With a loyal following in Ireland, the Sheffield hardcore-metal titans were greeted like returning heroes, and they didn’t disappoint.
The night kicked off with a slight hiccup—the sound cut out midway through opener “Malicious Intent“, causing a momentary lull in the crowd’s roar. However, frontman Alex Taylor handled it like a pro, rallying the room with a call to arms, “We won’t let this stop us, will we, Dublin?” As if on cue, the audio roared back to life, and the pit ignited into a frenzy of flailing bodies and unrelenting stage dives.
From there, Malevolence hit their stride. “Life Sentence” was a highlight, as walls of death and circle pits formed with unrelenting energy. The crowd was ready to bleed for this band, and the camaraderie between fans—hoisting each other up and launching themselves off the stage—turned the room into a boiling pot of primal intensity.
The band’s signature blend of metallic hardcore with a touch of Southern swagger was on full display during “Higher Place“, where lead guitarist Konan Hall’s solos cut through the chugging riffs like a blade. The breakdowns hit hard, causing seismic waves in the floor. It was the perfect marriage of aggression and groove, and the crowd responded with absolute devotion, chanting every word back at the band.
Opium’s intimate and awkward venue size only amplified the atmosphere. At one point, Taylor had to stop the set to allow for security to help a punter who had been knocked unconscious before he reminded us that; “we’re all here as one big family and to look out for each other“.
As the band launch into a fierce rendition of ‘Keep Your Distance‘ the sold out venue the room was running on fumes—but Malevolence had just enough left to deliver a thunderous finale with ‘On Broken Glass‘. The intensity never waned, and despite the early technical issue, the show felt like a triumph. This was a night where Dublin’s Hardcore scene proved it’s very much alive and kicking, and Malevolence left an indelible mark.
“Seriously, this has been one of my favourite shows so far on this run“, says Taylor, “We have been returning to Ireland for 7 years and we have never felt so welcome. The venues keep getting bigger and bigger, and so does the Malevolence family – Thank you“.
No doubt their return to the Irish capital will see them graduate to headlining the likes of The Academy and 3Olympia, and we couldn’t be happier for them.
A perfect storm of passion, power, and precision—this was one for the books. 5/5
Oran O’Beirne
www.overdrive.ie 2024
