Maruja - Pain to Power

Music For Nations

The highly-anticipated debut from Manchester's Maruja has finally come to fruition. Having received praise for their previous projects in the Knocknarea EP in 2023 - which would take the number one spot on my Top 20 EP's of 2023 - Connla's Well in 2024 and the heavily jam-centric project The Vaults, Maruja have pathed their own path with more than credible output. However, seeing that the 'studio album' is and always will be the definitive musical standard, the debut full-length will always be the metric that an act are measured by early on. Do Maruja live up to their potential?

Pain to Power sets off at breakneck speed with "Bloodsports". The third rail, the LIVEWIRE, has indeed been intentionally touched upon as the album is immediately injected with enough energy to power the grid indefinitely - in this case, the next 50 minutes. 

A world devoid of values in all directions. Going nowhere fast. The wheels turn and turn; burn and burn. The vehicle for progress has been burnt out on many occasions - and once again. The body and mind, the environment. Words of everyday rhetoric have reached numbing value; the tipping point. No longer in service of expression, said rhetoric now exists to defeat itself. A total rehaul of lexical conduits may be necessary. A cleaning of the mental gutter, so to speak. 

The dichotomy of brutish feats and soul-stripped observation and honesty come through as a shining feature of Pain To Power. Laid bare the human spirit fights for its place in this world, to the betterment of everything, including itself. Fight the flourishing fight. 

The fog horn of hope, and despair, makes its way onto shore. Through the veil of uncertainty and anguish is a kernel of truth, and light. The album takes a sorrowful turn mid-"Look Down On Us" before the bitter bites back. 

"Saoirse" - a common Irish female name which translates to 'Freedom' in English - takes a step back in texture and tone. Call it a breather, if you will, but not a breather in the dozey sense. Energy must be stored as well as spent. 

'It's our differences that make us beautiful.'

The cross-roads of political and spiritual uprising. The search for one is a search for the other, in some sense, but not vice versa - a higher power is needed. I'll let you decide which way the search goes. 

The fog horn of hope, and despair, returns on "Born to Die". Windswept in the more passive moments, Pain to Power revels in soft but stern sentiment, atmosphere and intellect. 

The split inside which leaks your soul. You can't fill a cracked cup; you can't give what you don't have. Pain to Power: a process. One of a gruelling journey, this life churns you out; shoves you through the door and leaves you bare. The world exists to straighten you up; if you miss the call, or more than likely ignore it, your whinging will fall on deaf ears. In power, of yourself, not of others.  

'Pain to Power; Faith in Love.'

Starting off slow and building, building, building to something of a Djent-y, Nu Metal energy on "Born to Die", Maruja take us through the gates. 

'We are Universal spirits and our Kingdom is this earth.'

'Our dreams are a reminder this realm ain't the only kind.'

'All emotions are just visitors

competing for attention

avoiding every trigger 

while still reaching for ascension.'

The Swans-y breakdown, occurring around the 6'40" mark steps inside of ludicrous territory around the 7'35" mark. Winding down the rabbit hole. It's heavily reminiscent of bands like Big Black. It could have been pulled straight off of their 1986 Atomizer project. Steve Albini would be proud, maybe. 

There's nothing to be found anywhere else other than yourself. The search only leads you to where you already were. Although this time you are a spiral up. At a vantage point things seem more insightful, at peace, within reason. You've been here before, and the only way is through. Tip-toeing around the edges won't satisfy the soul. If you can't find it in yourself, looking elsewhere will not suffice. 

The essence of Billy Woods comes through on "Trenches". Said tracks instrumental would have fit on Woods' 2022 project Aethiopes. The eerie thump of a sinister knock at the door rattles the air. The gangly haunted house that the track resides huffs heavy breath. 

'Generations cuffed by the ghosts of their past.'

'Seeing more, saying less.

Listening to speak with the intent to manifest.'

"Zaytoun", a soul-cleansing Instrumental which clears the air that "Trenches" brought in, leads us into the final track "Reconcile". 

'The ash falls like snow, nostalgia pullin' heartstrings

A symphony unheard of, the loneliness is howlin'

Callin' through the wind like a fear forever doubtin'

Towers like a burden, emotions slowly cloudin'

Slidin' over judgment, watch the memories wash away

Slip into hooded darkness, how many wish they could've stayed?

Misinformed by our pain, we're connected by the same

Different versions of ourselves that yearn to feel okay

The doubt has spread amongst us, disconnected by the fear

Question their assumptions if they never lend an ear

Change the way we look at things and the things we look at change

We are love in abundance and our courage can't be tamed

Intuition, we are brave, inner visions not afraid

Expressions take us higher before the love starts to fade

Music lifts our spirit and love uplifts our souls

Ancient language healin', so let the music take control'

Have no fear. Pray for Love. 

Having seen Maruja on two occasions over the past two tears, it has become apparent that these guys are the real deal; performers of another kind. The embodiment of beauty and beast. 

Maruja do indeed live up to their potential, with time they may even transcend it.