Malignus Youth

Malignus Youth
Malignus Youth
Origin Sierra Vista, Arizona
Genres Hardcore punk
Rock
Years active 1987–1994, 1999–2001
Labels Youth Inc. Records
Associated acts Pathos
Anyface
Mynd Bent
Fatskins
Shrunken Monkey Paw
Past members
James Martin
Octavio Olaje
Tom Shelden
Mike Armenta

Malignus Youth was a hardcore punk band from Sierra Vista, Arizona that was active from 1987–1994 and again from 1999-2001.

Known as punk rock pioneers for their unique sound featuring exceptional complexity in musical arrangements, vocal harmonies, melodic structure, classical music influences, as well as their runaway breakneck speed, Malignus Youth released one LP, two 7" EPs, and a retrospective CD compilation of unreleased tracks. Their vinyl output was also collected onto one CD.

Contents

Lineup

Band members included:

  • James Martin (guitars/vocals)
  • Octavio Olaje (vocals)
  • Tom Shelden (bass/vocals)
  • Mike Armenta (drums/vocals)

Musical style

As was typical of traditional hardcore punk, early Malignus Youth songs featured fast tempos, 4/4 time, slow introductions followed by fast verse-chorus-verse, and lyrics with social relevance.

However, as they developed their musical style, song tempos became even faster. Shouted vocals (as per the punk tradition) developed into singing of unified harmonized melody. The traditional verse-chorus-verse structure was altered into even patterns, each with its own structure. Bass lines became more melodic and experimental. Guitar lines served to counterpoint the melodic basslines creating a musical point-counterpoint, which was perhaps at this point unheard of in punk rock.

One feature that characterized later Malignus Youth was a rush of lyrics from Martin as Olaje sang in the background, which would be seamlessly "switched" so that Olaje sang in the foreground as Martin sang in the background. By taking turns on the lead lyrics, the impression would be created that a single singer was belting out ultra-fast lyrics without interruption.

Additional musical innovations and style are noted below.

History

First Self-Titled EP Release (1988)

In January 1988, using a late 1970s model four-track reel to reel, eight songs were recorded live in Martin's parents' bedroom-turned-studio. These eight tracks were released on a clear vinyl extended-play (EP) album, self-entitled "MALIGNUS YOUTH" on their new label YOUTH INC RECORDS.

The Southern Arizona Hardcore Scene (1988-1990)

In the late 1980s, the active Punk Rock scene in Cochise County surged new bands such as Dover Trench, Opinion Zero, Headspace, Blood Spasm, Civil Order, Feast Upon Cactus Thorns, Cosmic Jackhammer, and many more. Later in 1989, Malignus Youth was booked on the same bill as Bad Religion earning praise from the band.

"Crisis" 7-Inch EP (1990)

IN 1990, a second EP was recorded live. This second EP, titled "Crisis", was released as a limited edition red and white vinyl, containing a 2 poster lyric sheet which has since become rare. The music contained themes of conflict, personal loss, fear of growing up, hopelessness and suicide.

Stylistic Notes

Malignus Youth's musical tastes were maturing. "Crisis" marked a diversion from punk rock conventions by adopting compositional techniques more traditionally associated with classical music.

Unique use of cadences in the guitar created vamps, or "riffs", each with a tension-release tension-release pattern. This created a dramatic element that merged into musical ideas, themes and phrases. Songs drifted away from 4/4 time to 3/4 and back, sometimes one after the other, even occurring simultaneously. Two-part harmonies, "call and response" singing patterns, as well as use of counterpoint-- a concept of 18th century Baroque music—blended seamlessly with more traditional punk vocal styles.

"More To It" LP (1991)

These unique elements of Malignus Youth's music were put on full display in the 1991 full length LP "More To It", recorded in Martin's bedroom studio and released on blue vinyl.

"More To It" took the shape of a punk rock concept album, the resolution of the "crisis" explored in the previous EP. The songs on "More To It" were a "song cycle", united by keys and themes, and partially inspired by the writings of philosopher Emmanuel Kant. The album developed the themes from "Crisis" into a psychological tapestry of what Kant called "humanity as the ends as well as the means", or, in other words, the mind's contribution to its own knowledge and the resulting epiphany that there truly is "more to it".

Visually, "More To It" suggested these themes with its cover art, the 1568 painting by Pieter Brughel the Elder, "The Misanthrope", currently at the Museo di Capodimonte in Naples.

Stylistic Notes

Arguably, "More To It" represented Malignus Youth musical style at its most sophisticated. The album featured artistic elements that challenged artistic expression in the punk rock genre. Style choices included ascending and descending keys, two and three part harmonies in counterpoint, singing styles in guitar and bass playing against standard power chords, sophisticated tempo changes, complex polyrhythic drum parts, innovative use of musical cadences for dramatic effect, experimental tangents in different musical styles, and even slight canonic variation.

This range of borrowed styles demonstrated a familiarity with advanced musical theory mostly uncharacteristic of punk rock music of the time.

On Tour (1992)

In June 1992, Malignus Youth played a show with ALL in Phoenix. Descendents/ALL's praise of the band subsequently encouraged a growing respect for Malignus Youth within the punk rock world, with other established artists eventually attesting to their quality.

Over the next three years, with the help of an independent investor, Malignus Youth toured the western United States, playing at the legendary Tacoland in San Antonio, at Northern California's punk rock mecca 924 Gilman Street with Green Day, in Salt Lake City with The Mighty Mighty Bosstones and in Fort Collins, Colorado with The Offspring.

"Missa Brevis" and "Ephemeral"

Between tours, Malignus Youth recorded and released on CD its most conceptually ambitious work to date. Inspired by the classical music tradition of composing music for liturgical texts, as had been done, for example, by Beethoven (Missa Solemnis) and Mozart (his "Requiem"), Malignus Youth produced its own setting of the Roman Catholic Mass, designated MISSA BREVIS. This CD was released with additional unreleased tracks, collectively called "Ephemeral".

Stylistic Notes

The heavily experimental and haunting "Missa Brevis" (literally "Brief Mass") was released almost entirely in the original Greek and Latin texts with additional English lyrics. The composition, including its traditional introduction (or "Introit") was divided into five sections:

  • Prelude
  • Kyrie
  • Gloria
  • Credo
  • Sanctus
  • Agnus Dei

"Missa Brevis" perhaps represented their best work, a swan song that illustrated the depth and scope of the band's musical abilities. "Missa Brevis" demonstrated that punk rock, perhaps, could now be seen as having evolved from its simple minimalist style into a genre of unrestricted artistic expression that challenged and won the right to stand among "sophisticated" genres such as classical music and jazz.

Breakup and Compilation "Vinyl CD" (1994-1998)

Following their 1994 tour, the members of Malignus Youth separated to pursue different academic and musical goals and unofficially disbanded.

In the next few years, as the original vinyl pressings became rarer and rarer, demand for Malignus Youth on CD prompted a 1998 re-release of the MALIGNUS YOUTH EP, the "Crisis" EP and the full length LP, "More To It" on a single CD entitled VINYL CD.

Reunion (1999-2000)

In 1999, due to increasing public interest, Malignus Youth experienced a sort of revival.

A series of sold-out "reunion" shows occurred in Tucson. featuring bands from the now legendary "Southern Arizona Hardcore" scene, including Hellday and The American Deathtrip, Malignus Youth followed these shows with a series of shows around Arizona in which Malignus Youth joined tours of prominent punk bands including D.R.I., Fear, Misfits, and a reunion with Citizen Fish.

After these reunion shows, Malignus Youth again broke up.

Legacy

Malignus Youth maintains a Web site on Facebook, Fans all over the world continue to discuss Malignus Youth and their music.

Discography

7" EPs

  • Malignus Youth (Youth Inc., 1990)

[2 pressings of 500 copies - clear vinyl first pressing, black vinyl second pressing]

  • Crisis (Youth Inc., 1991)

[1 pressing of 1000 copies - 500 on red vinyl, 500 on white vinyl]

Albums

  • More To It LP (Youth Inc., 1992)

[1200 copies pressed on blue vinyl]

  • Missa Brevis/Ephemeral CD (Youth Inc., 1998)
  • Vinyl CD (Youth Inc., 1999)

Home video

Live at the Sweatlodge - March 24, 1990 - Bisbee, Arizona (Youth Inc.)

Compilation appearances

  • Yeah But It's a Dry Heat (West World Records, 1993)
  • Southern AZ compilation with Malignus Youth, Fells, Lonely Trojans, Zero Tolerance Task Force, Skinnerbox, Feast Upon Cactus Thorns, Mondo Guano, Bloodspasm, etc.
  • Malignus Youth tracks "I.U.T.Y." (CD only) and "Shadows" (on both the LP and CD)

References

External links

Review of Missa Brevis/Ephermeral at Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Missa-Brevis-Ephemeral-Malignus-Youth/dp/B000B85NCQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1304128718&sr=8-1


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