:15
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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