Maruja channels raw emotion and urgency on debut album Pain to Power
Manchester band Maruja have released their long-awaited debut album Pain to Power, out now via Music For Nations.
Produced by: Samuel W. Jones
Produced by Samuel W. Jones, the eight-track collection captures Maruja’s explosive sound—a fierce collision of noise rock, punk, industrial textures, and squawking sax that recalls the intensity of black midi, Squid, Slint, and Swans. Across 50 minutes, the four-piece shift effortlessly from blistering aggression to cathartic improvisational jazz, always carrying an undercurrent of empathy and solidarity.
The band—Harry Wilkinson (vocals/guitar), Joseph Carroll (sax), Matt Buonaccorsi (bass), and Jacob Hayes (drums)—grew up amid years of austerity in the UK, and that lived experience reverberates throughout the album. Pain to Power confronts the personal and political scars left behind, while also believing in music’s ability to heal, inspire, and unite communities.
Maruja believes passionately in the ability of art to empower, heal, and unite, and has created a body of work with Pain to Power that they hope will offer both strength and an emotional release to anyone who is struggling with the impact of years of political turmoil and social isolation.
With a North American headline tour beginning September 22 in Boston, followed by their largest UK and European run to date, Maruja are carrying the message of Pain to Power far beyond Manchester. This debut marks not just the arrival of a vital new voice in noise rock and post-punk but also a deeply human record built on empathy, urgency, and collective strength.
Standout Songs: ‘Bloodsport,’ ‘Look Down On Us,’ ‘Born Toto Die,’ ‘Break The Tension,’ and ‘Reconcile.’
Release Date: September 12, 2025
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