The name Maria Iscariot has been haunting the live scene for a few months now: punk from Ghent, Belgium. All female and halfway adult, Dutch lyrics. This is unusual. But above all, it’s super good. Maria Iskariot’s interpretation of punk thrives on anger and indignation, on accusations of liars (“Leugenaar”) or on hedonism out of necessity (“Dat Vind Ik Lekker”). The band plays brilliantly, repeatedly incorporating post-punk levels in the form of edgy riffs, effective pauses or loud-quiet dynamics. It’s interesting how Dutch influences the music.
Editorial recommendations
At first you want to find the language cute – until your jaw drops at the many particularly strong passages when singer Helena Cazaerck looks into the abyss while singing: the Dutch idiom is perfect for setting desperation to music. And because the band also demonstrates great songwriting talent with songs like “Rozemarijn” or the bar sing-along song “Niets Gaat Verloren,” WRELDWAAN is one of the best debuts of the year.
This review first appeared in Musikexpress 11/2025.