MALICE Guitarist Comments On New Record Deal

Reunited Los Angeles heavy metal legends MALICE have inked a deal with SPV/Steamhammer. The band recently entered Silvercloud Recording studio in Redondo Beach, California with producer Joe Floyd (HALFORD, BRUCE DICKINSON, WARRIOR) to record updated versions of six classic MALICE metal anthems such as "Stellar Masters" and "No Haven For The Raven" as well as "four killer new tracks" for an album which is due to be released in May.

"We were all amazed at the great crowd response and turnout for the gigs we played in 2011, and it feels great to have a well-known label like SPV behind us, be in the studio with a veteran lineup and have a killer producer," states MALICE guitarist Jay Reynolds.

"There will no longer be an absence of MALICE!"

MALICE's current recording lineup includes three original members — Mick Zane on guitar, Jay Reynolds on guitar and Mark Behn on bass — alongside Pete Holmes (BLACK 'N BLUE, MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP) on drums and James Rivera (HELSTAR, VICIOUS RUMORS, SEVEN WITCHES, FLOTSAM AND JETSAM) on vocals. Bass player Robert Cardenas (AGENT STEEL),who also recorded the new tracks in the studio, will step in for Mark Behn on the live front.

Commented SPV/Steamhammer A&R representative and product manager Olly Hahn: "MALICE was always underrated. With their two albums, 'In The Beginning' and 'License To Kill', they created timeless U.S. metal and it's time to let all the younger fans know about this and show the older fans that MALICE is still capable to write songs in the name of metal. I'm very happy that the band decided to be part of the growing SPV/Steamhammer family."

In an early 2011 interview with KNAC.COM, Zane stated about MALICE's present incarnation, "Pete's been out on the road with MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP for the last ten years and he's doing some dates with BLACK 'N BLUE. . . We're excited to have James Rivera come in and [play] with us. He did a great job on the VICIOUS RUMORS 'Warball' record. . . Brian Allen, who did our last reunion show, is now singing with VICIOUS RUMORS and we even approached Tim 'The Ripper' Owens (JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) at one point."

Regarding MALICE's forthcoming album, Zane told KNAC.COM, "We have some killer new songs in the can and we're really stoked at the thought of getting back in the studio and releasing a new MALICE record. We released a new CD of rare and unreleased tracks [in 2010] on Retrospect Records that's been doing very well. Everyone's really going to like the new stuff."

MALICE 2011 is:

* Mick Zane - Guitar
* Jay Reynolds - Guitar
* Mark Behn - Bass
* Pete Holmes (BLACK 'N BLUE, MICHAEL SCHENKER) - Drums
* James Rivera (HELSTAR, VICIOUS RUMORS, SEVEN WITCHES, FLOTSAM AND JETSAM) - Vocals

The band released an album titled "The Rare And Unreleased" in 2010 on Retrospect Records.

MALICE's two Atlantic releases — "In the Beginning" (1985) and "License to Kill" (1986) — are available Stateside on WEA label Wounded Bird and have continued to sell over the years.

For more information, visit MALICE's official web site, www.malicemusic.com.