Raise Hell

Since forming in 2011, English band Martha have delivered intense emotional and political viewpoints wrapped in buzzy melodic punk hooks, driving home thoughtful, literary perspectives with musical accompaniment that feels custom designed for gleeful abandon. Fourth album Please Dont Take Me Back follows 2019s Love Keeps Kicking and expands on Marthas usual storm of political commentary and dissection of tempestuous relationship issues to include songs inspired by the challenges of living through a global pandemic. The lyrics to opening track "Beat, Perpetual" shuffle through images of being stuck in the house and restlessly yearning for the excitement and social connection of live music, all sung over a slideshow of power pop riffs, sugary vocal harmonies, and jumpy tempos. The songs of Please Dont Take Me Back run into each other impatiently, with the blasting, Superchunk-esque "Every Day the Hope Gets Harder" ending in a swim of feedback that bleeds into the groove of the title track, and pushing through from there. There are more subdued moments like the mild twang of "Total Cancellation of the Future" or the storytelling and semi-acoustic closing track "You Cant Have a Good Time All of the Time," and they balance out more rip-roaring punk moments like "Flag Burner" or the classic rock-informed riffing of "Baby, Does Your Heart Sink." Please Dont Take Me Back finds Martha in top shape, with some of their most plainspokenly urgent lyrical content entwined with a nonstop rush of guitar hooks. The band sound like they spent a few difficult years itching to play, and are overjoyed to finally let out all the pent-up feelings, confusion, and energy. ~ Fred Thomas