The Maccabees' Marks To Prove It
Jack Page | 5th August 2015
Photo Credit: Facebook
After releasing four albums you’d think bands would begin to throw everything up in the air and wander along a path unknown to create their ‘new sound’. Well you'll be pleasantly surprised to hear that Maccabees haven’t. The record has been produced immaculately rather like their third, more experimental album, ‘Given To The Wild’. They’ve stayed true to their fans, their sound and I for one couldn’t be happier with ‘Marks To Prove It’.
Opening with title track ‘Marks To Prove It’, the album gets underway, with excitement, flair and intricately overlapping riffs. Why start slow when you can begin like this? And in to the record we go. Following up with ‘Kamakura’, the band have allowed room for thought with an easy flowing intro leading for delicately soft verses and a chorus to jump around to. This will definitely be a crowd pleaser at their live shows.
The record keeps this continuous flow track by track. Intertwining within with this flow is an eerie sensibility brought in by the more prominent use of a piano than the other three albums. It’s definitely a darker step taken by the band which has worked well.
A personal favourite in this record is ‘River Song’ which keeps this eeriness and with the inclusion of a prolonged wail adds anguish amongst the line of ‘you’re not getting any younger, soldier on for another year’. Throughout the record I was hit with sounds similar to the style of bands like Alt-j and Bombay Bicycle Club which should bode well for any listeners new to The Maccabees.
Finishing softly with the last tracks this record leaves you wanting more from The Maccabees. I’m sure there won’t be too much worry on the faces of The Maccabees fans as they’ve now gone a decade as a band and don’t seem to show signs of stopping. Huzzah.
If you’re heading to either Reading or Leeds this month then you’ll be happy to know that they’re playing. Friday on the main stage at Leeds and Sunday at Reading. Check them out!