Home MusicThe Barbarians of California Are “Really Really Rad” / New Album “MEGATONS” Out 8/21

The Barbarians of California Are “Really Really Rad” / New Album “MEGATONS” Out 8/21

by Amy Sciarretto
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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. Described as “so f**king good” by VICE, they prove that they are, in fact, “REALLY REALLY RAD.” And they do so with the video for their latest track, titled “REALLY REALLY RAD.”

Watch it here.

Here, we find the fearless Barbarians rollerblading while frolicking the ocean; while doing one-armed “push ups”; and while playing guitar by the beach. Don’t try this at home folks; instead, let the Barbarians do it for you. Musically, they remain riff lords, doling out dissonance by the tonnage, with some disco fun closing out the track.

“‘REALLY REALLY RAD’ was really fun to make. ‘ REALLY REALLY RAD’ has really fun dynamics. ‘REALLY REALLY RAD’ is really good,” says Bruno. (We think he meant it is “REALLY REALLY RAD,” actually.)

The song lives on the band’s really, really rad second album MEGATONS, which arrives in just four weeks on August 21. Pre-order and 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.
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.

Atom Splitter PR | Website |  + posts

When it comes to publicity, media relations imaging, and marketing, Atom Splitter PR Principal and Founder Amy Sciarretto personifies dexterity, diligence, and devotion as she envisions and executes campaigns that don’t just impact tastemakers, but audiences worldwide.

Boundaries don’t exist for her initiatives. Sciaretto’s versatile ability to maneuver outside of expectations and elevate talent to new heights has been a cornerstone of the success of award-winning RIAA-certified juggernauts such as current clients Killswitch Engage, Falling In Reverse, Seether, Hatebreed, Helmet, Zeal & Ardor, Attila, Code Orange, and countless others. Following a storied tenure as an editor at CMJ, she became a fixture at Roadrunner Records before formally launching Atom Splitter PR in 2012. At Roadrunner, she operated point on campaigns for seminal albums such as Slipknot’s platinum-selling Billboard Top 200 #1 opus All Hope Is Gone, Korn’s GRAMMY® Award-nominated Korn III: Remember Who You Are, Killswitch Engage’s gold-selling The End of Heartache and As Daylight Dies, and more in addition to key releases from Meat Loaf, Rob Zombie, Stone Sour, Tommy Lee, and more.

Atom Splitter PR illuminates the scope of her vision. With a powerhouse roster spanning heavy metal, rock, alternative, indie, and pop, she continually lands high-profile placements across print, online, and television. Her drive and dedication remain unparalleled, adding a personalized fire and flare reflective of every artist’s individual needs. As the engine of Atom Splitter PR accompanied by a full staff of equally passionate PR impresarios, she continually raises the bar and redefines what publicity can be in the age of streaming and social media.

Outside of public relations, Amy remains staunchly devoted to her family and bulldog Higgins. She spends as much time as possible walking dogs at a local shelter, giving them a little extra love. In 2009, she co-authored the music industry survival guide Do The Devil’s Work for Him alongside Rick Florino. Expect her to make more history going forward…

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