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Review: Maruja, Electric Bristol – ‘Unapologetically incendiary’
Fiery. Unyielding. Defiant. That’s exactly the kind of energy that Maruja brought to Electric Bristol as they kicked off their UK/EU tour.
Touring in support of their critically acclaimed album Power to Pain the Manchester-based band arrived in the city to a sold out crowd.
Wasting no time in ramping up the energy, the band emerged emphatically on stage, lead vocalist Harry Wilkinson immediately commanding the crowd to open the pit.
is needed now More than ever
Frantic drumming, a guitar-driven onslaught and Wilkinson’s sharp, ferocious rap-rock bars come together as the band open with the ragged and relentless track Bloodsport, the mosh pit needing no directive to collide upon the song’s first explosion.
The crowd was ready and the energy was there from the get-go
Saxophonist Joe Carroll’s sax howled through the venue with a hauntingly visceral frenzy that rattled the room with raw, unfiltered energy – a sound that defines Maruja’s unique identity.
The band pulled no punches, flowing intensively into impassioned performances of standout tracks from the album, like Trenches and Break the Tension, each track a vivid reminder of their genre-defying craft – where punk, jazz, and experimentalism combine.
As the set continued so did the mosh pits, swelling and crashing at every surge of sound.
As the chaos subdued between tracks, chants of “Who’s lost a shoe” rang out across the venue as a lone black trainer was hoisted into the air. Wilkinson addressed this, seeking to reach its owner before claiming “somebody ain’t missing it, that’s for sure” when nobody came forward.
The shoe was not reunited with its owner, as far as this reviewer knows…
With cries of “Free shoe” and “Someone needs a shoe” echoing through the venue long after the shoe was first raised, Wilkinson stepped in, calling for silence.
Moving on, the band transitioned into Born to Die, a ten-minute extravaganza of emotive lyricism, introspective spoken-word philosophy and thunderous bulges in intensity, all wrapped up in one sprawling, experimental package.
Maruja have long-championed a message of solidarity, and perhaps no moment embodied this more than seeing the lone black shoe – which remained raised in the crowd for the entirety of Born to Die – become five. A poignant show of unity with the barefoot and soggy-socked.
While I jest, of course, it was hard to not admire and see the humour and commitment to the bit.
All throughout the gig, Maruja’s message rang loud – global unity, community and resistance against hatred. “We may sound aggressive but our message is one of peace”, Wilkinson fervently told the crowd, before wishing freedom to the people of Sudan, Yemen, Ukraine and Palestine.
Maruja come with a message of defiant resistance, and of solidarity for marginalised and displaced people across the globe
Seeking to unite the audience on this sentiment, Wilkinson invited the crowd to join him in raising a fist in the air for global solidarity, a gesture obliged without hesitation.
Part of this message of solidarity is directed upwards, the band offering a sharp reminder that real division isn’t between the ordinary people of the world, but between them and the power held by billionaires above.
This led effortlessly into the track Look Down on Us, an astonishingly rousing ten-minute indictment against capitalism and the super wealthy: chaotic yet cerebral, rhythmically explosive and unapologetically incendiary.
Once more, this track highlighted the full extent of Caroll’s command of the saxophone, veering from violent intensity to delicate melody. The perfect encapsulation of the band’s restless spirit.
There is no doubt that all of Maruja’s members are supremely talented. But it is Carroll’s sax prowess that truly delineates their distinction from their counterparts. His playing injects a raw emotional edge seldom heard elsewhere.
With the show drawing to a close, Wilkinson led chants of “Free Palestine”, echoed back to him in equal passion from the crowd.
Closing the set, the band performed Resisting Resistance, a track that masterfully demonstrates the depth of emotions that can be poured into an instrumental track – a true journey from anguish to euphoria and everything in between.
Swelling drums, plaintive guitar melodies and melancholic sax lines built to a cathartic crescendo, the track’s eventual culmination prompting one punter to yell “outstanding!”
Innovative instrumentals, purposeful lyricism, and a powerful stage presence – Maruja are a band redefining what resistance looks and sounds like.
A band with tunes, energy and a powerful message – Maruja are the full package
All images: Josh Templeman
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