I read a Marvin’s Revenge review the other night. The thrust of the write up was that Marvin’s Revenge are dope. After having given the Nottingham based band’s new EP VR Porn a few plays, I can concur. Marvin’s Revenge are Dope. Capital D ope.

Take opening track to the new EP ARNOLD 2021. This is a busy spacey hard nosed banger with a hard thrusting pulse, and a vocal that can drill through the ice on the south pole. The track itself has riff echoes going right back to the core of grunge and 80’s hard punk. I can almost imagine John Peel’s late night dulcet radio one tones introducing this track.

I’ve already written about the first release from the EP Jack (Let Go of the Door), a frenzied paranoid bad trip of a tune, it reminds me somewhat of the Cramps phychobilly style, with an insistent take-no-prisoners insistent beat, in your face guitar style and hard vocal.

Jack could become Marvin’s Revenge career highlight track, but actually you know there is plenty of energy, creativity and gas in Marvin’s Revenge to come through yet. Hope and dope, this band.

Track VR Porn is deeper, darker and more thoughtful. This is a cat toying with its prey, full of power, and it gives a nicer different distorted heavy style for Marvin’s Revenge.

VR Porn is the point in the Marvin’s Revenge live gig where your ears might just implode, but the track also moves to a deliciously gentle high plateau where the journey back down is packed with spacey riffs and an almost languid pace. Just beautifully balanced this tune.

Final Marvin’s Revenge VR Porn EP track is Wealth, a track which feels almost post coital after the frantic burst of energy and emotion that precedes it. Don’t fret for me dear reader, I do carry a tissue.

Wealth hints at a deeper and less accessible Marvin’s Revenge. If punk met shoegaze and psyche and got p1ssed up together, Wealth might be a well worthy child.

As well as that delicious sense of chilled release, this track sounds like when you are so angry you can’t even be angry, it’s as dark as a coalmine.

Regular readers will know I only ever post reviews on music I admire, but amongst it all I must admit to favourite children, Marvin’s Revenge being one.

When I reflect upon Marvin’s Revenge and the VR Porn EP, I’m thinking power, energy and getting it all swirled up and released out there. Marvin’s Revenge are Luke Eaton (bass and vocals), Job Gregory (drums) and Oliver Sammels-Moore (guitar). They are a force, and they are dope. Catch them live.

* words by tiggerligger

* images are the band’s own social media pages.