photo by Anna Hamlett; photo courtesy of Hardline Booking

Single Review of R-NØT: “Marmalade”

R-NØT follows up its March 2026 release of Gaslighter // Part 1 on Solly Ink Records with this infectious, one-big-ass-groove single “Marmalade.” If you asked a band to play grunge but make it energetic punk, you’d have no idea what that might sound like until you heard R-NØT’s “Marmalade,” and then you’d say “Good god, that’s it!” Or “Great Caesar’s ghost, that’s it!” Or “Holy f**k, that’s it!” Really, any exclamation would work because that’s not the important part of the phrase.

image courtesy of Hardline Booking

Now, punk-flavored grunge really is an overly simplistic description. That’s not all I hear. I hear a bit of Dirtbag Republic in some of the vocals. There’s virtually any crunchy hard rock band in the riffs, though they do lean toward grunge. The song itself – the key to its extreme catchiness – is that it’s one big, long, brain-addicting groove. The tone gets heavier, then brighter, then heavier again, rotating throughout the song to keep it interesting. Additionally, the speed and energy the band exhibits in “Marmalade” are relentless, so much so that by the end of the first listen, it will be imprinted on your subconscious. If you listen to it a few times in a row, it’ll be stuck there permanently, but I doubt you’ll complain.

So, if you’re into any flavor of heavy rock, give “Marmalade” a listen. If you like infectious grooves, give the song a listen. In fact, if you like harder rock that finds its way into mainstream music because it’s catchy, you should hear this song. I mean, damn it’s catchy!

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Earlier this month, R-NØT released another single, “Lucia.” I haven’t heard it yet, in part because I can stop listening to “Marmalade.” But at some point, I’ll check it out.