Malhavoc

Biography

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Malhavoc (1983-present): a Thrash Metal band from Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

anadian heavy metal band, Malhavoc formed in 1983 starting out as an extreme thrash metal act, but soon employed elements from industrial metal, becoming one of the earlier purveyors of that style. The act's founder and only constant member is singer and multi-instrumentalist James Cavalluzzo.

After several demos in the form of The Destruction Starts (1983), The Destruction Continues (1984), Age of the Dark Renaissance (1986) and Shrine (1988), the band's style had changed to a more ambient death metal style. Their debut proper would be The Release (1990) featuring Dave Kiner and Rob Wright (guitar both) along with Steve Jelliman (baas) alongside Cavalluzzo.

The EP, Punishments (1991) saw the addition of Steve Crowhurst (programr), as well as guest contributions from Dave Ogilvie (of-Skinny Puppy). The sophomore effort, Premeditated Murder, released the following year, boasted elements from electronic music and thrash metal. The second effort was met with controversy, however, when it was discovered the band sampled The Rolling Stones' Sympathy for the Devil without permission.

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Drifting into a more industrial metal style, the follow-up, Get Down (1994), saw the introduction of John Carss (drums; live). The album also saw the band lean away from heavy metal in favor of heavier elements from techno, ambient and industrial music styles that the band had been hinting at for the past some time.

Increasing disagreements among the band members and the label during the making of Get Down led to line-up changes. Lazarus Complex: A Tale of Two Zombies, the next release, had to be delayed; finally released in 2000. It was produced by Dave Ogilvie.

The band's future was in flux with Cavalluzzo sporadically resurrecting the act as a personal project. In 2004, Malhavoc returned to release a cover EP, Human Fly. In 2007, Cavalluzzo assembled a live band for touring in the form of himself with Bryan Somerville (guitar) and Tim Hagberg (drums).

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