Hailing from the United States, Malus Votum are an otherwise-new entity whose two primary members hold a wealth of musical experience in the metal underground. While both drummer/bassist/vocalist Grond Nefarious and guitarist/vocalist Goatlord have played in Portland's Panzergod at various times (Grond Nefarious also plays in Death Fetishist and previously played in Blut der Nacht), Malus Votum is the first time the duo have joined together in a blood pact to create the purest black metal possible. Fittingly, the band's debut album is titled "Tradition".