Malacoda – Crawling Chaos EP
Release Date: 2nd April 2021
Label: Self Released
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Genre: Gothic Metal, Symphonic Metal, Alt-Rock.
FFO: Type O Negative, Paradise Lost, My Dying Bride, Katatonia, Draconian.
Review By: Jonathon Hopper
A gothic metal outfit from Ontario, Canada, Malacoda have been gracing the local scene since 2014, during which time they’ve released two full length albums and an EP. Having taken a sabbatical whilst originator/ main creative Lucas di Mascio (full disclosure: a fellow scribe at the Metal Epidemic) pursued solo projects, 2021 sees the band – now augmented by guitarist Wes MacDonald, bassist Zak Stulla and drummer Victor Boechat – return with a new EP of thrills and chills.
Crawling Chaos opens with the title track, a soulful lament basking in lush keyboards and haunting backing vocals courtesy of Beth Wilson; it’s an atmospheric not to say aptly named forage into Paradise Lost territory with a cinematic edge that one could imagine playing out over a backdrop of fog-shrouded tomb stones.
Deadlights follows, introducing itself with a chorus of parping keys – a symphonic twist that neatly propels it into pocket Nightwish territory. A fun and theatrical entry into the Malacoda canon that even conjures up images of Finnish lords of latex Lordi at their most OTT.
After a nice blood-curdler of a scream by way of introduction, From the Depths descends into a mid-tempo chugger. Musically, not one that lives long in the memory but it does display a neat turn of gallous lyrical humour for which the band have become known – di Mascio and guest vocalist James Delbridge from fellow Ontarians Lycanthro growling, “from the depths you came, and there you’ll remain – oh what a shame!”
Which just leaves closer The Harsh Law to round things out. A lurching stomper with (spoiler alert) an ending that makes it sound like they forgot to pay the electricity bill; to my ears at least it feels a little restrained and – for all the cinematic flourish – it doesn’t quite capture the energy and flair of the opening two numbers.
While for my money not every song quite hits the mark, for anyone looking for a quick Paradise Lost/Type O fix Malacoda have much to offer.
Downloads of the Crawling Chaos EP can be purchased from the band’s own website, malacodametal.com.
(3 / 5)
