For individual bios, click on the links below (the order of the links correlate with the picture).

Branon Cory James Robin Brandon Travis

Band Biography

Taken From the Promotional Pack
As time has so incidentally showed us, the sound of music inspires the hearts and souls of all men...some more than others. The origin of Malice Intended (then under the name Pariah) befell with the friendship between Brandon Cook, and Travis Addis. Cook had been playing guitar for several years, and had begun developing his vocal technique in hopes of being a singer in a band. His poetry and lyric writing had inproved dramatically, which gave him the incentive to experiment with his own original song writing. However, something was missing.
Despite the fact that Travis Assis lacked the instrument upon which his emotions would be bestowed, his ambition to play the guitar would allow him to overcome the obstacle. Brandon loaned him an extra guitar he has, and the resolution clearly accelerated his learning. Addis basically taught himself how to play by studying guitar magazines, and through friends that played the instrument. Coming into his own unique style, he fit perfectly with what Cook was trying to accomplish musically.
The two had been friends for years, but they had only now begun to combine their musical styles. The slow, melodic riffs coupled with the dark, pondering lyrics, created a feeling of sadness and uncertainty. Even though this combination would reign consistently as the niche of the band, Cook and Addis had heavier aspirations. Their style began to tailor after such acts as ALICE IN CHAINS, TOOL, and ACID BATH, with a twist of PINK FLOYD.
Before long, the duo had written an abundance of songs and began sharing their music with several friends. One of them, James Kiser, began showing an interest in their music. Although James had been a guitarist since junior high, he began playing bass for the band. Soon after, Cook and Addis realized that Kiser had much more to give to the band through his guitar playing than he could ever provide with a bass in his hands. From then on, Brandon abandoned the guitar and James took the role of lead guitarist. Without having to concentrate on playing the guitar, Brandon could focus solely on his vocals. This soon proved to be the appropriate conversion to encourage his technique to develop.
By this time, Travis' vocal ability had drastically improved, and the group began adding harmonized vocal parts to many of their songs. B.J. Privette was added to the line-up to relieve James of the bass guitar. His skills as a graphic artist greatly enhanced the band's professional image, and promoted the band through a visual perspective. The only deficiency the band had left to surmount was the abscence of a drummer. As time unraveled, the band was luckily introduced to Branon Shenkel, after several failed attempts to stir interest in the othe rdrummers they knew. In their haste, they thought Shenkel (being only sixteen) might be too inexperienced to be beneficial to the group. This thought was also raised in the mind of Branon himself.
With nothing to lose, Cook encouraged Branon to try out for the band. Branon was quick to decline the offer, but Cook in his determination persuaded Shenkel to try out. He suggested that Branon come to at least one practice to see if it would work. Reluctantly, Branon accepted. Yet even in the face of his uncertainty, he proved to be quite a talented drummer.
Pariah became official on January 1st, 1998. the played several shows as Pariah, but were forced to change the rename the group becuase of another act yielding the name. Thus, Malice Intended was born. Druing the summer of 1999, Malice Intended recorded a three song demo, which featured three of their latest songs: Strain, Mistaken, and Dreams Die Sweet. The three songs promote the diversity of the band and help capture the essence of their styl. New doors were beginning to open for the band, but no one realized how quickly those doors could be slammed shut.
During November of 1999, the rising controversy between the band and B.J. Privette had come to a sudden resolution; Privette walked away from the group. Determined to press on, the band began an all out campaign to find a new bass player. However, what started out as pure enthusiam was rapidly dimished to despair.
Without a bass player, shows stopped coming, but practice raged on. The band retired to the desolate basement where they rehearsed, and began writing new material. Over the next five months, some of their best songs would be composed, and a sudden twist of fate would bring the band back to its feet.
Cory Cook, Brandon's younger brother, was studying classical guitar at a community college in Southern Pines, North Carolina. One day brandon mentioned jokingly that Cory should fill in as the new bass player. Cory suprisingly agreed and was greatly welcomed by everyone. They began to work with Cory to get him up to speed, but being whole again was just not enough. They knew deep down they'd have to leave Fayetteville. And so they did.
Malice Intended packed their bags late in October of 2000 and headed to Greensboro, North Carolina to pursue their destiny. Once in Greensboro, they continued practicing in order to complete their set, and allow Cory time to get the songs down. As fate would have it, Malice Intended would welcome a sixth member to the band. Robin Foster
Robin, a long time friend of the band, was attending college at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. Travis had spent some time up lving up there while the band was back in Fayetteville, and formed an even deeper friendship with Foster. Foster expressed his desire to Travis to work with the band, and his talent on the guitar could not be denied. Hence he became a part of Malice Intended. His interest in Progressive Black Metal has brought a fascinating completion to the group. Malice Intended has since settled in and has began their pursuit for greatness in their new city, Greensboro, North Carolina....and the rest is yet to be written.