8/10

It almost feels like another world in which Marsicans were born into. When they first began releasing music way back in 2014, it was a time before we had any critical and all-consuming problems. Brexit, Trump, coronavirus and every other major disaster that has inflicted our psyche over the last few years has all emerged during the band's tenure, and yet they remain a consistent rock of fresh and exciting indie-rock belters. And after a fair few EP and single releases since their formation, they finally deliver their long-awaited debut album 'Ursa Major', a record that cements their legacy to date.

Realising it has been a six year gap since their first release until now, it feels that 'Ursa Major' is more of a carefully crafted introduction rather than an inevitable release that we were all expecting at some point. There is time and effort that has gone into this new collection, and that is palpable from the very start. Continuing their pursuit of a bright and uplifting aesthetic, Marsicans look to create a sound that is both familiar and yet distinct to them. Not looking to rock to the boat or break barriers, their debut LP is a simple and elegant full-length that takes their knowledge and experience of these recent years to its absolute zenith.

'Ursa Major' is one of those records that embodies the concept of doing something well rather than flashy. It has a solid and consistent foundation under its feet that lasts the length of its runtime, and delivers one of the most succinct and driven indie-rock albums we have heard so far this year.