The Barbarians Of California, the hardcore project featuring AWOLNATION’s Aaron Bruno, have shared a new track, and it is absolutely unbelievable.
Called ‘Bomb To A Knife Fight’ (We’re already off to a good start), it is 162 seconds of pulsating, punishing and polarising noise. From the gruff riff to Bruno’s tongue-firmly-in-cheek delivery, the pressure builds and builds towards a breakdown that knocks you off your feet. It is fresh, fierce and everything that heavy music should be in 2026. More than anything, it is so much fun.
There’s even a Wilhelm Scream thrown in for good measure. It really does have everything.
The band had this to say about it, stating, “’Bomb To A Knife Fight’ was the first song we completed after finishing our first-ever tour with Deftones and IDLES. You’d have to imagine that the perspective of playing live every night played a part in the creation of this song. Also, our love of old-school hip-hop may shine through a little on this one.”
Just get stuck in and have a listen. It will do you the world of good.
So, to get you all caught up, the band released their debut album, ‘And Now I’m Just Gnashing My Teeth’, back in 2024. They spent 2025 sharing some standalone singles. They were ‘Modern Fashion’, a snarling slice of danceable chaos.
And then there is the bold and breezy “PSEUDO INTELLECTUALS ARE HATING ON MY BAND!!!” which actually features none other than Keith Buckley of Many Eyes.
The band will be hitting the road for a string of shows with Converge and Poison The Well later this year. Those dates look like this:
MAY
09 – AUSTIN Stubb’s Outdoors
10 – HOUSTON House of Blues
12 – PHOENIX Nile Theater
13 – LOS ANGELES The Belasco
15 – ANAHEIM House of Blues
16 – SAN DIEGO The Observatory North Park
17 – SAN FRANCISCO The Regency Ballroom
They will also be supporting the legendary Guns N’ Roses on a pair of dates on their North American run. Those are…
AUGUST
19 – RIVERSIDE Morton Amphitheater
SEPTEMBER
12- RIDGEDALE Thunder Ridge Nature Arena
