At one point in time, Marmozets were heralded as one of Britain’s modern rock great hopes. And they had the music to back it up. Their 2014 debut, ‘The Weird and Wonderful Marmozets’ and its eventual follow-up, ‘Knowing What You Know Now,’ (2017) demonstrated there was real substance behind the fanfare. Utilising ferocious riffs, whiplash time signatures, and acrobatic vocals, the Yorkshire group delivered a visceral blend of fierce and melodic numbers. They then went on an extended hiatus. During this time, Becca Macintyre married guitarist Jack Bottomley and made the Marmozets tribe a solid family band with bassist Sam and drummer Josh MacIntyre. Jack’s brother and former bassist, Will, decided to explore other opportunities. Nevertheless, the couple balanced life as parents with writing what would become their third album. ‘CO.WAR.DICE.’ at home.
The intervening years have seemingly left the now four-piece hungry and reinvigorated. As soon as ‘A Kiss From A Mother’ springs into life with Josh’s pounding bass drums and Jack’s hypnotic, sharp riff, you instantly know Marmozets are back! Becca’s vocals have spice, strutting above the frenzied math-infused garage rock opener. Moving into ‘New York,’ Becca’s energy is magnetic and explosive, matching the band’s vivacious swagger. ‘Cut Back’ maintains its relentlessness, benefiting from Sam’s bass groove and an adrenaline-fueled chorus.
If the opening fury of tracks shows anything, it’s that Marmozets haven’t missed a step. As ‘CO.WAR.DICE.’ moves towards the halfway point, the quartet shows their adventurous side. Whether that be on ‘Swear I’m Alive’ with its dusty tone, clouded in gothic undertones, showcasing Becca’s vocal range, or the infectious thump of ‘Running with the Sun in Your Eyes’. On the former, Becca’s verses are intimate before heading skywards in the chorus, anchored by a thick rhythmic foundation. This intimacy is pushed even further on the album’s emotional centrepiece, ‘Dandy’. Although written a decade ago, its vulnerable tone feels at home, exemplifying their growth as people. With just Jack’s acoustic and Becca’s bittersweet words of gratitude, it’s a welcome break.
Even though Becca’s vocals more often than not take centre stage, other members of the Bottomley-Macintyre clan have moments to shine. As it reaches the final hurdle, Josh’s low-end fills and flexible percussion work stand out on ‘Like Last Night’. Whereas ‘You Want The Truth’ sees Jack and Sam team up to provide a gritty foundation. Yet it is as a unit is where Marmozets shine.
The closing pairing continues their trend of delivering superb album finales. Here, ‘Flowerz’ ebbs and flows with fragile lyrics and fuzzy cinematic blasts, moulding itself into an impactful rock ballad. Then ‘Keep Going Darling’ turns up to round out the album. Over the course of seven minutes, it’s a thrilling, jangly onslaught of Marmozets being their most upbeat and charismatic. It’s the sound of a band rejuvenated, united, and with purpose.
‘CO.WAR.DICE.’ does suffer from some fleeting, weaker cuts (such as ‘Mes Désirs’). However, when the bulk of the record is as vibrant as Marmozets have ever sounded, you can forgive them. Complacency is clearly not a name uttered in the Bottomley-Macintyre circle as ‘CO.WAR.DICE.’ is an assured return executed with complete confidence.
‘CO.WAR.DICE.’ by Marmozets is released on May 22nd on Nettwerk Music.
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