Maruja: Pain to Power

"Onstage, Manchester four-piece Maruja conduct a series of distinct rituals. Like Moses commanding the Red Sea, sax player Joseph Carroll might gesture for the crowd to part down the middle, then join them to kick off the first song. Singer and guitarist Harry Wilkinson will peel off his shirt and pump through a few pushups at the top of "Break the Tension." Drummer Jacob Hayes and bassist Matt Buonaccorsi may wave their arms in slow motion, like mediums leading a seance."

"Their sound draws from various UK scenes of the past decade-plus; in particular, the post-punk and experimental rock championed by bands like Shame, Yard Act, Black Midi, and Squid and the teeming London jazz community that has nurtured artists like Shabaka Hutchings, Nubya Garcia, and Moses Boyd. Wilkinson, who sometimes raps in fast-paced, gasping measures, has also cited homegrown MCs Lee Scott, Jehst, and Little Simz as influences."

Maruja are a Manchester four-piece whose live performances mix ritualistic gestures with explosive musicianship. Pain to Power channels free jazz, hip-hop, hardcore punk, and alt-rock into sudden shifts and improvised passages. The record preserves much of the band's ferocity while alternating slower, sputtering tracks with bracing, high-energy pieces, producing a sometimes disjointed flow. Influences range from contemporary UK post-punk and experimental rock to the London jazz community, alongside UK MCs such as Lee Scott, Jehst, and Little Simz. Standout moments include the industrial punk of "Break the Tension" and the exhilarating opener "Bloodsport," which showcase sax-driven agit-jazz and racing rhythms.

Read at Pitchfork