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The British band Malefice's third album is one that combines melodic death with metalcore. Dale Butler has a metalcore singing style and the songs have the typical metal core structure. The tracks have the predictable breakdowns, but on the other hand the melodic parts are rather interesting. The melodies in the songs make this album interesting. I think the band can develop even further on that part and if they do that on the next album, it will result in the music being more interesting.

You can compare the band with Unearth, a bit Darkane and Darkest Hour. The style is not original, but in this genre they are one of the better bands. However I doubt if they will push through to the real top acts with this album. By adding some keys in the background every now and then, the songs become indeed more interesting. One of the best tracks is in my opinion "Minutes". The keyboard line, the thrashier guitar parts and especially the variation in the singing style make this song one of the better ones. Dale Butler's metal core singing style needs more variation, but in this song he sings a bit lower at times and there are even some cleaner, more singing parts. In general I have a problem with metal core vocalists, because they sound almost the same in every band. I know that it is custom for the metal core style, but after three songs it gets boring.

The band tried to combine melodic death with metal core and for a part they have succeeded, but I think that when they work this out even more, the band's next album will be a real hammer.

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