[dropcap]T[/dropcap]hese are truly strange times we live in these days. Some might even call them down right weird. Rumors are being spread by washed up veterans and faceless tastemakers that Rock N’ Roll is as dead as disco. And yes, I feel terrible that I had to reference disco just to make a point, but I still stand adamantly in rejection of any notion that rock fans have anything to fear for our dearly beloved genre. Maybe one of the most popular arguments made against the future of rock is that bands have become too numerous and like-minded. Nothing feels ‘original’ or has the…well, the balls to stand out. At least, these are sentiments I hear expressed by people I want to shout violently at…
- But now I don’t have to shout as much thanks to a group of young, stalwart musicians called Marmozets. Hailing from the United Kingdom, the band has been active since 2007 during their school years and in 2014 have come to the fore with their debut LP ‘The Weird And Wonderful Marmozets’. There’s always been a ringing truth to the expression, “actions speak louder than words”, and though I can’t say with any certainty whether this band has ever uttered the phrase “We’re gonna rock your damn faces off.”…well, you get where I’m going with this.
Our weird and wonderful journey begins with the track ‘Born Young And Free’. Deep down I think we all love loud, punchy, anthemic songs that can get your head banging and feet tapping, and this baby has all that oddly gyrating goodness by the fistfuls. With a barrage of crashing drum tones, soaring vocals, and a bevy of guitar hooks, this tune will pull you in and pump you up to 11. Like a portrait of a majestic tiger standing valiantly atop the Serengeti mountains, it packs the kind of energy that just leaves you feeling inspired and ready for what’s next.
Another stereotype in the ‘Rock Is Dead’ argument is that there aren’t enough songs that are ‘powerful’ or ‘catchy’ enough to appeal to the mainstream music fan. Well allow the Zets to spit squarely in the face of such rubbish with a pair of great pop punk/alternative leaning singles in ‘Why Do You Hate Me?’ and ‘Captivate You’. The former dipping its toes in the pool of iconic pop punk sensibilities such as Paramore and Green Day, while the latter ascends to soulful heights that will leave you, well, captivated. Frontwoman Becca McIntyre is equal parts wailing banshee and breathtaking angel in vocal delivery. At times it seems almost unreasonable that such a young act is this well equipped to impress.
And while we’re demolishing misguided opinions on modern day rock bands, let’s put the idea that the ‘active rock’ sound is one dimensional to a very overdue rest. ‘The Weird And Wonderful Marmozets’ excels in taking chances and catching you off guard in truly delightful ways. While songs like “Is It Horrible” and ‘Particle’ sprinkle a lively dash of hardcore flavor into great old school style rock jams, why not go for the full monty and take on the gritty mathcore sound with a bonafide ass kicker?
Enter ‘Vibebtech. Good lord. The vibe, the tech. It would be no grand stretch to put this song in the running for ‘Best Headbanger of the Year’. The sporadic timings and obscure riff aesthetics are so brilliantly assembled to complement vocals that go from hypnotically catchy to unequivocally crushing. In fact, let me go on the record, I demand this song live. Demand it. Also, following this track up with an 80’s power metal love song like ‘Love You Good’? I dare you not to have a good time. You’d be crazy not to.
Sometimes it takes some fresh blood in the veins to remind you how damn good it feels to be alive. With ‘The Weird And Wonderful Marmozets’ this young outfit of brothers and sister (from two different families, mind you) deliver a euphoric jolt of life that never falls flat. Colorful, daring, aggressive, and staggeringly powerful. This is the kind of record that the rock faithful will undoubtedly embrace. A modern classic worth talking about.
