Hardcore and punk thrive off of the relentless energy that helps drive the community forward all while being fueled by nonstop chaos. One of the fastest-growing new bands on the block, Barbarians of California, manage to capture that raw, uncompromising spirit as they continue to carve out their own unique path with an intensity that refuses to be ignored. Rooted in West Coast aggression, Barbarians of California deliver a ferocious blend of metallic riffs meets breakneck tempos, all resulting in a high-octane, pit-ready sound.
At the core of the project are Aaron Bruno and Eric Stenman, who initially linked up during the recording process for Aaron’s main band, AWOLNATION. Most of the world are familiar with Aaron’s primary musical project and Eric’s work behind the scenes as a sound engineer who has worked with a wide array of acclaimed artists ranging from Senses Fail to Deftones.
Both got their beginnings and their chops in the SoCal hardcore/punk scenes as young skater kids, eventually resulting in some of their first musical projects, with Eric being one of the founding members of the Sacramento noise/industrial metal band Tinfed and Aaron getting his start with Insurgence in the late ‘90s. It was exactly these early years that would help shape both men into the musicians, professionals, and the people they would later become.
Aaron says, “I got to experience some of the greatest ’90’s hardcore, you know, punk shows, underground shows in history, and it shaped me and kind of gave me a lane and inspiration to go on to do all these other bands from AWOL to this. And I’ve always carried the spirit of hardcore in my heart and soul”.
With both friends kickstarting their careers and passion, the years went by fast, but once COVID hit, the world went into lockdown mode and AWOL wrapped up their latest record. This gave both a chance to sit back and take a breath to think about what comes next. Yet, during all this time, Eric was keeping, as described by Aaron, “…secret recordings of some of his riffs. And I finally convinced him to show his riffs.” The stars aligned perfectly for the duo to get together to finally kickstart that hardcore band they had always wanted to do.
Aaron has always been a day-one fan of heavy music ranging from Slayer, Metallica, and Iron Maiden to Queens of the Stone Age and Nirvana, all the way to classic hardcore bands like Snapcase, Strife, Earth Crisis, and Integrity. His passion for music doesn’t end there, as he attributes his interest in pop music, hip-hop, and even country to being big influences on his writing. It’s exactly this diverse music palette that has allowed him to hone in so many different sounds and styles into his music, and Barbarians of California are no different.
A whirlwind of a year opening up for bands like Deftones and Snapcase, along with making appearances at Warped Tour, and now Riot Fest, Barbarians of California are quickly making a name for themselves, yet Aaron still keeps his expectations grounded, explaining how, “It’s such a brand new thing. And we keep being handed these gifts and opportunities. So, you know, I mean, if there’s more than 50 people, it’ll be a success … I think I always keep my expectations low, so I’m pleasantly surprised and never disappointed.”
While the project is new, the responses are genuine and full of energy and life, whether its the “interactive energy” when they opened for Deftones to the fast-paced, youthful vibes of Warped or the hard-hitting opening slot date on Riot Fest.
Already gearing up for 2025, Barbarians recently dropped a new single titled “Modern Fashion,” but the fun and excitement doesn’t stop there. “There’s a new one coming out called Pseudo-Intellectuals … featureing Keith Buckley from Many Eyes and Every Time I Die … so we’re really excited about that. And following that, we’ll have another song and kind of lead out to record number two.”
With Riot Fest a success and bigger plans brewing, Barbarians’ future looks as loud and uncompromising as their sound. Whether you’ve caught them in a packed club or you’re about to see them for the first time in a festival crowd, prepare for the kind of set that doesn’t just demand your attention, it grabs you by the throat.
And Now I’m Just Gnashing My Teeth and “Modern Fashion” are out now. Follow Barbarians of California on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Photos courtesy of Kyle Bergfors
