In Malice’s Wake
Visions of Live Destruction
Independent
Release Date: Out Now
Review by Joshua Bulleid
I’ve long held that In Malice’s Wake’s most recent record, The Thrashening, is the best thrash metal album of the last ten years – ranking right up there alongside the best of the genre. Whatever your feelings about their studio output, however, there is no denying the band’s ferocious live presence, which is documented for the first time, here, on the Visions of Live Destruction CD/DVD combo.
Visions Of Live Destruction captures the Melbourne band in full force, delivering a pummeling hometown set at The Bendigo Hotel, while headlining the Legions Of Steel festival in late June of 2014. The set is shot with nine HD cameras, including a few strapped to the heads of some eager punters in the pit, so it is a much more up close and personal affair than most live music releases.
The music speaks for itself and the band are as formidable live here than ever. The set draws equally from The Thrashening and the band’s 2012 debut, Eternal Nightfall – as well as two impressive new songs, Hear The Howls and Sign Of The Times – with the older songs sounding just as savage as the newer cuts in the aggressive, live setting.
The head-held footage and frantic editing can be a bit nauseating at times but it really does capture the intimate atmosphere of a live gig and the enthusiasm of the rowdy crowd seeps through from the footage. Visions Of Live Destruction is an excellent example of one of Australia’s premier live acts in top form.
