MARUJA (Bucharest Control Club, 16/12/24)

Heard so many good things about this Manchester 4-piece, that I resolved a gig clash by flying to Romania to see them. And bloody hell, they were incendiary - the perfect mid-point between IDLES and Nervous Conditions, full of anger, power and SKRONK. Brilliant stuff- and kudos to the Bucharest crowd whose energy (and impassioned between-songs chants of "MA-RU-JA, HEY!") elevated the night to one of the year's best.