First of all, for all the fans out there…let me start by saying that we’ll be getting 20 songs on this album…so was the wait worth it? Let’s see how it went…spoiler alert…yes, it’s awesome.

The heart, mind and soul of MAL are Pete Hollywood on bass, Kris Jung on guitar and vocals, Brendan Reynolds on drums.

MAL is the kind of band that hits you with its charisma from the very first second…I remember only TOOL did that to me before.

Same as TOOL, MAL puts a lot of heart into making their music and their not afraid to veer of the normal or the expected, that is actually one of their strongest suites and a perfect edge to have in a market that has a high expectability ratio…I don’t know if that is even a real word, but you get it.

MAL graces their fans and any alt rock music lover with 20 musical trips in their album “Come To Light”…they change the genres, the energies, the mood, the direction very artfully and very rock-like…they do what they love and they just be themselves, I love this attitude because it’s very honest, raw and brings the real artist inside and unlocks the full potential of the artist.

All songs in this album were written, recorded, produced, and performed by MAL at Cartwheeling Whores Records, Van Nuys, CA.

The album was mixed and mastered by Andrew Haller at Android Studio, Granada Hills, CA.

…and of course the cover art by the amazing Larry Carlson.

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The album has its songs laid out in a smart and thoughtful way…so they take us on this ride starting with “Sleeper”, a genre-bending beginning to the album with its mix of psychedelic and heavy rock, very charismatic, unique and very heavy melodic riffing experience, with a super-energetic vocal performance…

…right after that, the album takes you to the title track “Come To Light”, an even more energetic experience, faster and heavier…getting your blood pumping more and more…

…then you’re sucked into “Ritual”…and as the name would imply, this is a very mantra-like trance-state of heavy melodic distorted bass, a very steady percussive foundation that reinforces this mantra experience…a very laid back alt rock track…now the energy is getting more chill…

After that, it takes you back to the energy with its fourth song “Besides”…a more energetic and melodic experience, with its heavy chorus and laid back verses, the experience is ramping up once again, but in a balanced way…

That is what I mean when I said “Come To Light” is a very smartly laid out album, managing the emotions of the audience members in a very balanced approach, making us feel the emotional rollercoaster more than ever.

I would say that MAL could have TOOL as one of their influences…soaring vocals, catchy unique guitar riffs, hard hitting distorted basslines, awesome evolving drum beats that keep the energy going…I love the artwork for the album too, very trippy and catchy.

This album should be experienced like a movie more than an album…you should go at it in one sitting, it’s worth it.

…delving deeper into the album you’ll come across more avant-garde musical journeys like the amazing “Wormsign”…I bet it doesn’t sound like anything you’ve heard before…it’s an indescribable masterpiece that you should experience for yourself.

“Come To Light” is a treasure chest, the more you dive deeper, the more gems you find…as what happened with me with track 14, Reprise MAL 3rd Movement…it’s a very energetic and fast tempoed experience, more grungy with some punk touches here and there…that’s something completely different from what came before it or after it in the album.

The album ends with “Commit Me”, a heavy ballad that feels like the endings credits to this very heartfelt, heavy and diverse musical trip…you’ll find a lot of emotions and moods in this album, it’s a comprehensive alt rock dictionary for all rock fans out there…and also to any fan of the ‘unique’ side of rock, the avant-garde, the explorers out there will find many things to absolutely love in “Come To Light”.

We wish all the best to the awesome people of MAL, this album came at the right time to a lot of rock fans out there, I’m sure of it, I’m one of them.

Keep’em coming…we can’t wait to see what you have planned next for the world…keep on shining guys.

Cheers!

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MAL is more than comfortable in their own skin, steering clear from norms in rock music and being true to the influences that shaped their sound. The band fills a niche, yet powerful space reserved for progressive, intelligent arrangements with a familiar rock energy, and the group shamelessly leans into those sounds that fans of progressive, space, shoegaze, grunge and post rock will appreciate. The trio, which includes Peter Hollywood (Bass), Kristopher Jung (Vocals/Guitar) and Brendan Reynolds (Drums), formed as a band in 2012 after spending time playing in other area groups and gaining experience in the music industry. 

Over the past decade, MAL has carefully evolved their sound with each album and single, keeping their relationship as musicians and close friends aligned with their passion for writing music that is authentic and is memorable. The band can craft approachable rock tracks, but also throw a curveball with 14 minute, multi-genre singles paired with incredible visuals. MAL has shared the stage with Alien Ant Farm, VOLTO (Danny Carey of TOOL), Saul, Boy Hits Car and Andrew W Boss. The band has been featured heavily in the media, including coverage by Rock Era Mag, Mesmerized, Headbangers News, Iggy Mag, Audioelectica and more.

The band speaks further on the single; “Madness As Lift is a glimpse into the mind of the unstable, ignorant, and completely lost souls who are looking for purpose among the fringe of old, unsustainable ideas that lead to insanity. To quote Bette Midler, Madness is “the wind beneath” their wings. This is a creepy song….as it should be. This is the 4th single from MAL ahead of our Summer, full-length album release titled, COME TO LIGHT, due out this August! The song follows no traditional arrangement. It drones (just as the drones of the fringes do), and becomes almost chaotic in schizophrenic polyrhythmic sections that burst into aggression and fury.”

Press via Bradley Public Relations & Marketing

“Madness As Lift” begins with a howling wind sound accompanied by a mono guitar riff followed by the drums build up along with the stoner vocals of Kristopher Jung, which just hit you with the psycho doubled guitar riff and vocals with the amount of craziness that keeps going getting you up and excited for a pit.

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MAL is using nasty build-up to the chaos brilliantly, with heavy guitar riffs and screaming vocals imposing the existence of madness and delivering the message the track was written to deliver. 

The track reminded me much of my personal favorite Avenged Sevenfold with their newly released album “Life Is But A Dream”, the track “Madness As Lift” is having things in common as the crazy vibes that fly all over the place along with the chaotic and progressive theme and the jumping from the mellow/mono vocals to the screams, and also same applies to the guitars, the basslines played by Peter Hollywood and drum lines played by “Brendan Reynolds”.

As mad as it gets, and as chaotic as it sounds, “Madness As Lift” will still be a real rock & roll track that enhances your energy and pushes you around in the pit.

This is what MAL is talking about in their latest single “Hero’s Gold.”

MAL is one of the most consistent artists out there right now…

…one hit after another is not an easy feat to pull off, but they do…somehow.

“Hero’s Gold” veers a little bit off the darker path that MAL have perfected and have been known for, opting for a more pop/rock mood and feel.

The main guitar riff is super catchy and rocky too…and combined with the drum beat…it gives a little bit of a trippy experience…maybe because it gives out a polyrhythmic swing to the whole experience…it feels complex yet easily digestible…somehow MAL figured out a way to make it easy to feel complexity…

…this contrasting experience is one of the strengths of MAL’s “Hero’s Gold”….and a tool that MAL holds dear to their artistic hearts.

The chorus is straight forward-in-your-face-head banging stuff….

…*does sign of the horns gesture *…

Vocals soar high in the gritty clouds of heavy rock…

Guitars run, jump, scream and riffs hard…

Bass lines are groovy when it needs to be and hard when it wants to…

Drum breaks fill the atmosphere…

…everything sounds and feels tight.

…from the first second to the last second…even the ending is unique and iconic…

MAL always delivers unique experiences…and I got hooked some time ago….and this time, they’re solidifying their progressing footsteps into stardom.

If MAL would maintain this buildup and progression, it will be a short and smooth trip to the top of the artistic food chain…way to go MAL.

…and while we’re at it, let’s get to meet the lovely people of MAL once again…

Peter Hollywood on bass

Kristopher Jung on vocals/guitar

Brendan Reynolds on drums

MAL…your music always hits home and hits hard…we’re loving everything you’re doing.

We wish you all the best in life, you definitely deserve it…and a lot more.

Cheers!

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According to the alternative rock/pop band MAL from Van Nuys, USA…We’ve been inching our way to a fundamental system of 2 choices, a binary system that overshadows the political climate…you’re either this or that.

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MAL is a three piece band, and the heroes behind MAL are…

Peter Hollywood on bass

Kristopher Jung on guitars and vocals

Brendan Reynolds on drums

With influences from Jane’s Addiction, Pink Floyd, Deftone, Black Sabbath and many more iconic bands, MAL gives us “Besides”, their latest and philosophical release.

“Besides” is crafted in a special and philosophical way that it might look like a breakup song…however, in reality, it’s more of a commentary on the divisiveness of political roads taken.

The song is very dynamic, from an intro that builds up in a TOOL-ish manner, to soft breakdowns and chill moments during the bridge…to a once again energetic and powerful verse and chorus…

“Besides” gives me the chills like TOOL gives it to me…

…three piece band…

…soaring vocals…

…epic riffs…

…high caliber storytelling…

Credit: JEFF LOVIN

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“Besides” is definitely a hallmark in the alternative rock world and should be checked out as soon as possible by any fan of the genre, it’s a hidden gem that should be front and center…

“Besides” is the second single to be released by MAL ahead of their new album, expected to be released this Summer…much excitement for MAL, they are absolutely awesome and it’s obvious that they ooze high production quality and a mindset of perfection, and they will make sure that whatever they release is the best and only the best, they are disruptors, and disruptors change the world…it’s only a matter of time.

We’ll all be looking forward to the album, and I want to say something…MAL should be the biggest dot on any music lover’s radar, they are on fire.

Wishing you guys all the best in the world, you defintely deserve it…and a little more.

Cheers!