2025 has been a great year for rock music so far, especially in the alt-rock and metalcore scene. We have not only been treated to great new singles from bands like Bad Omens and Ice Nine Kills over the past two months, but what I have found most exciting is we have finally, after a 7-year-long hiatus, gotten our first single from the UK alt-math rock band Marmozets.
I got into the Marmozets back in college right before they released their second LP in 2018. I will never forget the day that my friend showed me them while we were driving to a PVRIS concert. All he said was, “You’re going to love this,” as he cranked up their song “Move, Shake, Hide.” I immediately fell in love with the intensity and chaotic energy this band offered. Their songs were crazy and aggressive, yet somehow the band still showed an insane level of control over their instruments that is hard to do when the music is as intense as it is. Unfortunately though, after the release of their second album, the band went on an indefinite hiatus. For years, it was unclear whether or not the band would be reforming and get back to making music. Many fans, myself included, had started to lose hope over the last several years. After so much time, we began to suspect that Marmozets were unfortunately a band of the past. I have never been happier to be wrong.
Less than a week ago, on November 5th, the band dropped the long-awaited new single “A Kiss From a Mother,” along with an accompanying music video. I had no idea what to expect from this single. Obviously it would be good if Marmozets had made it, but after almost 7 years, I had no idea what kind of direction they would take sonically. Would they make a triumphant comeback reminiscent of the angry and explosive songs from their first record? Would they go the direction that many rock bands sometimes take and release something more along the lines of an alt-pop song with some slightly crunchy guitars? The answer is neither. Instead of completely changing their sound or going back to the sound that made them famous, Marmozets goes for a more mature and sonically complex take while still holding onto the sound and the raw, powerful energy they have always exuded in their music.
The new track opens with an intro that sounds like something straight off of a Western movie soundtrack. Of all the genres I thought they might experiment with, desert rock was not one of them, but the band pulled it off so well! The intro builds anticipation with static guitar feedback and a slowly increasing drum beat before kicking into a classic, catchy riff. As the song picks up speed, that gritty Marmozets heaviness starts to make it's way to the surface, going from a mysterious and ambient desert rock song to what could easily be the soundtrack to a bar fight in an Old West saloon. The chorus is ferocious and fast and just makes you want to move; whether that be in the form of moshing, dancing, or anything in between, you just have to let the excitement out of your body somehow.
Aside from their rowdy and energetic live shows, Marmozets are known for incorporating three things in all of their songs: electrifying vocals, heavy and memorable guitar riffs, and some of the hardest-hitting drumming in modern rock music. The new single does a fantastic job of showcasing each member of the band’s musicianship and what they bring to the music’s overall sound. Lead singer Becca Macintyre's talent absolutely shines in the new single. There are truly no other vocalists that I can think of that sound even remotely similar to Becca. This woman is really in a league of her own. Her clean vocals are very distinctive, and her screams are top-notch and raw, perfectly accenting the heavy breakdowns and choruses that the band is known for. As for guitarists Sam Macintyre and Jack Bottomley, the guitar riffs used perfectly structure the new track and immediately capture the listener's attention from the first instance of the main riff. Last, but far from least, is the enthusiastic drumming of Josh Macintyre. This man hits his drum kit harder than any other drummer I’ve seen, and his aggressive drumming style packs the massive auditory punch that is needed to back up such powerhouse songs. The beat of the drums in the new single will have you headbanging so hard that you may need to go see a chiropractor afterwards for a neck adjustment. I may or may not be speaking from personal experience here.
Overall, “A Kiss From A Mother” delivered exactly what I wanted to hear from a new Marmozets song while adding in a completely new and more mature flavor that gave listeners a glimpse into the future of the band’s sound. It is currently still unclear when we can expect to hear more singles and the long-awaited new album, but after such a banger of a first single, I can confidently say that it has been worth the wait.
