Marmozets - CO.WAR.DICE.
- Samuel Stevens
- May 18
- 3 min read
After seven years away from the spotlight, the British alt-rock firebrands Marmozets return with their latest offering, CO.WAR.DICE., a record that feels less like a reunion for the group, but more like a rebirth, showcasing the maturity they've found after so many years away. Set to be released via Nettwerk on May 22, 2026, the album captures the band’s signature chaos while sharpening it into something leaner, more purposeful, and emotionally resonant. Time away has not dulled their bite—it has refined it.
From the opening moments of “A Kiss from a Mother,” Marmozets make it clear they have no interest in easing listeners back into their world. The track lunges forward with jagged riffs, crashing percussion, and Becca Bottomley’s unmistakable vocals sounding more feral than ever. There is a theatrical unpredictability to the song, especially in its mariachi-metal flourishes, but beneath the madness lies a grounded emotional core about actually listening instead of reacting. It is both explosive and thoughtful, setting the tone for the rest of the album.
“New York” follows with swagger and adrenaline, fueled by a punk spirit that mirrors the dizzying memories that inspired it. The track practically glows with neon-lit energy, balancing garage-rock grit with an infectious sense of momentum. There is nostalgia baked into every riff, but it never feels trapped in the past. Instead, Marmozets sound invigorated by their own history, using it as fuel for a bold new chapter.
That renewed urgency pulses through “Cut Back,” arguably the most immediate song on the record. Every element collides at full force—Josh Macintyre’s drumming is relentless, Jack Bottomley’s riffs cut with precision, and Becca’s vocals swing between venomous sneers and soaring hooks effortlessly. It is maximalist without becoming cluttered, proving how much the band has grown musically during their absence.
Elsewhere, CO.WAR.DICE. expands its emotional and sonic palette. The track “Swear I’m Alive” leans into slower, but darker textures and tension-filled grooves, while “Running with the Sin in Your Eyes” carries an anthemic desperation that feels tailor-made for festival crowds. “Dandy” injects a wiry folk-like eccentricity to the record that is unlike anything the band has put out in the past, and really lets Becca’s vocals shine. Whereas the number “Like Last Night” offers one of the album’s most melodic moments.
If “Dandy” didn't stand out as a left turn, the track “Mes Désirs” stands out as another one of the album’s most intriguing left turns, blending dreamy atmosphere with simmering intensity. Jack's fuzzy guitar riffs, matched up against Becca's powerful vocal work, will have all listeners unprepared. It acts as a brief moment of reflection before the album launches back into the biting honesty of “You Want the Truth,” a punk rock track that perfectly encapsulates the band’s evolved identity, blending a little bit of everything old and new of the band's sonic palate. The aggression is still there, but it is now paired with a sharper melodic instinct and a maturity that makes every punch land harder.
As CO.WAR.DICE. comes to a head, its finale two tracks, “Flowerz” and “Keep Going Darling” bring the album toward its hopeful conclusion. The latter especially feels significant, almost functioning as the thesis statement of CO.WAR.DICE. Beneath all the distortion, chaos, and catharsis is a belief in perseverance—a refusal to surrender to cynicism despite the world’s heaviness. That optimism gives the album emotional weight beyond its sonic fireworks.
What makes CO.WAR.DICE. such a compelling comeback is how naturally Marmozets balance evolution with familiarity. The ferocity that defined The Weird and Wonderful Marmozets (2014) remains intact, but the songwriting is much tighter, the hooks are immensely stronger, and the emotional messaging cuts deeper than before. Parenthood, personal growth, and time away have clearly changed the band, but instead of softening their edges, those experiences have given them greater clarity and purpose.
Few comeback albums manage to justify such a long absence. CO.WAR.DICE. does more than justify it—it makes it feel necessary. Marmozets sound revitalized, creatively fearless, and completely reconnected with what made them special in the first place.
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