Canadian horror inspired symphonic power metallers MALACODA have signed a multi-album deal with Rockshots Records! Their latest EP 'Ritualis Aeterna', will be re-released and distributed worldwide on January 19, 2018!
Malacoda’s followup to their self-titled debut, the band explores darker and more symphonic territories with Ritualis Aeterna. All songs deal with an aspect of horror in some form, whether it be horror as a timeless form of entertainment, or dealing with horrors in every day life, the short EP touches a wide range of content.
Keyboard virtuoso Jonah Weingarten (Pyramaze) has joined forces with the band, adding a new potent weapon to the band’s sonic arsenal. “Ritualis Aeterna” is a mix of the band’s existing blend of melody and crunch but with an added dose of dark atmosphere“.
A Video for the track "Penny Dreadful" is available to watch below:
BUY "Ritualis Aeterna" -
Taking their name from a demon from Dante’s ‘Divine Comedy’, Malacoda’s dark gothic vision is indeed divine but no laughing matter.
As band leader Lucas Di Mascio, who studied Literature and Religion at University explains: ‘Malacoda was the name of a very minor character in the book, a fallen angel who flies around with a small army of demons torturing helpless souls in Hell. From a literary perspective, I found it interesting that he wasn’t merely an evil creature being tortured for his sins, but was given free reign to do what he pleases and takes it upon himself to torture other wicked souls in the spiritual prison that is Dante’s Inferno. I wanted a powerful name that fit not only the sound of the band but also the lyrical themes I touch upon. I wanted something dark, but not something that would be blatantly devilish sounding. The name translates roughly in Italian to ‘Cruel Tail’ and most people don’t see it and think “this band is named after a demon” and see it as something more romantic sounding.’
Like the ‘Inferno’ that inspired their name they forge metal without limits in sonic shapes endless and horrifying in equal measure. Malacoda’s music vision shares much in common with Dante’s, they are unafraid to gaze into the abyss, unafraid to be inspired by the myriad of human horrors within and without. They are not blind to the worlds within them waiting to be born.
Full of dark atmosphere, originality and innovation, "Ritualis Aeterna" is gothic power metal for the 21st century, intelligence and intensity to rival that of their infernal inspirations!
Tracklist:
1. Penny Dreadful
2. I Got a Letter
3. Pandemonium
4. The Wild Hunt
5. Linger Here
6. There Will Always Be One
The band is currently in the studio hard at work on the second full length album to be released via Rockshots Records in late 2018
ONLINE
LINEUP
Lucas Di Mascio: Vocals/ Bass/ Keys
Cooper Seldon: Guitar
Daniel Alonzi: Guitar
Mike Farina: Drums
BIOGRAPHY
Lucas Di Mascio originally founded MALACODA as a solo project while in a few other local bands in 2014. The recording project was produced by longtime mentor of Lucas' Joel Kazmi. There was interest in the project by numerous parties all over the world by the time the record was finished being recorded. Lucas decided to find band members to make it a fully fledged band. Live musicians were brought in, but after a year of working with them it became clear that for the band to grow there needed to be more capable musicians for the more technical music that was being written as a follow up to the self-debut.
In 2016 new all-star line-up was formed for the Ritualis Aeterna EP, this time produced by Lucas himself at his own Old Haunt Recording Studio. The Malacoda branding grew larger from than point, making the band's existence known outside of North America into the stalwart European metal scene. The Penny Dreadful music video set the bar for what the band hopes to achieve as far as quality of content and allowed listener's to see the dark visions portrayed in the lyrics. As the year went on however, it became that most of the members chosen for the lineup would be incapable of giving 100 percent to Malacoda's needs and not wanting to delegate these members as session musicians, Lucas decided that for the band to be able to work at full capacity every member needed to be all in. Cooper Seldon, the live bassist for this period became the guitar player and a hunt for full time members was underway.
The year 2017 has been a quiet year for the band, a new lineup has been summoned and these members are all contributors to Malacoda's cause. Not straying far from the path of it's hellish origins nor it's majestic journey, yet with a fresh approach which blends the best qualities of both releases, the new music the band is working on is them at their most ambitious.
DISCOGRAPHY
Malacoda Full-length 2015
Ritualis Aeterna EP 2016
Ritualis Aeterna EP re-released 2018