Mallavora drop epic new single 'It's Not Enough' • GRIMM Gent

Four-piece Bristolian alt-metal act Mallavora announced their fierce new EP, ‘Echoes’, which will be released on 20 November 2024 via Marshall Records. Along with the announcement comes the band’s latest epic single, ‘ It’s Not Enough’.

“Echoes” was recorded at The Marshall Studios and engineered by Adam Beer and Oliver Brightman. SKINDRED guitarist Mikey Demus sat in the producer’s chair and worked closely with the band. Industry stalwart and respected producer/engineer Lewis Johns (Rolo Tomassi, Pupil Slicer, Palm Reader) handled mixing duties.

These collaborations resulted in the band’s most powerful and personal music yet a raw and cathartic reflection of life’s challenges, from mental and physical health struggles to feeling alienated in an increasingly complex world. The EP also embodies the band’s passion for creating a space where everyone belongs while pushing for greater accessibility and inclusion in the music industry.

“Creating this EP was an absolute dream experience. Working with Mikey Demus was a real ‘pinch me’ moment for us since Skindred has inspired us for so many years,” guitarist Larry Sobieraj shares excitedly. ‘Recording at The Marshall Studio was a real privilege. It’s a magical place; you can feel the amazing history of music when you walk through the door.”

“We’d been aware of Lewis’ work for a while and were always impressed by the energy he brings to his mixes,” adds vocalist Jessica Douek. “We knew we wanted him to mix our EP, and it’s every bit as energetic, aggressive, and huge as we had hoped for. This EP is undoubtedly the best-sounding music we’ve ever created.”

The band’s latest single, ‘It’s Not Enough,’ delves into the relentless battle with anxiety, the illusion of control and the reality of chronic illness, where even good moments are overshadowed by fear of what’s next. The track captures the raw frustration and desperation of trying to manage a future out of reach.

“In this track, I touch on a recurring nightmare I had when I was younger,” shares Jess. “I was endlessly falling in slow motion and had the constant lurch in my stomach from the ground being wiped out from underneath me.”

The best way Mallavora guitarist Larry Sobieraj knows to articulate his experiences with chronic illness is to translate them into music. “It’s almost like a therapy tool to process these complicated and difficult things that a lot of people don’t understand, things that are hard to put into words,” he says. “I want to be able to sit there and listen to the music and feel how I felt while writing it.”

He passes his instrumentals to vocalist Jessica Douek, who uses her emotional response to the music to craft vocals. In essence, it’s a creative dialogue. “It makes it quite powerful in the sense that I can feel what he has written, and then I put that into words, associated with grief of becoming ill or losing a healthier version of yourself,” says Jessica, who is disabled and lives with fibromyalgia. “There’s a lot of rage about societal barriers and being treated differently.”

The Bristol quartet – completed by bassist Ellis James and drummer Jack Pedersen – have become some of alternative music’s fiercest advocates for accessibility, committing to only headlining venues accessible enough for them and their audience. Ultimately, it’s a mantle they must take up out of necessity. “The industry, as it currently is, isn’t sustainable for us with what we’re dealing with,” says Jessica. “There’s an existential worry that we won’t be able to have the career we want unless we forge this change ourselves.”

Nonetheless, this is just one facet of Mallavora’s artistry. On their new EP Echoes, they’ve distilled every aspect of their lived experience into fifteen minutes’ worth of blazing alt-metal, exploring topics including identity, neurodiversity and difference while blending in elements of R&B, soul, pop and cultural music associated with Jessica’s Jewish-Middle Eastern background. Personal, uncompromising and showcasing the full breadth of the band’s identity, these four tracks comprise a gigantic statement of intent.

Mallavora crafts a visceral, kaleidoscopic sound that transcends metal’s subgenres. They’re not just different—they’re unapologetic, forging a community where everyone can belong. Everyone’s invited, except for bigots.