The Barbarians Of California, featuring Aaron Bruno of AWOLNATION and Eric Stenman of Tinfed and a noted producer, remain equal opportunity iconoclasts with each new song and video they drop. They issue their slump-avoidant sophomore album MEGATONS . Get it here.
They also share the video for "EARTHQUAKE."
Watch the Barbarians get their "gym bro" on below.
"I feel like we are due for another massive earthquake," says Bruno, with his tongue planted firmly in cheek. "So, I wrote a song about it.. .assuming that California will break off into the ocean and Arizona would then be the new coastline."
Regarding the accompanying video, he says, "I wanted to put the band in a setting you'd never expect to find us in."
Gettin' those gains!
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.
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:
9/6 — Pryor, OK — Rocklahoma Festival^
9/8 — Nashville, TN — Exit In
9/9 — St. Louis, MO — Blueberry Hill Duck Room [LOW TIX]
9/11 — Omaha, NE — Waiting Room
9/12 — Ridgedale, MO — Thunder Ridge Nature Arena*
9/14 — Minneapolis, MN — 7th St. Entry [LOW TIX]
9/15 — Milwaukee, WI — Cactus Club [LOW TIX]
9/17 — Chicago, IL — Cobra Lounge [SOLD OUT]
9/18 — Cleveland, OH — The Foundry [LOW TIX]
9/19 — Louisville, KY — Louder Than Life Festival^
10/23 — Los Angeles, CA — Lodge Room
1/24 — Naples, FL — ShipRocked^
*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.
