Malice

Malice is a seminal American heavy metal band formed in 1980, originally hailing from Portland before becoming a fixture of the Los Angeles scene. They are historically significant for their inclusion on the first Metal Massacre compilation (1982), which served as the launchpad for Metallica and the broader US power metal movement.

Their sound identity is characterized by a heavy European influence, specifically the twin-guitar harmonies and high-register vocal acrobatics associated with Judas Priest and the NWOBHM. Throughout the mid-80s, the band occupied a unique cultural position, signed to Atlantic Records and touring with titans like Alice Cooper and Slayer, yet they maintained a cult status due to their refusal to fully pivot toward the burgeoning glam metal trend. The band's lineup featured notable talent including guitarist Jay Reynolds (later of Megadeth) and drummer Deen Castronovo. Critical consensus views Malice as one of the most technically proficient 'lost' bands of the 80s, praised for their songwriting and production quality but often cited as being slightly out of step with the shifting commercial tides of the late decade. Their 2012 comeback, 'New Breed of Godz', reaffirmed their legacy within the traditional metal community.