Maruja provides a soundtrack to change with Pain to Power
The UK has been producing some of the most interesting releases in the past few years. From bands like Yard Act, Squid, and Fat Dog, it’s not hard to find bands that are experimenting with their sounds and providing new dynamics audiences haven't heard before. Manchester’s Maruja is no different. Since 2014, the group has been captivating audiences with their energetic, raw performances that feature passionate lyrics throughout. They have so far put out 3 EPs in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Many fans of the group have been waiting for them to release their debut album, and in September of 2025, they finally got it.
Pain to Power is the band’s debut LP, and they don’t waste time leaving an impact. Clocking in at 50 minutes with only eight tracks, it can come off slightly daunting for those who aren’t used to longer songs in their typical listening habits. Luckily for Maruja, their incorporation of jazz song structuring keeps the songs engaging throughout the 50 minute listen.
The album throws you in with the bombastic “Bloodsport”. Openers typically provide an insight into what to expect from the album. The drums and guitars kick this one off before vocalist Harry Wilkinson comes in with a vocal flow that is very much inspired by hip-hop and rap. As the song grows, so does the musicality that backs it. Extra instrumentation from saxophonist Joe Caroll crashes into the song in the best way possible. For people who aren’t familiar with Maruja’s sound, this will captivate you immediately as it throws you off in the best way possible. On first listen, thoughts of “oh my God, what will they do next”, and what they do continuously grow in intensity until the final minute of the song. After Wilkinson utters the words “I’m an addict; Addicted to my bad habits,” he lets out one more grunt before the band erupts into an entire minute of some of the most explosive noise on a record this year. All while the vocals “Complicit crossfire; No vision, live wire” repeat to the end of the song.
“Look Down On Us” provides us with the first example of the longer tracks on this record. Clocking in at barely 10 minutes, the track opens up with a rallying cry that describes the repetitive nature of many wrongs that plague the world, “Same old, same old toxic fables; Nameless empty cradles defined by half-assed labels”. Rallying cries of the same nature repeat throughout the song, and the straightforward nature of the lyrics help provide the impact needed for the messaging behind the song. One of the aspects that stuck out was this repeated motif in the saxophone that appears earlier in the song and comes back in the end. It may not seem like a big deal, but when the song switches stylings mid-way through and comes back to the original at the end, there is a sense of familiarity that will hit and remind you that you are still listening to the same amazing song. This track instrumentally is nothing short of fantastic. As you hear the empowering lyrics “I wanna say, you are powerful as a God,” the instrumentals behind it are creating this serene, powerful ambiance that only uplifts the lyrics. The jazz infusion on this track is top-tier and helps propel it to the next level.
After two beautiful, softer tracks in “Saoirse” and “Born to Die”, which include gorgeous performances throughout, the band picks the pace back up with “Break the Tension”. Continuing with a similar styling like the opener “Bloodsport”, the drums and saxophone usher in the rest of the track, which gets into themes of violence and vengeance, and how there is no way to avoid. On this song, the band uses multiple build ups through the saxophone, bass, and drums to build up tension in the song before it finally bursts at the end.
The energy doesn’t stop there. “Trenches” keeps it going strong with a song that is very reminiscent of Rage Against the Machine. It is audible from the get go through the pulsing back beat, fun guitar grooves, and the ever present hip-hop inspired flow in the vocals. The vocals and lyrics are at the forefront of the song, and it works to the benefit of the track. Throughout the song, the lyrics break down how people are taught hatred and are shackled down by those who came before them and the beliefs they carried. Lines like “Generations cuffed by the ghosts of their past” describe how many only believe the beliefs they do because those before them do. Later on in the first verse, there are glimmers of hope that talk about how things are changing and people are starting to think for themselves, and through that change in the world is happening. “Generations healing, the love had been oppressed; Something calling in my memory, I'm spiteful; Overthinking this insanity in cycles.” The band is looking at the issues they were describing earlier on the record and showing that people are out there trying to break these cycles, and you can too. Once you do, they say that they will “See you in the trenches”. The revolutionary nature of this anthem is all empowering, with instruments laying a good backbone for the vocals and call to action lyrics to soar on.
An album's closing track is just as important as the opener. It leaves the final impression and can affect how you leave the album. “Reconcile” is a listen that leaves you mesmerized as it closes. It is an ever-growing musical mountain that, when it hits its peak, it is nothing short of awe inspiring. The gorgeous layering and mixing of the music create this beautiful aura that is backed by the heartfelt words “have no fear” repeating over and over in the latter half of the song. I was floored when I first heard this, and my face couldn’t stop reacting to the musicality that I was hearing in this track. All things considered, the band nailed the end of the record.
Pain to Power is one of the best debuts released this year. The instrumentals are exciting and grow stronger as the record goes on. It’s hard not to be attracted to them. Thematically, this album could not have come out at a better time. Change is brewing in many places, and talks of revolution are constant. This record joins the rally cry of people questioning the world around them. I am excited to see what this band has to offer going forward.
