Rating: 9.7

Country: USA

Release Date: 2004

Record Label: Arctic Music Group

Track list:
1. Eve Of The Apocalypse
2. Multiple Stab Wounds
3. Manic Demise
4. Blood Brothers
5. Kill Zone
6. Rebirth Of Terror
7. Slaughter Of Innocence
8. To Die Is At Hand
9. Coronation Of Our
Domain [MP3]
10. Monster
11. All That Remains
12. Alliance Or War
13. Infernal Desire
14. Living In Fear
15. Malevolent Creation

Recorded on Brazil on 2003 tour

Band Website: Malevolent Creation

Malevolent Creation - Conquering South America

Phil Fasciana - Guitar
Rob Barret - Guitar
Kyle Symons - Vocals
Gordom Simms - Bass
Tony Laureano - Drums

Right off the bat allow me to say I love both live death metal albums AND Malevolent Creation. While I realize not everyone likes live releases I still have yet to find out why some don't like Malevolent Creation, one of the most consistently great bands in the genre. So with an hour of live Malevolence little can go wrong right?

RIGHT! One hour, 15 songs and only one major flaw: it's not a double disc! If one were to make “the best of” Malevolent Creation” including every single release it might as well be a triple CD as far as I'm concerned. Alas I'll have to settle with what's given. Before I delve into paragraph after paragraph let's get the bad out of the way shall we?

1) No tracks from 'Stillborn', 'Joe Black' or 'In Cold Blood'… maybe you don't mind the exclusion of these songs but I love the “music” contained on 'Stillborn', the track "Joe Black" is blistering, and it'd be nice to hear 'In Cold Blood' material with the new lineup/sound. Also only one track is featured from 'Envenomed'… why? I have NO clue, I love that one!

2) Kyle's vocals for the most part are all higher pitched-all the time. Works well for some songs, not so well for others. Even though you'll (at least I did) get used to it half way through an3d while he sounds infinitely better than Jason Blachowicz, you'll STILL want back Brett Hoffman.

3) Session drummer Tony Laureano (Nile, Ex-Angel Corpse) fudges up the intro to "Blood Brothers".
And with that aside let's get sick shall we?!

The live assault opens with (long time live opener) "The Eve of Apocalypse" complete with it's creepy Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer intro. Following this intro is of course the opening track of most Malevolent Creation fans favorite release the eternally glorious 'Retribution'. In fact it seems the band knows this is the usual fan favorite as this live outing boasts 4 tracks from it (only the 'Eternal' releases features four here as well ,most albums feature two tracks). The sound is excellent. The current Malevolent guitar sound is represented well here. Razor sharp, as ruthless and savage as it is finely intricate. Think a recently sharpened and cleaned guillotine ready for decapitating a whole days worth of (most likely innocent) victims.

World's collide as the weak step aside allowing second track "Multiple Stab Wounds" from the band's classic debut to slice through what "Eve of the Apocalypse" perhaps left behind. Symons does well with the rapid fire vocal lines in this proving he is a worthy replacement to Brett Hoffman's illustrious, articulate throne of vocal vehemence. Up next in order is 'The Fine Art of Murder's "Manic Demise", 'Eternal's "Blood Brothers" and 'Envenomed's lone track "Kill Zone". "Manic Demise" of course sounds better than the album version, "Blood Brothers" as previously mentioned has an unfortunately altered drum intro but STILL crushes (especially with Kyle's much more vicious vocal approach) and "Kill Zone" which while still a good song could've been "Serial Dementia" or "Homicidal Rant" instead-oh well, I'm enjoying this even so!

Next is a track from the album this tour supported "Rebirth of Terror" where you will hear Kyle Symons at perhaps his highest vocal range. Following is 'Retribution's "Slaughter of Innocence" (and yes “DIE! Mother Fucker!” is included!) which as you can imagine definitely kicks ass. Next up another song from 'The Fine Art of Murder', the band's 7th full length's opener "To Die is at Hand". Closing the 'Retribution' lifted tracks are "Coronation of Our Domain" and "Monster" two classic brutal slabs from the early days to introduce the final “new” number "All that Remains". Speaking of "All that Remains" seems like Kyle had some microphone troubles here marking the FIRST and ONLY recording fuck up on the entire release, proving #1 this was not cleaned up and fixed in the studio and #2 Malevolent Creation just kick that much live ass!

Near the end we are given a trinity of flesh peeling numbers from 'Eternal' were Kyle promises us fans of the fast will enjoy the next few. All three tracks would be my favorites from 'Eternal': "Alliance or War" (with full intro “Get some! Get some!”), "Infernal Desire" (with the samples spoken out loud-which is actually pretty funny when he starts quoting the Exorcist part) and "Living in Fear". Closing this wicked excursion into a live Malevolent Creation experience is the self titled track, the epic, monstrous, classic and proud number: "Malevolent Creation". The first listen sent chills down my spine.

NO ONE can destroy THIS Malevolent Creation. Drug abuse, money troubles, label bullshit, death metal's “down time” nothing destroyed Malevolent Creation and nothing ever will.

Final words: why was this not 3 hours instead of just one? Fucking excellent live album and a must for every fan of Malevolent Creation new and old!

March 20th, 2005