Hailing from Detroit, Marcus: the Apex Predator! is an indie/post-hardcore band creating a sound that incorporates melodic and aggressive styles, while keeping their music thoughtful and fun. The band has just released their new 5-track EP, entitled Newborn Fossil, that serves as an homage to their past and a nod to Marcus: The Apex Predator!’s current sound and style.
“The EP was a long time coming,” says frontman/songwriter Kevin Watts of the new release. “I wrote a good chunk of the music in one of those creative hurricanes during the COVID stay-at-home days, but it took some time to regain the footing of normalcy to push them beyond just riffs and loose ideas. The songs began to take shape after the ins-and-outs of remote life, recording a record with Float Here Forever (the other band I play in with M:tAP!’s drummer, Nick Marko), and other of life’s detours were in the rear view. Nick helped bring the ideas to life with his amazing drum work, and Sean helped cement the sounds with his bass wizardry.“
The EP kicks off with its namesake, “Newborn Fossil,” showcasing gritty, fuzzy guitar riffs, and a pop-punk style melody. The song is a solid mix of heavy and boppy, wrapped in just over three minutes of fun energy to lock listeners in for the rest of the EP. “Lo-Fi” has a bit more of a mellow, pared down style, with impactful group vocals in the chorus. There’s a notable depth to this one, and the way the song gets bigger toward the end is a well-executed move to keep us engaged. For a nostalgic 90s feel (which is always up my alley), look no further than “The First Summer”. It’s so hooky and infectious, the perfect feel-good track that evokes warm weather memories. “Plenty & Shine” creates a similar vibe, with a catchy and energetic style. From there, the EP finishes with what may be the most nuanced track on the album, called “No Fraction”. This song is not predictable or overly familiar, which creates a compelling listen that feels like the perfect way to close off this batch of songs.
Overall, Newborn Fossil showcases Marcus: the Apex Predator!’s knack for creating hooky, dynamic sounds that are accessible and have just the right level of aggression. It’s a cohesive release, with each song fitting perfectly together in the track listing and drawing listeners in from song to song. Undoubtedly worth a listen for fans of alt, indie, pop-punk and post-hardcore music.
Stream the Newborn Fossil EP by Marcus: the Apex Predator! on your preferred platform:
Spotify / YouTube / Apple Music
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