MALISON ROGUE — Malison Rogue (review)

MALISON ROGUE — Malison Rogue album cover Album · 2011 · Heavy Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
J-Man
If the early half of the 1980's were your favorite era for heavy metal, the debut effort from Malison Rogue is virtually guaranteed to knock your socks off. Taking influences from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, U.S. power metal, and early prog metal, Malison Rogue has delivered a formula of old school heavy metal that's bound to kick your ass! Even after a single listen, this self-titled debut had me mesmerized (and, of course, headbanging is a must). The instrumental performances are spectacular, the vocal harmonies are irresistible, and the sheer energy that this Swedish quartet possesses is admirable. Old school heavy metal like this has taken a backseat in recent years, but Malison Rogue effectively re-ignites the spark that had been absent from the scene for so long. People who long for the days when wearing tight leather jackets with skulls and pentagrams were commonplace better make sure this fine debut finds a way into their collection!

The music on Malison Rogue draws almost exclusively from 1983-1989 metal. Influences from legends like Judas Priest and Iron Maiden are apparent, and there are also prog metal influences from bands like Queensrÿche and Fates Warning. Tads of power metal are present as well (from bands like Savatage), but it's not a particularly dominant style in Malison Rogue's music. The bottom line is if you like old school heavy metal, Malison Rogue's debut is one of few albums nowadays that is fully worth all of your attention. The album opens up with a "bang" in the form of "Friend or Foe" - an absolutely irresistible metal track with a fantastic chorus and memorable riffs throughout. The album closes on a more progressive note with symphonic keyboards (but not in a cheesy way) and progressive song structure in "Everything Fades". The musicianship is also excellent - it's shocking that this is only their debut album. The talent that these lads possess can blow most veterans away.

The production is crystal-clear, but not over-stressed in any way. The sound is mixed in perfect harmony, and it's safe to conclude that this is the perfect fit for Malison Rogue.

Malison Rogue has really blown me away with their debut, and I am sincerely anxious to hear where they go from here. This album is emotionally moving, heavy, and old school in the truest sense, yet it never feels inconsistent or lacking in fresh ideas. Fans of old school heavy metal with progressive tendencies should be sure to take a look into this top-notch debut. Malison Rogue is well deserving of 4 shiny stars and a warm recommendation from this reviewer. Consider this writer to be in the "extremely impressed" category.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Metal Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

MMA TOP 5 Metal ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
Master of Puppets Thrash Metal
METALLICA
Buy this album from our partners
Paranoid Heavy Metal
BLACK SABBATH
Buy this album from our partners
Moving Pictures Hard Rock
RUSH
Buy this album from our partners
Powerslave NWoBHM
IRON MAIDEN
Buy this album from our partners
Rising Heavy Metal
RAINBOW
Buy this album from our partners

New Metal Artists

New Metal Releases

Pure Negative Attitude Hardcore Punk
FREEHOWLING
Buy this album from MMA partners
Inequiem Hardcore Punk
CICADIA
Buy this album from MMA partners
Cemetery Symmetry Hardcore Punk
HUMBLE ABODE
Buy this album from MMA partners
Sadistic Memoirs Of A Psychopath Deathcore
CONSUME THE ASSAILANT
Buy this album from MMA partners
It Wasn't Supposed To Be Like This (Instrumental) Hardcore Punk
PULSES.
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Metal Online Videos

Galleons - Electric Emotions
GALLEONS
Bosh66· 8 hours ago
Galleons - Elsewhere (Official Lyric Video)
GALLEONS
Bosh66· 8 hours ago
Galleons - Neon Dreams (Official Lyric Video)
GALLEONS
Bosh66· 8 hours ago
Galleons - I Travel East As Fievel Goes West Pt. 1 - Official Lyric Video
GALLEONS
Bosh66· 8 hours ago
FREEHOWLING - SCARS FT. AARON MATTS (TEN56.) [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]
FREEHOWLING
Bosh66· 9 hours ago
More videos

New MMA Metal Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Metal News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed