What makes The Malefice by Pentagram Chile notable?

The Malefice received critical acclaim for its technical proficiency and dark themes, contributing to the band's reputation as pioneers of the Chilean death metal scene. It has influenced numerous underground bands and showcased the evolution of Latin American heavy metal on a global scale. Released in 2013, The Malefice is the third studio album by Pentagram Chile, following their 2007 release, The First Death. At this point in their career, the band was solidifying their place within the South American metal scene, building on a legacy established by earlier works while refining their sound.

How many songs are on The Malefice?

The Malefice has 9 tracks, running approximately 45 minutes.

The Malefice

Pentagram Chile · 2013

45 min · 9 tracks · death metal

A relentless barrage of intricate riffs and guttural vocals, enveloped in a dark atmospheric intensity that defines Chilean death metal.

Spotify Apple Music

YouTube Music YouTube Deezer Bandcamp SoundCloud

Own it: Amazon eBay

Top tracks — play these first

→
The Death of Satan — This opening track sets a fierce tone with its aggressive instrumentation and thematic focus on defiance against conventional beliefs, establishing the album's overall aesthetic.
→
Horror Vacui — The song blends intricate guitar work with haunting melodies, reflecting both technical skill and emotional depth while exploring existential dread.
→
Spontaneous Combustion — This track showcases a dynamic shift in pacing and rhythm, highlighting the band's ability to craft engaging compositions that maintain intensity throughout.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

72 /100

Treeline

Higher than 59% of albums we've rated

The album showcases technical proficiency and dark themes typical of Chilean death metal.

What we noticed

Guttural vocals are layered with harmonized guitar riffs, creating a dense soundscape that is characteristic of the genre.
Each track typically maintains a high tempo, with only brief moments of respite, such as the slower sections in 'Arachnoids'.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 6/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 7/10

Influence 4/10

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.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 The Death of Satan 5:22
2 La Fiura 4:28
3 The Apparition 6:04
4 Horror Vacui 4:09
5 Spontaneous Combustion 5:03
6 Grand Design 5:41
7 Sacrophobia 4:56
8 Arachnoids 4:22
9 Prophetic Tremors 5:41

What to play next

Go back to

Pentagram

2000

Full Pentagram Chile discography Artists like Pentagram Chile

death metal

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata