Malice
License To Kill

The Malice were one of the most promising American metal bands with a Judas Priest-oriented sound, devoted to a direct, no-frills, decisive, and sharp melodic metal, with an original and genuine flair.

After a promising debut ("In The Beginning" dated 1985) still very close to the sounds of KK Downing and his associates, which had convinced everyone at Atlantic Records, the group originally from Oregon, bolstered by the high budget made available to them, immediately managed to churn out their masterpiece, characterized by a warm heavy metal sound imprint, conceived by the minds of Mick Zane and Jay Reynolds on guitars, James Neal's still Halford-style vocal performance, a precise and well-crafted rhythm section by Cliff Carothers (drums) and Mark Behn (bass), all produced and mastered by none other than Max Norman and Bob Ludwig.

However, despite a stellar production that, along with the excellent groundwork, defines this platter as a metal masterpiece in every sense, sales of this piece of music history were not at all exciting and what Atlantic gave, Atlantic took away, even going so far as to cancel the few Italian dates of the promotional tour along with Slayer at the time.

The sensation you get from listening to "License To Kill" is an incredible, adrenaline-pumping, classy, and personal sonic blow, also bolstered by very inspired songwriting halfway between hard rock and heavy metal themes. "License To Kill" creates an ideal bridge with their cousins across the Channel, paying tribute to them with crushing riffs and vocalizations, while preserving the identity of the American combo. A solid and powerful rhythm section then frames the solo performance of the Zane-Reynolds duo in every piece, with precise and timely breaks.

Wonderful blend that never suffers a drop in inspiration, (No Fillers babies!) always at the top for the entire duration of the LP, from which it is really difficult to extract a piece that is better than another. Just as it is difficult to forget the killer riffs present in the opening track "Sinister Double" and the magnificent title track, which leave no escape for the listener with their pompous pace and catchy refrain.

And how can we forget the fantastic subsequent "Against The Empire" with the usual burst of breathtaking solos and the drums quivering with their heart-pounding stop-and-go, the granite and tense "Vigilante" with an unforgettable solo, the streetwise "Chain Gang Woman" - with guest stars Dave Mustaine and David Ellefson, as well as Jamie St. James and Tommy Thayer of Black&Blue contributing to the very eighties backing vocals, the malefic and aggressive "Christine", inspired by the homonymous novel by Stephen King, the powerful and sly hard'n'heavy riffing of "Murder", up to the devastating impact of "Breaking Down Your Neck", where the usual time changes and lightning solos keep chasing you like rabid dogs, and the sidereal "Circle Of Fire", with Neal's chilling high notes and yet another masterpiece solo in melody.

Also worth highlighting is the chilling album cover - simply icy - which remains perfectly aligned with the killer power of the sound: a serial killer with an inscrutable and cold expression on an aseptic purple background holding an axe, probably after delivering yet another coup de grâce, with blood splatters coloring his satisfaction.

"License To Kill" is a long, trembling, and scorching sonic orgasm, where power and melody burst in, tear apart, and effortlessly capture the listener's mind. Of rare beauty.

See Ya!