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. Featuring Aaron Bruno of AWOLNATION and Eric Stenman of Tinfed, as well as being a noted producer, TBOC are equal opportunity iconoclasts, gleefully thrashing the left and the right in the hardcore-punk tradition of nonconformity and raw fury. The band isn't "political," because they aren't advocating for anyone's platform. The central message is defiance.
Today, the band has announced its debut album And Now I'm Just Gnashing My Teeth. It arrives October 4 via ONErpm. Pre-order it here.
The band also announced its first show on October 19 at the Troubadour in L.A., with Strife, Will Haven, and Berthold City also to appear. Get tickets here.
"This album is the culmination of many, many hours spent chasing down a sound that we weren't, currently, hearing out in the world," says Stenman. "Personally, I almost felt guilty getting to make it... like we were putting our real lives on hold to pursue a pure passion project. I hope that the amount of fun that we had making it, comes through to the listener."
As for the gnarly and gritty new track "Bazooka," he continues, "I was psyched when Aaron gravitated towards this piece of music. It's a bit of a departure from a lot of what we're doing... but, it's definitely a sound I think we'll pursue more in the future."
The video also nods to an adjacent aspect of the hardcore scene's culture, as it's comprised of some incredible skateboarding footage. Stenman says, "Putting this video together was also a blast. I first became passionate about music when I began to learn about bands in the back of Thrasher magazine. The fact that Aaron's cousin happens to be Mike Mo Capaldi, one of the coolest skaters ever, is just amazing. Mike and his friends had all this extra footage lying around and we were more than happy to make use of it. Lastly, the simple fact that we have a song titled 'Bazooka' makes this whole project worth doing!"
So, who, exactly, are The Barbarians of California? Let's find out, shall we?
Eric Stenman and Aaron Bruno first collided in the California hardcore scene of the early '90s. Stenman 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. Bruno was born and raised just north of L.A. and nicknamed "AWOL" by his high school friends. Eric played guitar for cutting-edge, electro-infused rockers Tinfed. Commercial success eluded them despite a cult following, a deal with a major label, and an appearance on the M:I 2 soundtrack.
Bruno co-founded the hardcore band Insurgence as a teenager. His next band, Home Town Hero, toured with Weezer and Stone Temple Pilots and released a major label album, but combusted in 2004. Next came Under The Influence Of Giants, who, despite critical acclaim, disbanded in 2008. Stenman became one of the most sought-after producers of alternative rock. His discography as a producer, mixer, and engineer includes important releases from 7 Seconds, Senses Fail, ††† (Crosses), and AWOLNATION. AWOLNATION, of course, is the multi-platinum act Bruno formed in 2009.
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 were born.
The apparent "full circle" moment isn't lost on either of them. "It's a funny time in our lives to go back and make the most aggressive music we've ever created," Stenman laughs. “Both of us have always had a love for this world. If given the opportunity, why not try to give back to it?"
