Maruja and the politico punk / jazz-alt rock hybrid art and power of "One Hand Behind The Devil"

 

photo by Cal Moores


The unbridled angst and agro punching jazz punkery of "One Hand Behind The Devil" by Manchester based hybrid alt rock outfit Maruja is hard to define musically but easy to define experientially. The sound / energy punches you in the gut and you might find yourself balling up your fists without knowing it as if a revolution is brewing in your soul, one that will have you raising those fists in the air and storm the streets in protest against those who hate, of the taking away of women's reproductive rights, of the dehumanization of the 'other' defined as so many entities, LGBTQ, trans men and women, Palestinian and Jew, people of all colors as scapegoats. Maruja here feels political, manages to express all the vile pain that has been dealt out by Governments and felt by all of us struggling to make ends meet and trying to understand why bombs always end up falling and blowing up the innocent. 

Experiencing Maruja might trigger things in you, I can tell you that much. For whatever reason I thought of artists like Rage Against The Machine, The Dead Kennedys, Anti-Flag, not necessarily sonically but temperamentally, aesthetically. 

From Liner Notes (bracketed):

[the single is an infernal hellfire of break-beat-punk, harsh noise, and transcendent cosmic jazz. The quartet fizzes, erupts, and soars across 4 minutes of intense, unflinching drama. Laden with doom and fearsome cathartic release, ‘One Hand Behind The Devil’ stands as another electric formulation of Maruja’s devilish ambitions.]

AND

[The convergence of vocalist and guitarist Harry Wilkinson, drummer Jacob Hayes, bassist Matt Buonaccorsi, and saxophonist Joe Carroll creates the intense, unflinching nuance of Maruja’s call. For just a glimpse of the energy that ensues, live videos of the band’s performances at Live from Low Four Studio or Live at The Windmill show that Maruja are quickly becoming a serious force to be reckoned with.]

As press notes reveal, there are some wonderful Maruja LIVE performances up online. I just checked out Maruja (Live from Low Four Studio) last night and was pretty much gobsmacked by the massive sound and emotional impact these guys exibit LIVE. Absolutely stunning. I hope you check it out. 

-Robb Donker Curtius

THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM 

https://www.facebook.com/Marujaband/

https://twitter.com/Maruja_Band

https://open.spotify.com/artist/71ISXR7gtIq5E2AdI3jGf0

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXG1ZbVm2hHm678_s_Qkvbw

https://www.instagram.com/marujaofficial/

With a growing reputation as one of the most exciting live acts on the UK underground circuit, gaining support from the likes of Glastonbury, NME, SoYoung Magazine, BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 6, Maruja’s run of sold out shows continue to dazzle fans across the UK and Europe.

Knocknarea is the debut project from the 4 piece and is the highest rated EP of 2023 on Rate Your Music and Album of The Year. Anthony Fantano reviewed the project, stating “the performances are tight, the spoken word passages are edge of your seat, the guitars and saxophones are really dynamic and fantastic...” He goes on to say, “...this EP, there’s so much potential, there’s so much good material... I have no doubt with something of this quality right out the gate, we’re gonna have an even better album down the pipe. Definitely check this EP out because this thing is fire!"

Maruja is an evocative force that transports listeners to a world of diversity and gritty realism. Improvisation provides the backbone of Maruja’s compositions, compelling instrumentation and culturally relevant lyrics speak in tongues; creating a myriad of whispered secrets.

For the better part of a decade, they have relentlessly honed their craft, pouring over every note with a precision that borders on the obsessive. It is not just a passion that drives them but rather an all-consuming need, a force that compels them to create and perform with a visceral intensity that is both electrifying and terrifying.

Maruja, alt rock, indie rock, jazz punk, hybrid jazz rock, fusion rock, "One Hand Behind The Devil", Maruja LIVE from Low Four Studio, political angst, vocalist and guitarist Harry Wilkinson,