Whoever is making the calls at Church Road Records is doing a sterling job of finding great new bands for us to get excited about. Bristol outfit Mallavora are the latest addition to a growing roster of excellent metal acts and their debut album entitled What If Better Never Comes? hits hard in terms of sonics and emotional impact. The quartet consist of guitarist Larry Sobieraj, bassist Ellis James, drummer Sam Brownlow and the supremely talented vocalist Jessica Douek. If you’re a fan of the likes of Rolo Tomassi, Spiritbox and Ithaca, then you might like to give this album a spin.
After a brief intro piece ‘Smile’ gets us underway and the song switches between soaring eastern tinged verses and hammer blow brutal chops. Lead song ‘Waste’ contains the hook that caught this fish with some effervescent melodies providing earworms amidst the screams and charging riffs. Fizzy riffs buzz around Jessica’s immaculate vocals for a supercharged track that employs stunning dynamics with plenty of melodic hooks.
‘Hopeless’ takes things down a notch with a beautiful melody that reminds me of the sadly disbanded Ithaca. When the seismic chorus swings in it is heartbreaking. Jessica really pushes her vocals, and she sounds like a huskier Ann Wilson. ‘Break’ brings in progressive metal elements with guitars, drums and voice flitting about with random abandon. ‘Birth of a Sun’ hits hard from the get-go with punishing riffs and throat shredding vocals fusing with soaring clean vocal lines. Every thud of the drums leaving imprints in your brain.
The primary theme of the album theme comes from Jessica’s ability to live with disability (she suffers from the energy sapping Fibromyalgia). ‘Sick’ drives home the message and knowing this, you can only but marvel at the energy in her vocal performance throughout this album. She roars “It’s coming for you, you think you’re immune” with a heightened level of rage. ‘Walking The Edge of the Knife’ blasts holes in your cranium with incisive riffs and explosive drums as Jessica tears out another memorable melody amidst anguished screams.
‘Empty’ has an epic feeling melody as Jessica intones “What a mess we’ve made, we look the other way, so nothing ever changes” which can apply to world “leaders” as much as the kind of person who films awful things on their phone rather than help someone in need. Despite the hopeless message the song sounds triumphant, as the massive finale sweeps you up with majestic waves of guitars and keyboards all topped off with Jessica’s stunning vocals. ‘Make The World Wait’ piles on ethereal atmospherics with floaty guitars and Jessica tenderly singing a yearning melody. Eschewing the heavy guitars of the rest of the album the layers and textures have stunning depth which mesmerise.
‘Host’ aims for those earth inhabitants who have a blood lust for gaining territory at whatever cost with no consideration for life, or the future of the planet. As the track swells in volume and intensity Jessica sings “I told you once, there’s poison in your eyes…you’re a parasite” which can be levelled to so many these days. The line “Someone find me a remedy, as you kill me slowly” may also be pointed to her physical condition. Either road, that lyric stands out for me.
The title track and album closer ‘What If Better Never Comes?’ drops with a mighty collision of scorching guitars, soaring synths and heavy beats. Bringing in spacious synths the song transforms as the guitars alternate between delicate swathes to brutal riffage with consummate ease. Jessica questions “Where is all your empathy?” before a beautiful passage of heavenly vocals drops jaws. As the song winds to a close, the combination of stunning vocals and layered guitars leaves quite the imprint.
For a debut album, Mallavora have really excelled and set the bar very high for themselves. The tones and atmospherics are a stunning contrast to the hefty metallic sounds. In this day and age, bands with that ability tend to get noticed as there is mainstream crossover potential. This album is a triumph against adversity and packs an emotional punch. Highly recommended.
