Many bands have abandoned metalcore since its inception, but with their fourth full-length album, England's Malefice have remained true. Awaken the Tides boasts all of the Swedish death metal-inspired guitar antics and ultra-melodic choruses that first won fans over the genre. "Baying for Blood" is a spirited charger, and the distorted intros of "Dead in the Water" and "Minutes" add welcome new layers to Malefice's sound. At times, the album becomes a blur of wheedlies and whoas, but the British six-piece inject enough vigor and catchiness into their riffs to make Awaken's plodding moments easily forgivable.
01 Awaken the tides 02 Delirium 03 Dead in the water 04 Minutes 05 Baying for blood 06 Blessed/cursed 07 The day the sky fell 08 Out numbered out gunned 09 Flood of red 10 The haunting