Metalcore 5-piece Malevolence have gone viral after staging a fake CCTV appeal regarding a reported burglary in order to promote their new single, ‘If It’s All The Same To You’.
The Instagram news page @onlinesheffield posted a staged CCTV photograph of vocalist Alex Taylor and drummer Charlie Thorpe, with a caption detailing the crime as a ‘theft of several high value items back in January’. The photograph has now garnered hundreds of likes, and even featured a fake investigation number.
The post quickly began circulating on social media, capturing the attention of fans on X (formerly known as Twitter), with most believing it to be real. Many found the situation comical, and began posting ironic edits of the hoax CCTV photograph, editing it to look like an album cover or merchandise.
One X user, @uremptywithin, posted this, with a caption referencing the band’s 2022 song ‘Life Sentence’ from their third album, ‘Malicious Intent’.
On March 17th, four days after the hoax CCTV image gained traction, Malevolence teased the upcoming single and accompanying music video ‘If It’s All The Same To You’, with an Instagram video featuring actor Alan Ford, famed for his role as Brick Top in the 2000 film, Snatch.
The music video, released on March 19th, features Ford as ‘The Boss’, and members of Malevolence robbing a gallery and engaging in a high speed police chase. The single, produced by Josh Wilbur, is a quintessential Malevolence track, with hard-hitting riffs and deep, growling vocals.
Upon discovery that the CCTV appeal was a promotional hoax, Malevolence fans were relieved, with comments on their Instagram such as “Is this why the police was posting pics” and “Yous got me with the Sheffield Online post”.
The single is taken from their upcoming album, “Where Only The Truth Is Spoken”, which is set for release on June 20th this year. The album will feature 11 tracks, including one featuring Randy Blythe, lead vocalist of American heavy metal band Lamb of God.
The band are yet to make any comment regarding the publicity stunt, and the original Instagram post remains up and unedited.
Photo: Jaz Higgins
