Welcome to another instalment of What’s Going On. We’re back and armed with another roundup of bangers and the usual fun and excitement you’ve come to expect from Biff Bam Pop’s weekly new music column. Let’s dive into this week’s hottest tunes before they’re all over your FYP. As always, if you dig what you hear, be sure to stream and follow these artists.
NODEGA – NYC’s NODEGA crash into the scene with their debut album Rot In Helvetica, due out July 18 via Chrysalis. It promises to be jam-packed with tracks that fuse old school hardcore, skate punk, thrash, and melodic indie rock. With lyrics skewering algorithmic mind control and demanding self-reckoning, the record is a raw, riotous call to arms. Lead single “Quantify” rails against tech overlords with sharp-tongued rage. We can dig that! You can catch NODEGA celebrating their album release with NYC shows on July 16 at Alphaville and July 18 at Rough Trade, plus a London gig on August 2 at Shacklewell Arms.
Listen to NODEGA’s single “Quantify” below.
Hanumankind – Let’s get villainous. Kerala-born, Houston-raised rapper Hanumankind storms in with Monsoon Season, his cinematic new mixtape out July 25 via Capitol Records/Universal Music India. The project bundles his breakout hits “Big Dawgs” (and its A$AP Rocky remix), “Run It Up,” and “Holiday,” plus some unreleased stuff and hot collabs with Denzel Curry (“Reckless”) and Maxo Kream (“Goons”). We also get the studio version of his viral freestyle “Villainous.” This is raw, relentless hip-hop from one of the genre’s most exciting rising voices.
Listen to the studio version of Hanumankind’s “Villainous Freestyle” below.
Goldfinger – Ska-punk legends Goldfinger are back and they’re “Freaking Out a Bit,” literally. Their new high-energy pop-punk anthem featuring blink-182’s Mark Hoppus is out now via Big Noise. Co-written with Hoppus and Travis Barker, the track channels anxiety, burnout, and nostalgia with a punchy Goldfinger-meets-blink sound. Reflecting on working on the track, Goldfinger frontman John Feldmann states, “I had the concept for a song and a chorus, and they came in and brought it to life! Mark wrote the best verses, and Travis turned the beat around in the bridge, which gave it a whole new life of its own.” With nearly three decades of hits like “Superman” behind them, Goldfinger proves they’re still shaping the pop-punk landscape. Catch them live when the Vans Warped Tour rolls through Long Beach on July 26 and 27.
Listen to Goldfinger’s new single “Freaking Out a Bit” featuring Mark Hoppus below.
Galactic Empire – Galactic Empire returns October 24 with Cinemetal, out via Pure Noise Records. The galaxy’s fiercest cosplaying metal band’s new album sees the costumed crusaders reimagining iconic film scores from Harry Potter, Batman, Back to the Future, Lord of the Rings, Avengers, and more. After conquering Star Wars, they’ve expanded their empire with dense, cinematic arrangements showcasing their signature dark side flair. Lead single “Superman” is out now with a music video. Catch Galactic Empire on tour this summer with NiNi and aboard Coheed and Cambria’s S.S. Neverender this fall. Stay tuned to Biff Bam Pop for more on Galactic Empire. We’re hoping to chat with them soon.
Weakened Friends – Indie rock darlings Weakened Friends are set to drop their new album Feels Like Hell on October 10 via Don Giovanni. The raw, hook-heavy album was born of love, solidarity, and defiance. The band’s backstory reads like a modern-day spin on the Fleetwood Mac lore. Vocalist Sonia Sturino and bassist Annie Hoffman fell in love, got married, and then welcomed Annie’s ex, drummer Adam Hand, back into the fold. Complicated? Maybe for most people, but Weakened Friends make it work! Their new single “Tough Luck (Bleed Me Out)” is a cathartic middle finger to grind culture and toxic capitalism. Catch them at Riot Fest and on their fall headline tour, coming to a city near you.
Listen to Weakened Friends’ new single “Tough Luck (Bleed Me Out)” below.
