Marcus: the Apex Predator! – Newborn Fossil
Detroit-based Marcus: the Apex Predator! (MTAP) return from a seven-year gap with their latest offering, the five-song Newborn Fossil.
Newborn Fossil kicks itself off with a telling title track, highlighting their penchant for gritty, guitar-forward sounds – jaunty rhythms conjure hints of Death From Above 1979, while gravely-voiced singing from frontman/songwriter Kevin Watts instantly recalls the rawness of ’90s legends Archers of Loaf. Bandmates Nick Marko (drums) and Sean Bondareff (bass) form a rock-solid rhythm section that anchor Watts’ oddly melodic guitar playing. Lyrically, the band explores unique imagery – in this case, literally a “newborn fossil,” with Watts proclaiming that said fossil is his doppelgänger. If this is a roundabout way of coming to terms with the aging process, Watts & co. have found a thought-provoking way to portray it. Track two, “Lo-Fi” continues the Archers of Loaf vibe, with big, lightly-discordant guitar theatrics that tickle the eardrums with interesting twists and turns.
Across the rest of the EP, MTAP explores other avenues without ever straying from their m.o. of wild guitar work and chant-worthy vocal melodies. “The First Summer” kicks off like a cut from Coheed & Cambria’s The Second Stage Turbine Blade before becoming more anthemic a la Against Me! or The Gaslight Anthem. “Plenty & Shine” might have the most ebullient guitar riffs found here, leaning the heaviest into punk flavors with its sing-along melodies and fist-pumping chants. Lastly, “No Fraction” certainly embodies a save-the-best-for-last contention – the nimble fretwork here makes you wonder aloud how Watts must manage to sing and play simultaneously. Stick around for Watts’ 3-2-1 proclamation toward the end, as the band slams through one final, epic hurrah.
Newborn Fossil is out as of February 14th, 2025. Check it out via the Spotify embed below.
Categorised in: Album Reviews
This post was written by Nick Sessanna