www.metalbladerecords.com www.youtube.com/maleficetv
www.myspace.com/malefice
Hi Malefice , Congratulations on the Release of your Album Dawn of Reprisal through Metal Blade Records.
Q. Can you tell us about Dawn of Reprisal how it takes the listener on a journey of death, destruction, injustice and the end times, to the powerful polished sound of brutal, hard hitting metal attack?
Ben: We went into writing this album wanting to create something massive! It needed to be heavier than hell, fast as shit and as epic as the most epic thing... we really wanted to take the listener on a rollercoaster of emotions whether its pure rage and aggressions, right through to reflective and empowered!
Q. Was Dawn of Reprisal recorded with a live sound or in digital recording with the computer?
Ben: It was recorded with all live instruments everything you hear on the record has been played! We wanted it to sound very real but with the polish and finesse that comes with recording digitally with programmes like Pro tools. I think we’ve ended up with a very heavy powerful sounding album but maintained a clarity so the listener can enjoy listening to it and taking in all the layers!
Q. Who helped with the mixing and mastering of this Album?
Ben: The 2 guys at the helm of the producing and mixing of the album were Dan Weller and Justin hill of Wellerhill Productions, we used them on Entities and knew they were the only guys for the job second time round! As for mastering, it was all done at 360 Mastering by Dick Beetham, and it sounds awesome!!
Q. Dawn of Reprisal differs in song themes from your previous Album Entities which seems to cover all things we know about undiscovered and hidden what motivates Malefice to come up with their awesome deep lyrics and who writes your songs?
Ben: Dale (vocals) writes all the lyrics for our songs. A lot of what he writes about are his views and his take on things going on in our world today, whether it be terrorism or global warming or government……that’s not to say that we are in anyway a political band, but we write music and lyrics about things that affect our lives, and I think for Dale writing all this down and being able to scream about it for up to an hour a night is the best way for him to release all these feelings.. otherwise he'd probably be in a prison.. or dead somewhere!
Q. I noticed that both Albums differ in the sound is Malefice always trying new techniques with their sounds?
Ben: When we went into the studio we knew we had to record an album that sounded better than Entities, we felt we had better songs than on entities and we had matured our sound whilst writing it, and to reflect that we needed a more mature, modern sounding album! We had a very good working relationship with the Wellerhill guys, and they understand our band and the direction we wanted to go and they did a great job of capturing that. Q. Both the cover Art of Dawn of Reprisal and Entities are awesome who did the Artwork for these CD’s?
Ben: The artwork for ‘entities’ was done by James Caygill, and he captured what we were after at that time. For ‘Dawn of Reprisal’, we wanted something really specific, which would show in art what we were trying to say on the album. We’d admired the work that Colin Marks from Rainsong Art had done, and we feel he really came up with the goods.
Q. Did the band produce an Album in 2006 called Relentless?” I’m just curious but if you don’t want us to post this we won’t.
Ben: We recorded an EP yes.. it was released but wasn’t available for very long. It did help us in securing our 1st record deal with ‘Anticulture’, the label which we later released Entities through.
Q. Malefice formed in 2003 has there been any changes in the current lineup since then and do all the members share the same influences for their music?
Ben: We have had a few line up changes... our first bassist left very early on before we had recorded anything. We then had Lloyd, who was in the band throughout the writing and recording of the Relentless E.P, and he left just before we started writing Entities.. Then we got the almighty Tom Hynes in and he's a keeper! We all share the same love of metal though we all listen to lots of different styles of music outside of ‘Malefice’, but when it comes to writing were like one massive brain.. we know what works!
Q. I guess everyone is gearing up for the Metal Blade Assault U.K. Tour featuring Malefice, The Rotted and Anterior will you be selling Malefice merchandise and CD’s and covering live video footages of Malefice while on this tour?
Ben: Hell yeah, we'll have hopefully 2 maybe 3 t shirts available and other bits and pieces, not sure about the album though! We always take my Video camera on tour and try and capture all the craziness that goes on! We like to be able to give people an insight to what we’re like as people and how shit goes down on tour when you’re with Malefice!
Q. I seen a funny side of the band in their videos on their last European tour and the killer live shows the band puts on how did this tour go did you receive a great turn out of fans?
Ben: We’ve been lucky in that the majority of shows we’re doing now have a very healthy turn out! But to be honest.. it doesn’t matter if there’s 5000, 500, or 50 people in a room. If they are there to see you and are having a good time, we’re gonna put on the same show regardless! We’re there to play the music we love and were gonna do it our way everynight!
Q. What other bands has Malefice shared the stage or opened up for on previous music festivals and tours?
Ben: The last couple of years have been awesome for us... We started off by opening up for Sepultura! Then went on to do a tour with Devil Driver and God Forbid, they were so cool with us, made our first ‘proper’ tour really special….... did a few 1 off shows with Chimaira and Arch Enemy then towards the end of the year did the Darkest Hour tour! Although the highlight for us would have to be the opportunity to play at Download, that was a crazy surreal experience, as anyone who has seen the footage will agree!! Very good year indeed! Let’s see if we can better it this year!
Q. Are there any wild and funny stories to tell from your last European tour?
Ben: The problem with touring is you’re always so drunk when the crazy shit happens, you wake up and can’t remember any of it! I think the 1st night we arrived in Holland we had no gig that night so we all went out into town, got wasted and our drummer got into a fairly heated exchange with someone in a kebab shop on the way home! I’m pretty sure he has no recollection of that happening!
Q. Malefice has lots of sponsors and endorsement with music companies are they all based in Europe or are there some based in the USA?
Ben: We have sponsors from all over. We always want the best, so one look at our myspace will show that we have been lucky to get together with some truly awesome people, from clothing and cases, to amps and cabs, cymbals and guitars. Without the help from these guys, taking Malefice to the next level would be so much harder!!
Q. Will Malefice be creating a dot com website or will the band be using their MySpace page www.myspace.com/malefice as their main website?
Ben: As it stands, I think the Myspace will be the main website for a little while.... in the era we’re in now, as a fan of music I don’t look for the bands website, I look them up on myspace, it’s a lot easier! We will no doubt have a .com or a.co.uk site up and running at some point in the not too distant future, but as for when I’m unsure!
Q. What is the bands focus for 2009 are you working on new material for another Album, concentrating on major touring any career goals?
Ben: The focus for this year is touring, touring, touring... we had a bit of time the last month or so to squeeze in a bit of writing! But mainly it’s all about getting out there and touring everywhere we possibly can! As for career goals.. is world domination a bit over used?? To get on tours with bands that we’ve been fans of for years would be an amazing experience for us! So Lamb of god, Unearth, Metallica, Slayer... if you’re interested give us a call!
Q. Before we wrap up our interview do you have any shout outs to fans and friends?
Ben: All the fans that have been with us the last few years, thank you! And everyone else out there that’s soon to become a fan...Welcome!...Strap your selves in coz were gonna fuck you up!
