Extreme music, especially the sort of blackened grindcore practiced by local foursome Malevich, often tends to get filtered through a reductionist lens. By nature, the music is dark, fast, and exceedingly aggressive—traits which can make for some compelling and cathartic noise, but also has the unfortunate and sometimes perilous side effect of appealing to hyper-masculine men looking to channel their anger and fear into music that, at least on its surface, can sound belligerent and confrontational. The result is a seething underbelly of artists and musicians who routinely depict violence—predominately towards women—in their lyrics and artwork in order to seem edgy and aberrant, or to just plain unleash their misogynist rage.

On their latest single, “Trial of Metaphor,” Malevich address this troubling tendency, utilizing grindcore’s familiar tools of bludgeoning riffs and ferociously tight, full-throttle speed to confront those who would use their music as vehicle to assault and devalue women. “‘Her’ ideation for mislaid aggression / A victim of a torpid pen,” growls vocalist Connor Ray at the song’s onset, before finally declaring “History will throw it away.” It’s a strong and urgent message made all the more powerful by the group’s dynamic thunderwall of blistering chaos.

“Violence towards women in the lyrics and imagery of punk, metal, and other extreme music genres are some of the most ubiquitous, lazy, and toxic attempts to be ‘dark’ found in modern music,” the band says in a joint statement. “Images of sexual assault and gendered violence are framed as an expression of larger rebellion but reflect the normalization of misogyny in a male-dominated genre. As artists and listeners of extreme music we believe we have an obligation to examine ourselves and the music we listen to with a critical ear and do our best to make the music and art we love inclusive and welcoming to women and non-binary people. ‘Trial of Metaphor’ is an expression of our frustrations in both our peers and the art that influenced us; no one’s actions exist in a vacuum.”

Listen to “Trial of Metaphor” below.

The track is the lead single from Malevich’s upcoming split with New Hampshire neo-crust and sludge bruisers Iron Gag. The bands first met in 2016 while the latter was touring through Atlanta, and have since bonded through touring together and a self-declared mutual love for “psychotropics and blast beats.” Look for the split to drop in the coming week or two.

In addition to their new split, the band is also announcing details for their upcoming spring tour. The three-week trek will launch on Apr. 30 at Pollenfest before taking the band through large swaths of the Midwest. Check out the full lists of dates below.

Malevich Spring Tour Dates
Apr 30 – Atlanta, GA – The Bakery (Pollenfest: A Benefit for RAINN)
May 04 – Birmingham, AL – The Saturn
May 05 – Chattanooga, TN – Sluggo’s North Vegetarian Cafe
May 06 – St. Louis, MO – Foam
May 07 – Peoria, IL – Rail II
May 08 – Milwaukee, WI – Quarters
May 10 – Chicago, IL – Emporium
May 11 – Grand Rapids, MI – Rockies
May 12 – Toledo, OH – Frankie’s Inner City (Black Swamp Punk Fest)
May 13 – Cleveland, OH – Now That’s Class
May 14 – Pittsburgh, PA – Mr. Roboto Project
May 16 – Columbus, OH – Spacebar
May 17 – Cincinnati, OH – The Hub
May 18 – Nashville, TN – House Show, ask a noise kid

Malevich will perform on Mon. Apr. 30 at Pollenfest: A Benefit for RAINN with Saline (Record Release), Michael Cera Palin, Harlot Party, Rin Larping, TeleVision After Death, and Gloomreach. Doors open at 8 p.m. Donations of $8-10 suggested. All profits will go directly to RAINN. All ages.

More Info
Bandcamp: malevichatlanta.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @malevichband
Instagram: @malevich.band
SoundCloud: @malevich-mcturnsimone-cole