In a world swimming with music and spiralling postage costs, sometimes the relationship never goes beyond digital files being in my bandcamp collection and hard drive. I thought this would be the case with Atlanta Georgia four piece Malevich but in 2024 they tackled an increasingly difficult task of pulling off a UK tour. Not only did I get to experience their blend of chaos and calm in a live venue, I also managed to pick up some physical copies of releases. It gave me even more joy to see Church Road Records releasing the next instalment and I am so grateful they have. Under A Gilded Sun has all the moments of the bands back catalogue but it’s a massive statement and movement forward. The maelstrom of ten tracks covers numerous emotions and genres with absolute aplomb.
It can seem daunting to say how much is going on and how many genres are amalgamated but Malevich pulls from their extensive back catalogue and experience to completely nail everything that is captured here. All the ingredients to make this are prominent in the band’s history and on Under A Gilded Sun the transitions are so seamless that the genres meld together rather than compete. The band swings between the Still like blackened post-hardcore dissonance of ‘Blossom In Full Force’, through Glassingesque erratic-doomgaze on ‘Delirium and Confidence’, to full on Sumac angular noise heaviness in ‘A Sun That Only Sets’ without a hint of awkwardness. The sheer force of passion and emotion emitted from the tracks makes this an incredible listening experience.
It is impressive that Malevich spans from grinding technical death metal to rousing post-hardcore and back in the space of a few beats during the opening barrage of the album, but it also manages to drop into a near ballad and out again and make it seem perfectly reasonable. Midpoint ‘Illusion Never Changed’ is something the band have in the locker from the past and it makes for a swelling track which is far more than just a palate cleanser. Malevich does more than enough to have an identity in all these genre takes and it really is an emphasis on raw emotional output that can be heard in the harrowing vocals and frenzied playing as well as the calmer space. As mentioned, in a similar manner to Glassing and SUMAC there is a real weight to the guitar which is heavy and hefty. However, there are so many light spots that they never leave grief or anger on the shoulders of the listener but share and unburden in glorious fashion.
Malevich has perfectly encapsulated its live performance and previous endeavours to create something meaningful and stunning. There is just something about this style and execution that is so intoxicating that I know I will be coming back to this for years to come. From rage to beauty, Malevich manages to find enough in the world to find balance and make an absolutely wonderful album. Also it would be remiss of me not to mention the sterling work of Church Road Records, a label that never rests and never fails, if you aren’t a subscriber I highly recommend it.
