I'll start with a short introduction about this four piece based in England. MALEFICE began their work in 2003 while the entire lineup knew each other's since college period. Soon afterwards they began to write their own material. After the first gig their reputation grew higher until they got distribution deal for their debut EP "Relentless" through Hangman's Joke distro. In early 2007 they released their first album "Entitles" and went on a major tour, performing with one of the greatest bands - SOULFLY. In 2008 MALEFICE got signed a worldwide deal through Metal Blade Records. On 2009 they released their second album "Dawn of Reprisal". "Awaken The Tides" is their new release which continuing the same musical line they started.

When I received the album first of all I noticed the album's artwork which is so brilliant. It reflected exactly the title of the album - the tides on the cover are the symbol of their music that tends to range from a melodic to an energetic end.

The album starts with the s/t track album, very technical playing, singing that moves from growl to screaming full of energy from low to high range alongside to the melodic guitar section. I was astonished by the drummer's technical ability as it was presented as a fast machine that changes the beat each time and sets the tone as one of the main instruments on the album. On the second track "Delirium", which is no different from the first, yet here I could really hear the Hardcoreinfluences. The first three tracks were OK and yes, I felt the Metal energy in the music especially with their third song "Dead In The Water". Nevertheless, it only came in their forth song  "Minutes" which showed me the other side of MALEFICE. The song took to a melodic direction manned with sad harmonies by keyboards. I am not a big fan of keyboards but here it provided the sad atmosphere its power and I could feel the agony in the vocalist's singing. This is their best track. There is this energy which serves them through the entire album with their first songs side by side to the melodic course. After another shot of Metalcore songs I got another melodic one "The days The Sky Fell" which starts with a rising tension of marching drums, and built by a nice slow melody but carry you all over the song."Flood of red" is another good track; the guitar solo is amazing, fits as well to the sorrow feeling that MALEFICE intended which ended with a powerful core part that will blow your head.

To sum up, MALEFICE brought something else from all the core genre, I wish that they would lean more on their melodic side because this is what makes them unique from all the others.