James Malone Bio

James Malone – Arsis

Arsis is a Technical Melodic Death Metal band from Virginia, USA.

Arsis was formed in 2000 by guitarist/songwriter James Malone and drummer Michael Van Dyne (who left the band in late 2006) in Virginia. Though Arsis originally performed as James and Michael + rotating session musicians, James has now hired a full lineup.

James was the first HM endorsee; he personally beta tested the early prototypes before they had been released into line production. His signature V is based on the original Heavy Metal Series with a James Malone twist, featuring his signature graphic bats image.

The Malone Signature V features a Solid Mahogany Body and neck, with a Phenolic fretboard, Grover® Exclusive Tuners, a 25.5” scale, a Tune-O-Matic bridge, and Buzz Feiten equipped. Malone had specifically insisted on including the searing sound of the newly developed Randall Pickups. He uses the Randall Ultra XL in the neck and a Randall Ultra Lead in the bridge.

"I either have the best or worst luck ever, I have yet to decide. When I first formed Arsis in January of 2003 I was working full time and going to college full time. I had no idea that the band would be signed after only playing a total of five shows. I had no idea that within months of our debut album being released we would be approached by every metal lable under the sun. I certainly did not expect that in a few years I would be touring the world playing my music. Things just kind of happened. I prefer life this way. A few years ago Washburn reached out to me and asked me to check out a few guitars. Like with everything in life I had no expectations, but I was blown away by how much I loved their guitars. I acutally found some inspiration by playing the Washburn instruments; an inspiration I hadn't known in years. The guitar that impressed me the most was a prototype for a new Flying V design. I fell in love with the guitar instantly; the look, the way it played, everything about the guitar was perfect in my eyes. This guitar became part of Washburn's HM seris and Washburn gave me the opprotunity to truly make the guitar my own. I feel that everything about the James Malone signature edition of this guitar is truly mine (my girlfriend and I even helped design the graphic.) It is a part of me and a part of Arsis."

"I am so proud of this guitar and even more proud of Jim. Since the day Jim came to the Washburn roster I knew he was a special player. I felt so lucky to be working with somebody who truly was a master at his craft. Jim was there when the first proto type HM series rolled off the line and he took that very guitar with him to write his recent cd. Gave us feedback on what he liked and what didn't work. We took Jim's feedback and incorporated it into what is now an award winning line of guitars. Who better to represent them than Jim Malone. The new wv40jm is wicked. Jim came up with the bat theme which I think turned out amazing. And Jim opted to keep the new groundbreaking Randall pickups instead of better known EMGs and Semour Duncans going to show ya that those randall pickups sound sik. Check out the guitar. Check out Arsis. You won't be dissapointed."

-Jody Dankberg director of marketing and artist relations

Arsis Myspace

WV 40JM

Solid Mahogany body
Custom bat graphics
Mahogany/set neck
Phenolic fingerboard
Grover® Exclusive 18:1 tuners
25.5" scale
Randall® UL neck & Ultra XL bridge pickups
Licensed Floyd Rose®
Buzz Feiten Tuning System™
List Price: $TBA
Case: GB4 Included