Metal to the Max

Author: Nicki Escudero
Published: June 4, 2007
Original Article Available At Amp.az and in PDF -->

Valley metal band Malo De Dentro doesn't pretend to be warm and fuzzy--they're all about shaking things up, as heard on their EP Rise of the Snake. But beneath their tough exteriors, the members just want to make friends with other metal heads in the community.

Give me a biography of the band.

Malo De Dentro was formed in 2005 in the Phoenix, Arizona area by guitarist Chuck Simoes and drummer Sixkiller. After recruiting Ben Litke as Malo's front man, we began to implement (the band's) musical ideas and sound. With the addition of guitarist Jerry Loomis and bassist David Chaney, we were able to achieve their ultimate goal of a tight, heavy sound with a touch of a tribal backbone that brings out the "Malo" in all of us. The music, the name and the members of the band all tie together. The name Malo De Dentro comes from the Spanish meaning of "evil within". Listen, and you will hear why it is the perfect name.

How do you fit in the Arizona music scene?

The metal scene in the Valley is underground, but is ever growing. There are a ton of bands out there re-establishing a metal front for the Valley, and we'd like to
think that we are a good part of that. We put everything we have into this band and
making sure we drive people to our shows. The metal scene is not competitive but more of a brotherhood. We are all out there to get exposure, and networking with other bands is a great way to help everyone out. We're not a super hardcore metal band, but we're not a hard rock band. Our music is straightforward with a lot of power.

What's your live show like?

We are a band that wants the crowd to be a part of the show. We are not quiet,
polite--we are loud, vulgar and in your face. Our live performance is a 45-minute
(usually) metal assault based on some of our favorite performers, including Pantera, Sepultura, Soulfly, Mudvayne and many more. We have a straight-up metal sound that is not too busy, but not bland at all. When you go to one of our shows, you will definitely remember us. Ben, our singer, will make sure you don't forget the name Malo De Dentro.

What's the band's favorite song?

Well, we all have our favorites. I guess it depends on who you ask. Overall, I
think we can all agree that "Fetus" is the band's top song. This song embodies
everything that is Malo. It has a flow to it that grooves along, as well as the
hard-hitting sound that gets people in the pit. The vocals on this song are very
strong, and you have to hear it live to really see what I mean. This song is
probably the best one to play as a band too. Everyone get's the blood flowing when we dig into this tune.

What's up next for the band?

Right now, we have some pretty good shows coming up, including our first show at Alice Cooperstown. For the past year, we've been getting ourselves established in the scene. We've had a few setbacks, but we're right back on track. We will continue to set ourselves up with shows around the Valley, as well as up north in the Flagstaff/Winslow areas. We're also looking at joining up on a Southwest tour this summer for a few dates. Beyond that, we'll just see what happens. It's more fun than most people can imagine, and that's what it's all about.

Describe your band in three words.

Malo De Dentro? OK, OK, here: pure heavy metal

Malo De Dentro

June 8th

9 p.m. - Jugheads
5110 E. McDowell Road, Phoenix
Ritual Homicide, Atomic Odyssey, Here Lies Treachery, Malo De Dentro, Ashtaroth, Horny Toads, Existence AD, and Trouble @ Gunpoint

June 16th

6 p.m.- Alice Cooperstown
101 E. Jackson St. Phoenix
Malo De Dentro, 24 Hours, Chemicals of Democracy, Fatal Error, Tommy Harris Company, Head Rust, White Visitation
Malo De Dentro is on at 6 p.m.

July 20th

9 p.m.- Jugheads
5110 E. Mcdowell Road, Phoenix
Malo De Dentro, Burn the Herd, Fracture Point, Rizir, Here Lies Treachery