Lake Malice bring the chaos to The Garage

Lake Malice, Chaosbay and EVILLE
The Garage, London – Friday 9 October 2026

There is something special about a night that brings together different corners of the alternative music scene, and Lake Malice’s London show had a line-up that promised plenty of heaviness, electronic influences, and big energy. Taking over The Garage on 9 October as part of their I Wanna Know If It’s Real tour, the Brighton duo were joined by German progressive metalcore band Chaosbay and Brighton’s own EVILLE.

With three bands bringing their own approach to heavy music, the evening was a celebration of the creativity coming out of the modern alternative scene. The Garage, with its intimate floor and close connection between the stage and the audience, was a fitting venue for a tour built around music that demands to be heard live.

EVILLE

Opening the night were EVILLE, the Brighton-based band who describe their sound as brat metal. Blending alternative metal with a rebellious attitude and a modern, genre-mixing approach, they have been steadily building their presence through releases, touring, and appearances on bills alongside other rising alternative acts.

Their debut EP, BRAT METAL, helped establish the band’s identity, while the single King For A Day has continued to introduce listeners to their sound. Their growing live profile has also seen them take on support slots with bands, including As December Falls and Sumo Cyco.

EVILLE’s music is built around attitude and punchy, heavy arrangements, with an alternative edge that gives their songs plenty of character. Their place on this tour made sense, bringing a younger, more chaotic energy to the evening and introducing the crowd to a band with plenty of room to grow.

Opening a show is an important job, especially when there are two more acts to follow, and EVILLE had the opportunity to get the evening moving and give the audience an introduction to their own take on modern heavy music.

You can follow EVILLE here:

CHAOSBAY

Next up were Chaosbay, the German four-piece who have spent years developing a sound that combines progressive metalcore with melodic songwriting, technical guitar work and electronic touches.

The band have released four studio albums, with ARE YOU AFRAID? arriving in 2024. Their earlier concept album, 2222, has accumulated more than four million streams, helping them reach a wider audience beyond their home country. Their music balances intricate arrangements and heavy breakdowns with accessible hooks, giving their songs plenty of variety.

Chaosbay’s technical side is an important part of their identity. Their songs can shift between aggressive sections and more melodic passages, with the guitars and rhythm section carrying much of the weight while the vocals provide a strong emotional centre.

Having toured internationally and built a reputation within the progressive metalcore scene, they arrived in London with plenty of experience behind them. Their position on the bill gave the audience a chance to hear a different side of modern heavy music before Lake Malice took over for the headline set.

You can follow Chaosbay here

LAKE MALICE

By the time it was time for Lake Malice to take the stage, the focus was firmly on the Brighton duo’s latest chapter. Made up of vocalist Alice Guala and guitarist and producer Blake Cornwall, Lake Malice have become an increasingly familiar name in the UK alternative scene, building their identity around a sound that refuses to stay in one lane.

Their music pulls together metal, electronic production, hyperpop influences, and melodic hooks, with Guala’s vocals moving between catchy melodies and a more aggressive delivery. There is a lot going on in a Lake Malice song, but that willingness to experiment is a big part of what makes the band stand out.

Their rise has included support slots for Enter Shikari, Skindred, Bloodywood, Vukovi, and As Everything Unfolds, alongside appearances at festivals including Download, 2000 Trees and The Great Escape. They have also received recognition at the Heavy Music Awards, earning nominations in the Best UK Breakthrough Artist and Best Breakthrough Live Artist categories.

The band’s latest album, I Wanna Know If It’s Real, arrived on 11 September 2026, giving this tour a fresh collection of material to bring to the stage. Its release marked an important moment for a band who have spent the last few years building a following through a mixture of new music, touring and a distinctive visual identity.

The album title itself raises a question that sits comfortably within Lake Malice’s world. Their music often explores difficult personal experiences and the uncertainty that can come with them, while the production gives those ideas a vivid, sometimes unsettling edge. There is a strong contrast between the catchiness of the melodies and the weight of the music, allowing the band to move between different moods without losing their identity.

On stage, the relationship between Guala and Cornwall is central to the band’s sound. Cornwall’s guitar work and production help create the dense electronic and metal foundations, while Guala brings the personality and vocal range needed to carry the songs. That combination gives Lake Malice plenty of flexibility, with room for heavy sections, melodic choruses and electronic details within the same performance.

Their growing reputation as a live act has been an important part of their progress. Those Heavy Music Awards nominations reflect the attention they have received within the UK heavy scene, while their touring history has helped introduce them to audiences who might not otherwise have come across their music.

What makes Lake Malice particularly interesting is the way they bring different influences together without relying on a single genre to define them. The heavier moments give the music its bite, while the electronic elements and memorable hooks keep it accessible. There is a clear sense of personality running through their work, both musically and visually, and that has helped them carve out a recognisable place in the alternative scene.

The atmosphere in The Garage was a big part of what made the headline set so enjoyable. Crowd surfers made their way through the room, a mosh pit opened up on the floor, and people threw themselves into the music. There was plenty going on, but the overall feeling was that everyone was there to have a good time and enjoy the night.

Lake Malice’s music lends itself to that kind of live setting. The heavy guitar work and electronic elements give the songs plenty of punch, while Alice Guala’s vocals bring a mix of melody and aggression. Alongside Blake Cornwall’s guitar work and production, the duo have developed a sound that feels distinctly their own, pulling together different influences without losing the heaviness at the centre of it all.

With their latest album, I Wanna Know If It’s Real, released just weeks before the show, this tour also gave fans the chance to experience the new material in a live setting. The record marks another step forward for the band, who have continued to build their audience through touring, festival appearances and support slots with established names across the alternative scene.

Throughout the night what really caught my attention was the fun and enjoyment across the room. Between the crowd surfers, the mosh pit and people simply getting lost in the music, there was a real sense of everyone making the most of being there. It was a fun, energetic headline show and another opportunity for Lake Malice to bring their music to a growing London audience.