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The Mic Recommends...

This week on The Mic Recommends we have some lovely new releases from PinkPantheress, Judas Priest and Maruja! Read and enjoy...


Capable of love – PinkPantheress

Despite her 23.5 million monthly listeners on Spotify and 1.6 million followers on Instagram,

PinkPantheress is surprisingly yet to release her first album. Her most iconic moment in pop culture

is likely her collaboration with Ice Spice on Boy’s a Liar Pt. 2 which drew in nearly 700 million

streams on Spotify. However, her relevancy in the mainstream has remained strong since she

entered, with a song on the Barbie soundtrack, as well as other collaborations with the likes of

WILLOW, Lil Uzi Vert, and Troye Sivan. Her latest release, Capable of Love, confirms that her

upcoming album, Heaven Knows, will remain deep-rooted in her unique night-core girly-pop style,

and cover well-versed themes in her existing discography such as love and romance. Highly

anticipated Heaven Knows will be released on the 10th of November coupled with a series of Y2K-

inspired music videos that uphold PinkPantheress as a face of nostalgic modernity and invention.

Roxann Yus



Panic Attack- Judas Priest

Judas Priest have struck back after a 5-year hiatus, and just like a fine wine, age

seems to be doing them plenty of favours. New single Panic Attack is more

energetic, experimental and powerful than these 70 year olds should probably be

capable of, but fans around the world are proven right yet again to set their faith in

these metal legends. Harkening back to many previous eras in their discography,

Priest work to their greatest strengths throughout the track: be it the Painkiller-

esque drum fills and phrygian riffs of the chorus, the synths ripped straight out of

Turbo or the more modern sounding transitions, not a single moment feels

uninspired. The performances, similarly, are just as tight and frenetic as they’ve

ever been, as neither Halford’s vocals nor the ripping solos show any signs of a

band past their prime. That’s not to say, however, that the band are resting on their

laurels with this one: Panic Attack is a Judas Priest song through-and-through, but

still feels like an evolution of their sound that would not have fit cleanly onto any of

their previous albums. Metal fans around the world should be ecstatic to check this

one out, and Judas Priest’s next album Invincible Shield is well on its way to

legendary status.

Jay Kirby



One Hand Behind the Devil- Maruja

Maruja’s first release since their Knocknarea EP in March, One Hand Behind the Devil is yet another intoxicating track added to their collection. Strident drums lead us in, conducting a feverish build before the song can properly snap into action. Harry’s vocals waste no time in ripping through with a dark intensity, an unfamiliar sense of foreboding hanging heavy over this new single. Maruja are a band that have never failed to disappoint me, and this song only helps cement that notion further. As a listener, you can’t help but feel there is something lurking beneath this track. Joe’s discordant sax motifs wade through the mud and flurries of noise until you are almost overcome by the music. For anybody unfamiliar, their sound is unlike any other. Jazz, punk, art rock and even rap all rolled into one neat little package – they are truly mesmerising. Maruja have a captivating ability to build upon a desolate landscape of sound. The weaving of dissonant riffs and striking lyricism into an accumulation of intricate textures is something that will remain continuously impressive to new listeners and committed fans alike. Keep your ears peeled for more; Maruja are not a band you want to let pass you by.

Alice Beard



 

Edited by Alice Beard


Cover Image courtesy of Maruja via Facebook, Videos courtesy of PinkPantheress, Judas Priest and Maruja via Youtube

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