Malice (American band)

Lore & Background

Malice formed in Portland, Oregon, in the early 1980s when former The Ravers guitarist Jay Reynolds assembled an embryonic line-up including vocalist James Neal, bassist Matt McCourt, and guitarist Kip Doran. Reynolds moved to Los Angeles, joined by guitarist Mick Zane, and convinced Neal, bassist Mark Behn, and drummer Pete Laufman to relocate after the initial Malice demo generated label interest from Brian Slagel of Metal Blade Records. Two demo tracks, 'Captive of Light' and 'Kick You Down', appeared on Metal Massacre II alongside Metallica, Ratt, and Steeler. Malice made their Los Angeles live debut in November 1982 at the Troubadour, though claims they headlined over Metallica remain unsubstantiated.

Adding drummer Cliff Carothers, Malice recorded new demos with producer Michael Wagener and became the subject of a label bidding war. They signed with Atlantic Records in mid-1984 and released their debut album, In the Beginning..., in 1985. Their sophomore album, License to Kill (1987), was produced by Max Norman and featured backing vocals from Dave Mustaine and Dave Ellefson of Megadeth and members of Black 'n Blue. The band toured with Alice Cooper, W.A.S.P., and Motörhead, and supported Slayer on their 1987 'Reign In Pain' European tour, which ended early due to hostility from Slayer's crowds.

In late 1987, Jay Reynolds left to join Megadeth but was replaced after several months by Jeff Young. The band parted ways with James Neal, added vocalist Mark Weitz, and split up in late 1988. Malice later reunited in 2006, performed sporadic shows, and released new material including New Breed of Godz (2012) and Rockin' with You (2020). Guitarist Mick Zane died from brain cancer on December 23, 2016.

Reader's Guide

Malice holds a notable place in heavy metal history primarily for their early association with the Metal Massacre series, which helped launch the American thrash and heavy metal scenes of the 1980s. Their appearance on Metal Massacre I alongside Metallica and Ratt placed them at the forefront of the emerging Los Angeles metal scene. Their two Atlantic Records albums, In the Beginning... and License to Kill, showcased a European-influenced sound that drew comparisons to Judas Priest, distinguishing them from many of their American peers. Despite never achieving major commercial success, Malice's music has endured through reissues by EastWest Japan and Wounded Bird, and their influence is acknowledged in the underground metal community. The band's later reunions and new releases, including New Breed of Godz and Rockin' with You, demonstrate a lasting legacy that continues to resonate with fans of traditional heavy metal.

Did You Know?

• Jay Reynolds left Malice in late 1987 to join Megadeth but was replaced by Jeff Young after several months.
• The 1988 film Vice Versa featured Malice performing 'Crazy In The Night' in a concert sequence filmed in Champaign, Illinois.

From Portland to the Metal Massacre Spotlight

Jay Reynolds, a guitarist who had previously played with The Ravers, took the initiative in the early 1980s to build a heavy metal outfit in Portland, Oregon. His first incarnation of the band featured vocalist James Neal, bassist Matt McCourt, drummer Deen Castronovo, and fellow guitarist Kip Doran. Seeking a larger scene, Reynolds relocated to Los Angeles and recruited guitarist Mick Zane. When the pair struggled to find additional musicians locally, they persuaded Neal, bassist Mark Behn, and drummer Pete Laufman to make the move south from Portland. The catalyst for this expansion was an early demo that generated enough buzz to attract the attention of Brian Slagel at Metal Blade Records. Two tracks from that tape, "Captive of Light" and "Kick You Down," earned slots on the landmark Metal Massacre I compilation, sharing space with acts like Metallica, Ratt, and Steeler. The band's Los Angeles stage debut came in November 1982 at the Troubadour, where they headlined a bill that included Metallica and Pandemonium as openers. By early 1984, Malice had also opened for newly signed major-label act Armored Saint at Perkins Palace in Pasadena.

Atlantic Years and the European Gauntlet

After replacing drummer Pete Laufman with Cliff Carothers, a player previously known from the bands Snow and Assassin, Malice entered the studio with producer Michael Wagener to craft new material. The resulting demos triggered a bidding war among labels, and by mid-1984 the band had secured a deal with Atlantic Records. Their debut full-length, In The Beginning..., arrived in 1985 and drew from both the Wagener sessions and additional material produced by Ashley Howe. For the 1987 follow-up, License to Kill, the group worked with producer Max Norman and enlisted a remarkable roster of guest backing vocalists: Dave Mustaine and Dave Ellefson of Megadeth, plus Jaime St. James, Tommy Thayer, and Jeff Warner of Black 'n Blue, all contributed to two tracks. The touring circuit brought Malice alongside Alice Cooper, W.A.S.P., and Motörhead. Perhaps most notably, the band was tapped as support for Slayer during the 1987 Reign In Pain European tour. That trip proved deeply difficult; Malice encountered open hostility from Slayer's intense fanbase, and the situation became so untenable that the group dropped off the bill once the tour reached Germany.

Fractures, Film, and Post-Malice Ventures

The final chapter of Malice's original run was marked by rapid personnel upheaval. In late 1987, Jay Reynolds departed to fill the guitar chair at Megadeth following Chris Poland's exit, though he was himself removed just months later when Dave Mustaine opted for Jeff Young, who had been both Reynolds' roommate and guitar instructor. The band also let go of vocalist James Neal, replacing him with Mark Weitz, before dissolving entirely in late 1988. Their last public appearance before the split was a concert sequence in the 1988 film Vice Versa, shot in Champaign, Illinois, where they performed "Crazy In The Night." Metal Blade released a posthumous EP of that name in 1989, pairing three Neal-era songs with a track featuring Paul Sabu on lead vocals. In the years that followed, Reynolds formed War Party with former Megadeth drummer Chuck Behler, while Mick Zane and Mark Behn assembled Monster alongside Pete Holmes and Mark Isom. That project produced one album, Through the Eyes of the World, released in Europe in 1995 and in the United States in 1997. Reynolds later joined a reconstituted Metal Church, recording two albums between 2004 and 2006 before departing again in 2008.

Reunion, New Material, and a Bittersweet Close

Malice's revival began in 2006 with an announced reunion tour, though European dates were subsequently canceled the following year. The band did manage a series of U.S. shows, bringing in Brian Allen, known from Last Empire and later Vicious Rumors, to handle vocals. A full return to Europe came in April 2011 when Malice co-headlined the Keep It True XIV festival in Germany alongside new singer James Rivera. That same period saw the 2008 archives compilation The Rare and Unreleased on Retrospect Records, which gathered the four tracks from the Crazy In The Night EP along with various early demos. In late 2011, the group signed with Germany's SPV/Steamhammer label, and Robert Cardenas of Agent Steel joined as live bassist. Their 2012 release, New Breed of Godz, blended four original compositions with re-recorded versions of eight songs from their two Atlantic-era albums. The band's story took a somber turn on December 23, 2016, when Mick Zane passed away from brain cancer. Despite that loss, Malice continued, releasing the new album Rockin' with You in 2020.

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