THE BARBARIANS OF CALIFORNIA ANNOUNCE SOPHOMORE ALBUM MEGATONS OUT AUGUST 21
BAND SHARES VIDEO FOR LATEST SINGLE “THE GNARLYCORE CLASS” — WATCH
BAND BOOKS UPCOMING HEADLINE SHOWS, FESTIVAL APPEARANCES, + TOUR DATES WITH GUNS N’ ROSES
The Barbarians Of California, featuring Aaron Bruno of AWOLNATION and Eric Stenman of Tinfed and a noted producer, remain equal opportunity iconoclasts, gleefully thrashing the left and the right in the hardcore-punk tradition of nonconformity and raw fury. Recently, VICE summed up the band simply and effectively, saying: “They’re so f**king good.” #Facts.
Today, the band is thrilled to announce its second album MEGATONS, out August 21. Pre-save it here.
With MEGATONS, The Barbarians of California are unleashing fresh chaos straight from the sun-soaked, teeth-gnashing heart of the Golden State. Blending raw hardcore energy, riffs by the pound, and that signature mix of ferocity and tongue-in-cheek humor, these new songs hit like a caffeine-fueled fever dream. Through and through, the band delivers unapologetic anthems that feel both brutally fun yet dangerously addictive.
“Everyone has heard of the sophomore slump,” states Stenman. “Making a second album can be a fraught process full of overthinking and self-doubt. Perhaps, the benefit of us starting this band, at this later point in our lives, relieves some of that pressure. This felt so easy, and is a seamless continuation of whatever we started with the first batch of song — just bigger and better.”
The Barbarians aren’t slowing down — they’re just getting louder, meaner, and more ridiculously entertaining.
Buckle up, buttercup! It’s about to get beautifully bumpy.
TBOC’s irreverrent sense of humor is readily apparent in the classroom-centered video for the new single “THE GNARLYCORE CLASS.”
Raise your hand and watch it here.
“Sometimes when writing a new song, the goal is to land on a tempo that hasn’t been used anywhere else on the album,” Stenman says. “‘Gnarlycore’ was just that. I think Aaron has been wishing for something in this vein for a while now. This was the second to last song that we came up with for MEGATONS, and it seemed to come together quickly and effortlessly.”
MEGATONS TRACK LISTING:
“BACK TO THE VALLEY”
“THE GNARLYCORE CLASS”
“VANILLA LATTE“
“BOMB TO A KNIFE FIGHT“
“REALLY REALLY RAD”
“MEGATONS SEGUE”
“EARTHQUAKE”
“THIS IS SHREDICAL”
“HIDE ALL YOUR RECORDS”
“MODERN FASHION“
“SHARK OUT OF WATER”
“I AM THE SUBMARINE”
TBOC have also confirmed their first set of headline tour dates, alongside shows with Guns N’ Roses and festival apperances.
All upcoming and confirmed live shows are below.
THE BARBARIANS OF CALIFORNIA LIVE:
8/19 — Kansas City, MO — Morton Amphitheater*
9/6 — Pryor, OK — Rocklahoma Festival^
9/8 — Nashville, TN — Exit In
9/9 — St. Louis, MO — Blueberry Hill Duck Room
9/11 — Omaha, NE — Waiting Room
9/12 — Ridgedale, MO — Thunder Ridge Nature Arena*
9/14 — Minneapolis, MN — 7th St. Entry
9/15 — Milwaukee, WI — Cactus Club
9/17 — Chicago, IL — Cobra Lounge
9/18 — Cleveland, OH — The Foundry
9/19 — Louisville, KY — Louder Than Life Festival^
*With Guns N’ Roses
^Festivals
ABOUT THE BARBARIANS OF CALIFORNIA:
The West Coast’s contribution to hardcore punk is undeniable. That tradition of aggression, passion, and scrappy melodicism continues with The Barbarians of California, an engaging new manifestation of iconoclastic spirit and true bombast. Born from the shared passion of Aaron Bruno (AWOLNATION) and his longtime engineer Eric Stenman — who cut his teeth in the same Sacramento community that eventually launched diverse and disparate acts like Deftones, Far, Will Haven, Team Sleep, Hella, Dance Gavin Dance, Death Grips, and Trash Talk — the spirit of the underground and the personal catharsis delivered through metallic hardcore never left either of them. So, when Aaron learned that Eric crafted a batch of throwback bangers combining impassioned angst with modern sensibilities, he wanted in immediately. The Barbarians of California was born.
In 2024, the band released their debut album, And Now I’m Just Gnashing My Teeth, and celebrated with a high-energy show at the iconic Troubadour in Los Angeles, cementing their place in the hardcore scene’s next chapter. Since then, they’ve continued to build momentum with headline shows across LA, a summer 2025 arena tour with Deftones and other festival appearances that brought their explosive live presence to a wider audience. The Barbarians Of California are gearing up in 2026 for the release of their sophomore album MEGATONS.
