Seven years. That’s how long it’s been since The Fury of Almost exploded onto the scene like a flaming dumpster rolling downhill, fueled by Detroit street grime and pure, unfiltered spite. Seven years of silence. Seven years of waiting, wondering was Marcus: the Apex Predator! just another underground rock ghost story? Another cautionary tale of “what could’ve been”? Turns out, no. They were just busy forging Newborn Fossil, an EP so sharp, so blistering, so stupidly good, that it might actually have been worth the agonizing wait.
This isn’t just a comeback; it’s a full-scale assault. Newborn Fossil is five tracks of distilled pop-punk chaos, the kind that refuses to die, much like that ancient MySpace page you abandoned in 2008. It’s got Jimmy Eat World’s anthemic tightness, Bowling for Soup’s self-aware smirk, and just enough Wheatus energy to make you question whether it’s ironic or just obscenely fun. Spoiler: it’s both.
At the center of the storm is Kevin Watts (guitar/vocals/songwriting), back with a vengeance, backed by Float Here Forever’s Nick Marko, whose drumming suggests he’s actively trying to destroy his kit, and Sean Bondareff of Kind Beast, whose basslines might legally qualify as assault. Together, Newborn Fossil is the sound of a band that still has something to prove. And after seven years in the wilderness, Newborn Fossil proves it loud enough to shake your teeth loose.
“Newborn Fossil” doesn’t start, it detonates. Watts ambushes you with razor-sharp guitars while Marko’s drumming sounds like a building collapsing from the inside out. It’s chaos and precision fused into one, the kind of track where the title card would slam onto the screen in massive, all-caps font, probably on fire. The chugging guitars are pure, hook-laden goodness, perfect for staring dramatically out of a car window. Then the chorus hits, and suddenly, you’re in a teenage heartbreak montage. “Lo-Fi” dives into eerie, spacious guitars, lights a few candles, and starts summoning ghosts. The bassline pulses like it’s alive, while Watts’ vocals simmer before exploding into pure emotional exorcism. It’s the kind of song that sticks in your head and makes you stare out windows like you’re in a mid-2000s indie film. If you ever loitered around Hot Topic pretending you totally weren’t eyeing that band tee your crush liked, this song is for you. With an emotive performance over punchy power chords, it’s equal parts nostalgic, self-aware, and actually moving. “The First Summer” floors the gas, launching into one of the band’s most anthemic choruses ever. The guitars? Huge. The drumming? Relentless. The vocals? Desperate in the best way. It’s the kind of song that makes you want to quit your job and start a band: no plan, just vibes.
Marcus: the Apex Predator! has come back sharper, heavier, and somehow even more urgent than before. With its mix of blistering intensity and refined production, this EP cements the band’s place as one of Detroit’s most vital rock acts. If you like your music loud, unrelenting, and just a little emotionally devastating, Newborn Fossil is exactly what you need. Marcus: the Apex Predator! have cracked the code on nostalgia-fueled pop-punk that feels both self-aware and genuinely good. Newborn Fossil doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but honestly, why would it? Sometimes you just want soaring choruses, crunchy guitars, and lyrics that make you laugh and cry in equal measure. And for that, this EP absolutely delivers.
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About the Author
A tenured media critic known working as a ghost writer, freelance critic for publications in the US and former lead writer of Atop The Treehouse. Reviews music, film and TV shows for media aggregators.
