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RSS Feed Aug. 2, 2026
Aaron Bruno (The Barbarians Of California/AWOLNATION) Interview Part One
Aaron Bruno breaks the mold—and the rules—in a conversation packed with raw honesty, beeline humor, and insider stories music fans will love. From celebrating his journey with AWOLNATION and now The Barbarians Of California to revealing how a hardcore kid’s vocals matured into arena-level skills, Bruno pulls back the curtain on creativity, fame, and the unbreakable bond with his fans—plus, the tales of stage-storming with legends like Rage Against the Machine and Chuck D.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone craving the real story behind the heavy riffs, heavy emotions, and the hilarious, rebellious spirit that fuels Bruno's evolution as an artist and a dad navigating the chaos of life and music.
In this candid chat, Aaron shares how the latest project, The Barbarians of California, is more than a band—it's a reflection of his own unfiltered, fun-loving personality that refuses to take itself too seriously, even as it dominates the heavy music scene. Discover how releasing singles instead of waiting for a full album keeps fans hooked and the unexpected crossover with a mainstream audience. We talk about Bruno’s unique vocal style rooted in hardcore and how that ferocity makes his music both dangerously fun and deeply emotional. Plus, get a glimpse into the future of heavy music—Bruno believes we've only scratched the surface of what’s possible when old genres collide with fresh, snarky innovation.
Why get into this chat? Because this is about more than music; it’s a cultural defiance wrapped in humor, authenticity, and pure unadulterated fun. If you're a fan of heavy riffs masked in humor, love stories of musical rebellion, or simply need a dose of honest, unfiltered creativity—this episode is your playground. Get ready for stories that inspire, challenge, and entertain—plus, Bruno’s take on everything from stage antics to dreams of jazzing up the Grammy stage and bringing back marching powder to the NFL.
Key Takeaways
- Aaron Bruno discusses his musical evolution from his hardcore roots to achieving massive mainstream success with AWOLNATION and his heavy new project, The Barbarians Of California.
- Bruno shares insider stories from his career, including wild tales of stage-storming alongside legendary acts like Rage Against the Machine and Chuck D.
- The conversation delves into the creative strategy behind releasing singles instead of waiting for a traditional full-length album to keep fans engaged.
- Bruno explains how his distinct vocal style, rooted in aggressive hardcore music, allows him to bring both raw ferocity and deep emotion to his modern tracks.
- The interview highlights the unfiltered humor, authenticity, and rebellious spirit that define both Bruno's personality and his approach to the heavy music scene.
BIO
| Member | Role | Background / Context |
| Aaron Bruno | Lead Vocals, Guitar | AWOLNATION frontman, former Insurgence vocalist. |
| Eric Stenman | Guitar, Production | Renowned producer/engineer (AWOLNATION, Far, Deftones) |
| Zach Irons | Lead Guitar | Lead guitarist for AWOLNATION. |
| David Amezcua | Bass | Bassist for AWOLNATION & live member. |
| Linden Reed | Drums | Joined to lock down the rhythm section following Isaac Carpenter's departure to Guns N Roses. |
WATCH
LISTEN
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Aaron Bruno?
Aaron Bruno is the creative mastermind behind AWOLNATION—known for massive hits like 'Sail' and 'Run'—and the driving force behind his heavier project, The Barbarians Of California.
What is The Barbarians Of California?
The Barbarians Of California is Aaron Bruno's latest musical project, blending heavy riffs, snarky innovation, and humor to dominate the modern heavy music scene.
What topics are covered in the Aaron Bruno interview on Sh!t Talk Reviews?
The interview covers Bruno's journey from hardcore roots to arena-level success, creative strategies like releasing singles over full albums, wild tour stories, and his unique vocal style.
Chapter 1: Introduction and MEGATONS
0 seconds
Boys and girls, we have got a phenomenal guest with us today. He has been singing and writing music in California for over7 seconds
30 years now. He plays guitar, bass, drums, keys. He can sing as clean as an angel or he can amp up the vocal16 seconds
distortion and become completely unhinged. In the last few years, pseudointellectuals have been hating on his band. He wants to put a hat on just25 seconds
about everything. And to be clear, sir, no, he will not wear your jacket. Ladies and gentlemen, it's the incomparable33 seconds
Aaron Bruno. Aaron Bruno, welcome to [ __ ] Talk, man. Thank you for joining us. Thanks for having me.39 seconds
So, Megatons comes out on the 21st of August, 2026. Do I have that right?46 seconds
I don't know. I don't know.48 seconds
Well, thanks for joining us. It's been a great talk.51 seconds
Yeah. Yeah. We'll see you around. Thanks for coming. you guys are following the model that seems to be the current way of releasing music. Um, dropping a a1 minute, 1 second
much higher number of singles before an album gets released.1 minute, 5 seconds
What's your take on that? I mean, is that just a that the industry standard these days? Is that just where we are with it?1 minute, 13 seconds
I'm not sure. um we're taking advantage of it because we're new, you know. So, any chance to have a spotlight on one1 minute, 21 seconds
song, you get more attention um and people's focus singularly on what you're trying to do or or get across.1 minute, 30 seconds
We're probably taking more advantage of this this model than most do. And, you know, we we didn't expect to be here. I1 minute, 38 seconds
didn't expect to be communicating with you guys for a second time, for example.1 minute, 41 seconds
I thought it was just one record. um you know, one show and and here we are with a sophomore album, but it really1 minute, 50 seconds
feels more like just an expansion of of um1 minute, 56 seconds
the the project than it does I keep getting asked how I feel about the sophomore followup and all this, but it doesn't really feel like that. It just2 minutes, 5 seconds
feels like more music and and more reasons to come see a show. Um, but yeah, I I to address your question2 minutes, 13 seconds
directly, it I do feel like it's almost a cheat code where we're able to release the song and then have all that attention on that song and then you get2 minutes, 21 seconds
you get more um more eyes on it that way as opposed to when the whole album comes out, there's going to be a song that's buried in2 minutes, 29 seconds
there, I'm sure, um that won't get the same kind of attention or maybe that will rise up.2 minutes, 34 seconds
You never know. But it's been a lot of fun and so far we kind of just wing it and so instead of wondering okay well2 minutes, 43 seconds
what's the next song we'll release to set up the album it's just whatever one is done you know. Yeah. At what point2 minutes, 52 seconds
did you get to a point where you go I don't have just one baby I've got two babies in addition to your own kids in2 minutes, 59 seconds
real life. Uh when did it realize that this kind of had its own momentum bar the Barbarians of California?3 minutes, 6 seconds
Kind of now now it's becoming very real and you could obviously I've been3 minutes, 13 seconds
through the rodeo before of um releasing music so many different ways and different sizes, right? And just to see3 minutes, 22 seconds
see the name of the band higher up on the flyer at festivals is is a huge3 minutes, 31 seconds
indication to me that's going um better and to be taken a little bit more serious, but it was3 minutes, 38 seconds
serious from the get-go. Um in a way, I just didn't know people would like it. You never know until you release music.3 minutes, 44 seconds
That being said, you I I don't you know, a lot of people may I've heard artists say, "Yeah, I just released it because I whatever and I didn't expect anything."3 minutes, 52 seconds
But, you know, the dirty little secret is you if you release music, you think it's somewhat good. You think it's good enough that some people may like it. And3 minutes, 59 seconds
in this case, I was just hoping um the the the hardcore that hardcore people that I grew up with would respect it.4 minutes, 8 seconds
And um you know, it's it's branched out much further and has become something to take uh very seriously and I wouldn't do it4 minutes, 17 seconds
if it wasn't fun. It's just so much fun and you know I've heard Eric brag about how easy it is and this and that and it4 minutes, 24 seconds
comes across a certain way to me and maybe I've said it too but it is easy in not that this kind of music is easy easy4 minutes, 32 seconds
to make but right now the the light-hearted factor of how fun it is to make makes it feel easy. um you know already started working on a new song4 minutes, 40 seconds
for album number three um cuz this whole thing just feels like our first album to me you know so I don't really have4 minutes, 49 seconds
um expectations other other than whatever is the closest to greatness we can achieve within the box of of what4 minutes, 58 seconds
we're capable of doing. So hopefully this these are the best versions of ourselves. So you you say that it's only now, you know, right? Uh just before theChapter 2: Arena shows and headline tours
5 minutes, 8 seconds
second album is about to come out, it's only now feeling like a real thing.5 minutes, 12 seconds
Did it not feel like a real thing when the deaf tones called to take you out or again when Guns and Roses called to take you out?5 minutes, 21 seconds
Yeah.5 minutes, 22 seconds
I mean that that that's got to be a pretty validating vibe that you get when you get those calls, right?5 minutes, 28 seconds
Yeah. So far, we we got lucky early on to be sort of the band's band. You know, a lot of bands have been saying nice5 minutes, 37 seconds
things and being supportive, but it's a false reality to open up for an arena band. So if you go on a stage and you5 minutes, 45 seconds
play for however many thousands of people and and I can get the crowd to jump around, you know, and and participate in these5 minutes, 54 seconds
epic moments you dream of as a kid when you first get into music and wow, I'm playing for a sea of people and everybody's like the scorpions moment.6 minutes, 3 seconds
Everybody's got their lighters out and all this stuff. Yeah.6 minutes, 5 seconds
It's not your crowd. You're captivating them in the moment, but it's it's not real. So, what's real is this headlining tour and some of the headlining shows6 minutes, 13 seconds
we've done. And it was amazing. And part of having those opportunities uh allows6 minutes, 18 seconds
for our little family to grow and um our our little bricks to build towards having6 minutes, 27 seconds
our own real audience. And now we're starting to see that it's it's kind of happening. You know, some of the shows are starting to sell out on the our6 minutes, 35 seconds
first headlining tour. Um, so it's starting to feel real because I'm seeing that we have real fans, I guess, is what I'm trying to say. But yeah, I mean,6 minutes, 43 seconds
going on stage with Guns and Roses or or uh Dev Tones or any of these bigger festivals is nuts, you know,6 minutes, 50 seconds
or playing, you know, we played that uh the cruise, the ship cruise, and we love, you know, we're huge fans of Knocked Loose and playing with them was6 minutes, 58 seconds
amazing and getting to know those guys a little bit.7 minutes, 1 second
By the way, it's like instead of being too vulnerable, my feeling has been all along, I'm just kidding, unless you love it, then I'm serious.7 minutes, 12 seconds
So, I'm protecting myself in a way, I suppose. Yeah.Chapter 3: Aaron's voice, RATM and Chuck D
7 minutes, 16 seconds
You're a uh it's been documented that you're a fan of Rage Against the Machine. And it was funny cuz I was explaining who the Barbarians of7 minutes, 25 seconds
California are to uh somebody who's more into mainstream rock and stuff like that.7 minutes, 31 seconds
And then I mentioned your name. They're like, "Oh, Awall Nation." Like, "Yeah." And I said, "But if you think about this, they sound very familiar. Like,7 minutes, 39 seconds
you know, it's the Barbarians of California just like you knew when you heard Rage Against the Machine. It's Rage Against the Machine." And they7 minutes, 47 seconds
listen and they go, "You're right. That is the most unique sound. How did you come up with the voice of the Barbarians7 minutes, 54 seconds
of California to make it sound and so unique because we know it's you whenever we hear it. H where did that come from?8 minutes, 2 seconds
Well, thanks for saying that. Thanks for knowing it's me. um these years years of singing. Um you8 minutes, 10 seconds
know I was in a hardcore band called Insurgents from probably I guess like 17 to 20 you know.8 minutes, 18 seconds
Mhm. meaning my age 17 to 20 and I developed a way to scream uh then and kind of found my voice in that way and8 minutes, 27 seconds
then went on a completely different journey with different bands where I was singing more um you know with melody all8 minutes, 34 seconds
along kind of holding holding the brutality at bay keeping it in a in a8 minutes, 42 seconds
room and then letting out it out once in a while. Um and then and then of course Awall Nation took off. um closer to my8 minutes, 50 seconds
30s. And even with that, uh you know, the song I'm most known for is is a pretty aggressive vocal and kind of8 minutes, 59 seconds
maxed out and peing. I'm not screaming, but I'm let's say yelling. Um and so it was it's always been there,9 minutes, 6 seconds
but I I think it's gotten I hope it's gotten better and matured and I have more control of over it over these years. And with AWOL Nation, even if you9 minutes, 15 seconds
were to look up Coachella footage, I was screaming quite a bit, probably more than I should have, and and and likely alienating some fans, but um I I I've9 minutes, 24 seconds
never been able to completely ignore the hardcore kid and me coming out. So once uh Eric showed me these riffs and I was able to just kind of take the gloves off9 minutes, 32 seconds
and really go for it, um it felt just right at home. And um I do feel like a better version of of the hardcore singer9 minutes, 39 seconds
that I was when I was 18 for sure. Now I I got to geek out with a follow-up question on Rage. But did you listen to Inside Out?9 minutes, 47 seconds
Yeah, of course.9 minutes, 49 seconds
I heard to be fair though I to I had heard Rage first because I was I think 15 when their first record came out. I want to9 minutes, 57 seconds
say it was Bullet in Your Head or Bullet in the Head or Killing. I forgot what their first single was, but I heard it and I still hadn't discovered the10 minutes, 5 seconds
hardcore scene. So, it wasn't until my um sophomore year in high school, which would have been I guess 9510 minutes, 12 seconds
or six, and um that's when I had first discovered hardcore. And then and I had loved Rage already.10 minutes, 23 seconds
You know, this is like Rage Against the Machine, Weezer, Nirvana, kind of all these records were coming out around the same time and I loved all of them. But um then10 minutes, 32 seconds
someone said, you know, the the singer Rage had a hardcore band that's that's cool, like the other hardcore bands I was listening to. So I went backwards10 minutes, 39 seconds
when Ra first and I went back in time um to hear Inside Out, of course. Yeah. No spiritual spiritual uh surrender is huge. And um that first song when he10 minutes, 48 seconds
says I'm pretty sure he says he says right or break right there. That was a big break. Yeah.10 minutes, 52 seconds
Yeah. Yeah. That was that was a big one for me for sure. And then um you know Yeah. Yeah. And then and then getting to11 minutes, 1 second
do a little bit of touring with their other project called Profits of Rage and and sharing the stage with um some of11 minutes, 8 seconds
those guys has has been really cool. I I actually got to live a a bit of a fantasy heroes moment where um I would11 minutes, 16 seconds
do this was Awall Nation, but I would do uh we would do Ghost of Tom Jode with the Prophets of Rage and I would sing11 minutes, 23 seconds
those those parts the the Springsteen parts with them on stage and then I convinced11 minutes, 29 seconds
them to bust into the big riff um that was in the Godzilla soundtrack.11 minutes, 38 seconds
I can't remember the name of the song.11 minutes, 39 seconds
Um, well, it was the Ghost of Tom Joe, but we were doing the the more of the Bruce version, the melodic version, and11 minutes, 47 seconds
then I convinced him one night to go into the finale riff of Ghost of Tom Joan. And I screamed I screamed the part11 minutes, 55 seconds
and um when I walked off stage, I felt like I could just, you know, never play music again because I got to live out my childhood12 minutes, 2 seconds
dream. I've never met Zach though, you know. I've just been around the other guys.12 minutes, 6 seconds
My my partner is a huge Tom Mel fan and she was like, "Ask him what he's like in real life." And so I I guess I'll ask12 minutes, 14 seconds
you because you're here, but how who is Tom?12 minutes, 17 seconds
Oh, well, I mean, he's a lot of things, right? But, um, the Tom I was around was just very charismatic and a gentleman, laidback guy.12 minutes, 28 seconds
I don't have any I don't have like a sexy funny story or anything. He was just really nice, you know. I mean, we12 minutes, 36 seconds
more, you know, on that tour, Chuck D from Public Enemy, of course, was was one of the singers as well. And um so12 minutes, 44 seconds
talking talking to those I'm I'm pretty good friends with Tim Cumberford and he's he's like a really solid guy, great12 minutes, 52 seconds
bass player. You know, that's the thing about Rage is that um we tend to be drawn to vocals first. Um and I'm not saying that cuz I'm a singer, but that's12 minutes, 59 seconds
just kind of how it goes, right? That's fair.13 minutes, 2 seconds
And Zach is so charismatic, one of the greatest screamers and really rappers of all time and lyricist and but if you if13 minutes, 9 seconds
you pay attention to the rhythm section, Tim's he's an excellent I would say elite bass player. Um and learning some13 minutes, 16 seconds
of their uh his influences were really cool. We would talk about Stanley Clark and stuff you wouldn't expect. You know, most people would think, oh, it's just13 minutes, 24 seconds
like rock bass or they love Black Sabbath and I'm sure they did. But um Tim is very musical. But yeah, but back to Tom. Yeah, just a gentleman to me.13 minutes, 32 seconds
Good experience with him. And then uh talking to Chuck D was a big deal to me because back to being Yeah.13 minutes, 40 seconds
He's he's the reason I'm a Raiders fan because I would see him even though they're from the East Coast and he had a Raiders hat on on all the vinyl and I was originally a Bears fan even though13 minutes, 49 seconds
being from Los Angeles and I saw the hat like that hat's pretty nice. I think that's pretty much cooler than a Bears hat. So therefore I was a Raiders fan,13 minutes, 57 seconds
you know. but um picking his brain a little bit and and um Chuck was very cool, very sweet again, a gentleman. And14 minutes, 5 seconds
um I'd ask him direct questions about the world or or you know where how he was so knowledgeable back in the 80s of14 minutes, 13 seconds
of um the way the system is built and it's more commonly understood. Um well, it's like shadow government stuff or14 minutes, 21 seconds
getting into that kind of world. And I was just so impressed that that that his lyrical uh knowledge was so deep. And I14 minutes, 29 seconds
was just asking where where he learned any of this from because you'd have to go to a library or someone would have to tell you back then as opposed to now where I could just look on my phone. Um14 minutes, 38 seconds
and he never really answered my question, but his answers were always in a bit of a riddle and very [clears throat] po and very poetic. So I went away going, "Man, IChapter 4: Guest appearances and writing MEGATONS
14 minutes, 46 seconds
don't know the answer to the question I asked, but what a lovely guy." Oh, that's rad. What's it? You have, you know, the last record and this new14 minutes, 55 seconds
record. You've had some great guest vocalists on this. What's the chance of like pulling Chuck D in for a future track or something?15 minutes, 5 seconds
I tried. Um, not with this project, but with with my other deal. And um I I just think he's15 minutes, 12 seconds
so busy and so soughta that, you know, I I I I was unsuccessful and I never talked to him personally about it.15 minutes, 19 seconds
But these things on tour. You go on tour with the band and you're best friends during that tour, you know, like a summer romance in a lot15 minutes, 26 seconds
of ways. And then then all like like in Greece, you know, and then and then you go see each other again when when the school uh semester starts and you're like, wait, do we even know each other?15 minutes, 37 seconds
Who, you know, do do I say hi? Do I do I not? And um so it's it's kind of like that all the time. Well, getting back15 minutes, 45 seconds
getting back to megatons, we've got um modern fashion, pseudointellectric, pseudo intellectuals are hating on my15 minutes, 52 seconds
band, bomb to a knife fight, vanilla latte, really really rad, great song. Uh and gnarly court class out so far. Uh16 minutes
couple of little surprises here and there, like you you threw me a little bit at the end of uh Really Really Rad, which was awesome. I was not expecting16 minutes, 8 seconds
that. What other surprises uh can we look forward to for the uh material that's not out yet?16 minutes, 14 seconds
Hopefully there's always a lyric that makes someone smile, you know, a bit of sarcasm there because this stuff is so heavy and intense that I need I need16 minutes, 22 seconds
some I need a joke here and there, you know, and and I I don't usually like joke music. So, I this isn't like a Blink 182 thing, you know?16 minutes, 33 seconds
No shade at Blink. They have some good songs, but um I think it just helps me to keep going to have a little bit of sarcasm in in some of the lyrics. So,16 minutes, 42 seconds
that would be something I hope people can appreciate. And then, you know, we do have a full ballad song. We have we16 minutes, 49 seconds
have our uh sellout, you know, Metallica Black album moment, you know, I hope.16 minutes, 55 seconds
Um, but there's no rules. So, if I like it, we're going to try to do we're going to try to do it, you know, and if17 minutes, 2 seconds
so far these these gentlemen have uh I've used the term gentleman three times. I didn't even mean to do that, but these guys have uh trusted me so17 minutes, 11 seconds
far. You know, I haven't got much push back on the idea of having Well, I I should say the song Shark Out of Water was just a ballad that Zach and I came up with.17 minutes, 21 seconds
And then Eric, he wasn't much involved in this song and and um which this is a classic band member thing to do, but it17 minutes, 29 seconds
ended up working out. and he said, "Hey, uh, I, uh, just so you know, at 3:00 a.m. I was haunted by this idea of part17 minutes, 36 seconds
two of that song, you know, should I even try it or do you want to keep it as this little minute and 30 second jam?"17 minutes, 44 seconds
And of course, I said, "Try it. Let's hear it.17 minutes, 46 seconds
It's a lot of pressure on you though, man." You know, so, um, he worked on it and then I walked in like, "Let's hear and he came up with that whole that17 minutes, 54 seconds
whole intro and uh I was blown away by the second h um I'm the submarine the second half of Shark Out of Water. The18 minutes, 3 seconds
two songs if it was back in the day it would be one song you know um but with18 minutes, 10 seconds
streaming and people's attention span I thought it would be polite to have it two separate songs. Before we uh get18 minutes, 18 seconds
into some listener questions, uh I have to ask, how does the writing process work? Because we when we met with Eric, Eric said that he was just riffing and18 minutes, 26 seconds
then hiding riffs from you and then you were like, "Well, what's that?" And that was kind of how the Barbarians of California were born. Um does it start18 minutes, 35 seconds
with the riff or does it start with an idea, a lyric? How does that all work?18 minutes, 39 seconds
Well, on the first record, it started with his riffs and he would have drums that he would, you know, put on there, kind of play himself or piece together.18 minutes, 47 seconds
And then, of course, we would have a a real drummer. At the time, Isaac, now in Guns and Roses, he would he would play18 minutes, 54 seconds
drums on the stuff. Um, I don't think I played any drums on that first record.18 minutes, 59 seconds
So yeah, it would start that way and then I' he'd show me something that would maybe be a minute and 30 seconds or two minutes and I would think, okay, that that one part is excellent to me.19 minutes, 10 seconds
Or better put, I can add to that part.19 minutes, 14 seconds
The rest I I don't know what to do with that. So maybe let's make this one part.19 minutes, 19 seconds
And sometimes it' be 15 seconds, you know, of of something he came up with.19 minutes, 25 seconds
And sometimes it's helpful to have an outsider come in and hear and hear your19 minutes, 32 seconds
music and and um trim the fat a bit, you know. So I I hope I'm doing that with some of the stuff I've heard of his and19 minutes, 41 seconds
um so that's one way to go about it. So I'll hear that and go, okay, I really like this part, not so much the other part. So can you build something around that?19 minutes, 50 seconds
And here's a vocal idea with it. you could, you know, have a starting point or, you know, with this record, there were a few riffs that I just kind of19 minutes, 57 seconds
came up with off the top of my head and would um one fun thing we do and this, you know, with Awall Nation, it's all me, so all the pressure is on me and and20 minutes, 6 seconds
I welcome that pressure, but it's really relieving to have this community of of um20 minutes, 12 seconds
of musicians that can bring something to the table. Um, ultimately I I uh I kind of draw the map of all of it to get us20 minutes, 21 seconds
from point A to point B and discover an island hopefully uninhabited. But um it's a fun one. Yeah, those are all fun islands for sure.20 minutes, 29 seconds
Yeah. Yeah. So we or I'll leave him a voicemail saying I've always wanted to have something like this and sing some ridiculous riff and a beat and then you20 minutes, 37 seconds
know like do your version of that and it ends up being completely different than I heard in my head and that's fun too. So, you know, all it takes is a spark. And these guys are so good.20 minutes, 46 seconds
Um, and I'm not talking about myself. I I mean that like Zach on a guitar level is psychotic. You know, he's like,20 minutes, 53 seconds
not to say he's as good as Dying Back, cuz that would be rude to say, but he can, you know, he could play all his parts. Um,21 minutes, 1 second
and you know, Eric's excellent, too. And Isaac, our drummer, one of my favorite drummers in the world. And now Lynon is really good and he can do anything with21 minutes, 9 seconds
his feet. And so if we have an idea, we can at least chase it down. Um, so it can be any which way. There's no rules.21 minutes, 20 seconds
That's the funnest part, too. It doesn't doesn't matter, you know, like the disco part we had at the end of Really Rad. It's not that I ever wanted to have,21 minutes, 27 seconds
you know, an ABBA part at the end of a whatever hardcore metal song. It's just that I didn't know what else to do to21 minutes, 34 seconds
end it. So, I came up with that and it just came to my head. So, we did it. And I had all the guys say, "Hey," and I didn't show it to them. I said, "Can you21 minutes, 42 seconds
just say I want more into the mic?" Yeah.Chapter 5: New vibe with drummer Linden Reed
21 minutes, 45 seconds
To this tempo. And they all did it not knowing. And I just chopped it all together and we sound just like dorks,21 minutes, 53 seconds
you know, and I really like Great. So, it is so great. Yeah.21 minutes, 57 seconds
Yeah. So, with uh with Lyndon entering the band on drums now, how has that changed the feel a little bit from the22 minutes, 4 seconds
work that Isaac did before? I mean, like right off the top, I you said he's got quick feet. There's some double kick stuff that I didn't hear on the first22 minutes, 11 seconds
record. How has How has uh his entrance changed the vibe or has it?22 minutes, 16 seconds
Well, I to speak to the glass being half full.22 minutes, 21 seconds
He's more knowledgeable and has played more double bass stuff like he grew up loving Misha, you know, very much. And I22 minutes, 28 seconds
do I did. I do too and still do. But um you know, so I I know I can come up we can come up with more double bass stuff now. Not that we couldn't with Isaac22 minutes, 36 seconds
because Isaac didn't practice that growing up.22 minutes, 39 seconds
He does it and can do it, but he has to sit there and go, "Okay, how am I going to approach this?" And sometimes double bass with Isaac will he'll end up using a floor tom that sounds like double bass22 minutes, 47 seconds
and he's able to kind of um do something more unique in a lot of ways.22 minutes, 52 seconds
Um but to answer your question, it's different. It's different. You know, Isaac's kind of like a soulmate of mine musically, and when he joined AWOL, I,23 minutes, 1 second
you know, it it it liberated me as a frontman, and I felt so good. Um, so losing him was hard. Huge shoes to fill.23 minutes, 9 seconds
Yeah.23 minutes, 9 seconds
Hence why he got one of the biggest drumming gigs in the world, but Lynen has done as good as anyone could possibly do. And, um, he's such a sweet,23 minutes, 17 seconds
soft-spoken guy, and we don't really need another big personality because we're all completely insane, you know, in this group with comedy. He's been23 minutes, 25 seconds
he's been great. And I should say that he is uh Zach's first musical jam buddy.23 minutes, 33 seconds
Oh, that's cool.23 minutes, 34 seconds
So, personality matters a lot to us. And even if I had, you know, the greatest bass player, guitar player in the world23 minutes, 42 seconds
and we didn't we didn't get along right, it it would be very annoying and difficult for me. So, um Well, hey, at least Zach, you know, bit23 minutes, 50 seconds
of a homecoming for Zack in that regard then. That's cool. Yeah. to lift his buddy up.23 minutes, 55 seconds
You know, when Barbarians got started, I guess two two and a halfish years ago now, was that sort of a homecoming for you to get back into the more hardcore24 minutes, 5 seconds
stuff after all the years with AWOL or was it just like sort of another step in the journey?24 minutes, 12 seconds
It felt like a homecoming. Um, and now it feels like another step in the journey, but at the time, you know, that first Trouidor show, um, it definitelyChapter 6: Crossover AWOL fans
24 minutes, 19 seconds
felt like a homecoming. It felt very natural. I was very scared um in and more scared than I've been in I don't24 minutes, 26 seconds
even years as far as getting on a stage cuz what was it going to be like? Yeah.24 minutes, 34 seconds
You know, was it was it just all Awol Nation fans? Was it all new fans? Was it, you know, fans of the other bands playing with us? And it was it was somewhere in between. It was less AWOL24 minutes, 42 seconds
crossover than I thought. And that's a good thing looking back. Um because you know as as loyal as some of those fans24 minutes, 51 seconds
have been it would be um it's a lot to ask to join. Sure.24 minutes, 56 seconds
Not everybody has ears to hear this heavy of music as you guys know. Mhm.25 minutes, 1 second
You know I like with my wife there's certain things she could tolerate but I know I'm not we're not going on a road trip and only listening to Mashuga. That's not happening. In25 minutes, 10 seconds
fact I'm not playing one Mishuga song for her cuz I know she just wouldn't like it. she'd be like, I appreciate this artistically, but turn this off, obviously. So, you know, I just25 minutes, 19 seconds
And even me, you know, I'm not I'm not only listening to Strife and Knock Loose and Refused and Rage Against the Machine. I love ABBA and the Beatles25 minutes, 26 seconds
and, you know, and uh Yacht Rock is what I mostly listen to these days. But, um, well, you know, I believe I don't remember the question.25 minutes, 35 seconds
Uh, you know what? At this point, it doesn't matter. But you you you got me on something else and that is that your wife is not necessarily a fan of the really heavy stuff like Mishuga. My wife25 minutes, 44 seconds
is is not a big fan either. Like her bar for excellence is Van Morrison. Um which of course is fantastic. That's a high bar.25 minutes, 52 seconds
It's a very high bar. And I will tell you, I was telling Dererick before you hopped on, I had uh just a mix going, a25 minutes, 59 seconds
barbarians mix going in the house and had it going and I kept like side eyeing my wife and you know, she's doing stuff26 minutes, 6 seconds
on her phone or whatever. And I started noticing, you know, she got the head bobbin and all that.26 minutes, 11 seconds
So I let four or five songs rolling. I said, "What do you think? You know, this is this is Aeron's band. We're talking to him shortly. What do you think?" And she goes, "I like it." And I said, "You26 minutes, 19 seconds
do?" She's, "Yeah." I said, "Okay." So she was like, I don't only like Van, but to your point about like your wife not26 minutes, 27 seconds
being a fan of the heavier stuff and Awol Nation fans feeling very comfortable with Awall Nation music,26 minutes, 36 seconds
maybe I am a little more surprised that you haven't converted as many AWOL fans to the Barbarians because it's just26 minutes, 43 seconds
objectively such good stuff. Um, and maybe it's just a time thing. you know, it just people need a while to adjust to something that's different than what26 minutes, 52 seconds
they're used to, which, you know, I respect that. But I expect that the the trajectory with the band in terms of your fan base is going to just keep27 minutes
getting bigger and bigger the more you guys put out because everything is just so solid. I was floored when Derek sent27 minutes, 9 seconds
me the first four singles uh from Nashing before the album came out.27 minutes, 14 seconds
Just who the [ __ ] are these guys? This is incredible. was so jazzed to get to talk to Eric back then and uh of course27 minutes, 21 seconds
to talk to you now because it's it's just something you guys are filling a void that has been in heavy music for27 minutes, 28 seconds
a long time and I can speak for Derek when I say we are really excited to get the rest of this this record.27 minutes, 36 seconds
Well, I'd like you to have it right now, you know. So, [laughter] um thank you.27 minutes, 41 seconds
That's you know, you you you couldn't have said anything much nicer. So, you know, I really appreciate that. I I love pop music, so I think that it's possible27 minutes, 50 seconds
with your wife and my wife has been very supportive. Like I remember saying to her the other day, um, you know, and27 minutes, 58 seconds
she's she works so hard with our kids. We have we have twins who are three and a half28 minutes, 5 seconds
and a nine-month-old baby, you know, and I get to congrats talk to you guys and play heavy music for fun for a living, you know. So I28 minutes, 13 seconds
always I always come in from the studio and and ease into it cuz she's been working so hard all day, right? And um28 minutes, 20 seconds
yeah, anyways, I remember I said to her like, you know, Barbarians are selling out some of these these shows like, you28 minutes, 28 seconds
know, kind of feeling proud and uh she said she didn't really react. I'm like, you're not you're not more stoked about it. She's like, well, yeah, I expect you to cuz I know it's great.28 minutes, 39 seconds
[ __ ] Okay. and she, you know, she she has pretty good taste in music. Um, there's been plenty of there have been plenty of AWOL songs I've shown her28 minutes, 48 seconds
where she's like I know when she doesn't love it when she says, "Oh, I just need to hear it again." I think, you know, that's always the the kiss of death, you28 minutes, 56 seconds
know. But yeah, I think um so far seems like a lot of people who wouldn't dabble in the hardcore genre or metal genre29 minutes, 4 seconds
have been open to what we're doing. I mean, maybe it's cuz I have a certain kind of pop sensibility where um I don't29 minutes, 11 seconds
mind repeating myself and um you know, heavy music is so hilarious. That's the thing no one talks about. It's funny. ItChapter 7: The humor of heavy music and Lou Koller
29 minutes, 19 seconds
really is funny. And and so the more the more shocking vocals I could throw at you, maybe I could grab29 minutes, 27 seconds
your attention. I mean, that was a big deal. I should speak to Lou from Sick of It All who just passed away. So, I I got to see um I got to see Sick of It All29 minutes, 36 seconds
several times um with different bands, different line.29 minutes, 39 seconds
I I saw a show with Sick of It All, Strife, um and AFI. AFI was first or second and maybe Good Riddens.29 minutes, 48 seconds
So, I I was really lucky to see a lot of great shows. But back to um stage presence and fun within heavy music29 minutes, 55 seconds
because it's so intense. If you go more intense with with the visuals, that works for some people, but it doesn't work for me, you know? I I I can't I'd30 minutes, 2 seconds
be taking myself too seriously if with this heavy sound and and you know aggressive vocal approach if the lyrics30 minutes, 11 seconds
were too dark, you know? So, it's it's I'm trying to approach it in the way that I enjoyed hip-hop when I discovered it where it was just kind of like30 minutes, 19 seconds
bragging and boasting and self-deprecation all at the same time, you know. Um, anyways, I got to see Lou and30 minutes, 27 seconds
everybody's very, very intense, very serious with the hardcore scene for the most part. This is the 90s, right? And then Sick of It all played and and I had30 minutes, 36 seconds
studied some of the I I want to say um Scratched the Surface was the record I got to fall in love with. So, I was a little late to um discovering them, but30 minutes, 44 seconds
back then it'd be okay, this hardcore band's coming into town. us and learn all the songs so we could have a fun time, do stage dives and get them hopefully, if we're lucky, get the mic30 minutes, 52 seconds
past us and do a sing along. Um, and I remember Lou coming out and having a certain charisma that I hadn't seen30 minutes, 59 seconds
necessarily yet in in the underground scene. And he kind of made me re and I remember my band at the time went home31 minutes, 7 seconds
thinking like, you have to be so much better after seeing that front man, Lou,31 minutes, 14 seconds
rest in peace. Um, pretty gutting to hear that news because, you know, that's one of those where you you see and go, "Whoa,31 minutes, 21 seconds
I didn't see that. I mean, I knew he had been battling health issues for a while, but it it was it's pretty surreal to see that." But, um, anyways, my experience31 minutes, 28 seconds
was to be deeply influenced and inspired by how charismatic he was on stage and31 minutes, 35 seconds
how much he he lightened the attitude of very heavy music. And um, that stuck with me ever since. So, just to take a31 minutes, 42 seconds
moment to to show some appreciation for him. Yeah. Thank you for that.Chapter 8: Listener questions
31 minutes, 46 seconds
Yeah. Well, a natural transition is to get into some of the listener questions.31 minutes, 51 seconds
Um because there's the first one that was on the list is from Brain 79. Uh what AWOL songs [ __ ] Brain 79, man. It's always I'm just kidding.32 minutes, 1 second
Do you know who that person is? No. No, I'm just kidding. Oh, okay.32 minutes, 4 seconds
I just love I love I love nicknames and aliases. It's It's fun, right? Um Yeah. So what AWOL songs could be barbarian songs or vice versa?32 minutes, 15 seconds
Well, you know, all of them or none of them really, you know, I mean there there are times that there are moments32 minutes, 22 seconds
in in Awall's journey that teetered into the red, meaning probably too heavy for32 minutes, 30 seconds
the listener. I have some friends, you know, like when I make music, I do have32 minutes, 36 seconds
20 people that like this pod of 20 people I'm wanting to impress or or not let down, you know, at the same time.32 minutes, 45 seconds
And within that pod and and this lineup changes over the years, but I'm thinking, oh yeah, this one guy like with Barbarians, there's I have a32 minutes, 53 seconds
buddy named Sean Lopez. He's the guitar player. He plays um sometimes in dev tones and he uh is a good producer,33 minutes
great guitar player and he was a band called Far, kind of a post hardcore band back in the day.33 minutes, 5 seconds
Yeah. And um he wrote this riff in his solo band called Revol Rev Smile,33 minutes, 11 seconds
Revolution Smile that always really um I always thought about it and it was a big33 minutes, 19 seconds
influence honestly of of multiple songs of mine and the first33 minutes, 26 seconds
song on Megatons is called Back to the Valley and the ending riff I felt like right when I wrote it and finally recorded it.33 minutes, 37 seconds
I text him, "Look the [ __ ] out cuz this riff is coming to you and I can't wait for you to hear it, you know, and it's this friendly loving competition. It's33 minutes, 45 seconds
not even a competition really. It's he does amazing stuff and and um so of course when I sent I sent him the record just anticipating him noticing33 minutes, 52 seconds
that riff, you know, and then he's like, "Holy [ __ ] the riff at the end." So I was like, "I did it." Yes. So, um,34 minutes, 1 second
this is kind of a roundabout way of saying, uh, there are times with Awol though where I've gone, you know, probably on the first record a song like34 minutes, 9 seconds
Soul Wars or, you know, the second record a song like, uh, Cooks Everywhere or on um, Angel Miners and the Lightning34 minutes, 18 seconds
Riders that album. There's a song called Mayday that has a riff that's probably a little I scream a little too much there34 minutes, 25 seconds
or so I think there there's a good chance that some AWOL fans are driving around you know experiencing a new record and34 minutes, 33 seconds
they're like whoa what you know it's like a car crash of vocal here and there. Um I think some people do appreciate it but you know maybe our34 minutes, 42 seconds
wives for example will be like whoa you didn't need to do that you know. Um, so that's that's a non-answer to to that question.34 minutes, 50 seconds
Got it. No, it's a good answer. And and I think that um brain whoever brain 79 will be happy. Um here's another34 minutes, 58 seconds
brainiac. Uh brain steam 69. This one's for Mr. Bruno Aaron. As a fellow Scorpio, you probably agree that music35 minutes, 5 seconds
isn't just an auditory experience, it's an emotional possession. Favorite song to become visceral. Music is my best friend. How would you describe your35 minutes, 14 seconds
relationship with music being both a listener and a creator? Thank you for sharing your music with us.35 minutes, 20 seconds
Uh, it's everything and um, that person gets it. You know, it's just it's everything. It's all I ever really think35 minutes, 28 seconds
about besides being wanting to be a better dad and, you know, the realities of life and wanting to make sure all35 minutes, 35 seconds
that's taken care of as best as it can be. It's all I'm doing is thinking about, you know, new music to discover35 minutes, 44 seconds
or or to create, whether it's with this or with AWOL. And um it's all-encompassing and and35 minutes, 52 seconds
it possesses me, you know, in the best way. And it's always, you know, like instead of talking to a therapist, I listen to music. And I'm not not36 minutes
knocking that, you know. Um but my journey has always been music as my religion.36 minutes, 7 seconds
And that's a perfect transition. Um, Doug Lucky, how does the band feel about being a global heroes to millions of dads rocking again? Is dad core a thing?36 minutes, 18 seconds
It could be. Um, it could be. You know, ever since I had I I thought that I36 minutes, 25 seconds
would have less time once I became a father, especially of twins. This is but but the multitasking that I had to36 minutes, 34 seconds
quickly learn and adapt to and feel comfortable with uh with having twins I36 minutes, 41 seconds
think allowed me to appreciate the time I do have to make music so I'm not messing around. You know before I became a dad it was like36 minutes, 49 seconds
oh what do you want to do or should I go surfing? Should I make a you know and now it's like no you need to focus because36 minutes, 57 seconds
the clock is is is haunting you and you you have to go back at some point. And there's no place I'd rather be than with37 minutes, 5 seconds
my family. So, that's first and foremost, right? So, when I do have the time to make music, it better be worthwhile. And some days, you know,37 minutes, 12 seconds
will be um less effective than others or or um a bit of a let down, you know, but37 minutes, 21 seconds
when I'm in here in the studio, I I really hope that it's productive because otherwise I'd rather be with my family, you know. So, I think that that has37 minutes, 31 seconds
allowed me to have both these projects and a few others um and be able to kind of multitask a little more comfortably than I would have before becoming a dad.37 minutes, 39 seconds
Yeah. I heard uh Marcus Mumford from Mumford and Sons on a podcast the other day and he was talking about the the work uh family life balance too. And he37 minutes, 48 seconds
said that when when he and his wife had kids, suddenly everything because like you, he wanted to spend more time with his family and his kids and watch them grow up and be a present father.37 minutes, 59 seconds
Everything got really focused and he wound up being more productive as a result when he thought he wasn't going to have just not dissimilar from you.38 minutes, 10 seconds
He didn't lose time, he actually gained time because he got more focused as a result.38 minutes, 14 seconds
I agree with that completely. You know, part of me thought, "All right, this will be the last like A-Wall record. I'm going to walk away." And, you know, I've38 minutes, 22 seconds
been so lucky to have a more success than my wildest dreams, you know, I still can't believe it it it all38 minutes, 31 seconds
worked out in that way, you know. But, um, part of me thought I would just cruise, you know, and walk away. But, um, the opposite happened. I feel more focused38 minutes, 39 seconds
than I ever have. And I want my my uh my boys and daughter to be proud of their dad that that hopefully works hard. And38 minutes, 48 seconds
and um but I I also like other people in my life or or people will say, "Well, it's your work, you know, when I go I got to go out of town to do this show.38 minutes, 57 seconds
I'm really sad to leave my family behind to go do this." And eventually they'll be able to come with me more, but they're so little still that it's it's it has a lot of difficulties. But they39 minutes, 6 seconds
say, "Yeah, but it's your work." But I I I always feel uncomfortable calling it work. Back to brain uh I forgot the the second brain's39 minutes, 15 seconds
uh question. It's not it's really not work. It's ended up being a career in what my work is. But it's you know it's39 minutes, 22 seconds
just not it's I'm so lucky to be able to have ideas that I could complete and and record and hear back let alone release39 minutes, 31 seconds
them or play them for people who will give me a thumbs up. You know, it's it's feel like the luckiest person in the world because of that.39 minutes, 39 seconds
That's cool.39 minutes, 40 seconds
Last question from a fan that DM'd me uh this morning and and asked, "Your music is fun visually, vocally, musically.39 minutes, 49 seconds
Do you feel a pressure with the world being what it is, heavy in a bad way, uh, to make a fun, safe, inclusive place39 minutes, 59 seconds
for people to, I guess, collaborate and listen?40 minutes, 5 seconds
I've always felt that that's what music's for. Um, I've often been it's I've often been very turned off by40 minutes, 13 seconds
artists who I loved kind of going in a different direction, you know, because I go to music to escape from the world,40 minutes, 20 seconds
not to hear more about it. Um, you know, I remember and I love I love Pearl Jam so much and and Eddie Veter was a hero40 minutes, 27 seconds
of mine growing up and I remember watching their unplugged and and just I you know my my mind isn't40 minutes, 37 seconds
You know, like if I go to see a movie, for example, the last thing I want to do is get a text message of bummer, right?40 minutes, 44 seconds
Or something bad. And this isn't this isn't about choosing sides at all. It's just I IChapter 9: Music as escapism
40 minutes, 51 seconds
love escaping kind of like, okay, so I used to I used to dabble in40 minutes, 58 seconds
messing around with some stuff. I used to smoke a lot of weed. I stopped like I think 15 years ago now. it didn't work for me anymore.41 minutes, 6 seconds
Blah blah blah. Um I may or may not have tried mushrooms like so many people have, right? And I41 minutes, 13 seconds
remember thinking and you know this is this is a different different part of me you know this is like an old version of me and I remember thinking leave your41 minutes, 22 seconds
phone behind like if you're going to go on a on an experience right in in in sort of an escape let's call it um the41 minutes, 29 seconds
last thing I want to do is bring reality into it. So, I would always choose a day that I knew nothing heavy or I would predict nothing heavy was going to happen and leave my phone behind to to41 minutes, 38 seconds
go experience that. And same thing with just regular surfing. Um, so I feel the same way about music. So, music's41 minutes, 45 seconds
absolutely a place where you can hang out cuz let's say you're tripping and you run into your parents, you know, or41 minutes, 53 seconds
or or an ex-girlfriend or, you know, the cops or whatever. It's it's not not a good thing, right? So, um, [laughter]42 minutes, 1 second
that's that's what I'm getting at, you know, and like that. And that's happened to me, by the way, like where I'm like, "All right, I'm [laughter] safe. I'm good. I'm going to walk to this place."42 minutes, 8 seconds
Oh, no. That's my best friend's dad is walking over here. Holy [ __ ] [laughter] Um, you know, but the I feel that way42 minutes, 16 seconds
about music. It's an escape to bring it back to kind of a sincere place. Um, you know, you you could be at a concert42 minutes, 23 seconds
with people who are on all ends of the spectrum of of spirituality, religion, politics. Sure.42 minutes, 31 seconds
Uh, sport, you know, like I remember Kirk Cobain even being disappointed with his audience at one point because he felt like too many42 minutes, 39 seconds
jocks, you know, Turk Cobain's one, you know, if it weren't for him, I wouldn't have ever picked up a guitar, but there too many jocks with the people that used42 minutes, 46 seconds
to pick on him at school. um where I'd like to try to take the opposite approach. Again, Kurt's absolutely in my42 minutes, 54 seconds
top five songwriting heroes. Um but I hope that um everybody's at the show, you know, and with Barbarians43 minutes, 3 seconds
especially, if we're getting a few more normies, let's say, you know, people I mean normies to say that people who43 minutes, 10 seconds
wouldn't know about Sick of It All and and Strife and all these bands I love so much growing up from the Underground. um they're coming into the show and being43 minutes, 18 seconds
exposed to new music and it's an escape and it feels completely new to them. Um then that's a great success to me.43 minutes, 26 seconds
Mhm. That's cool.43 minutes, 28 seconds
So the moral of the story, do mushrooms, but turn off your phone. Just kidding. And avoid your ex-girlfriend's father.43 minutes, 35 seconds
That's funny. [laughter] We've all been there, you know, or or or you've had a few, you know, you're over that level of drinking. I don't drink. I haven't really drank much in a long time43 minutes, 44 seconds
either. But, you know, you run you run into the wrong situation and reality kicks in. You think you're cool, you know. But43 minutes, 51 seconds
yeah, you you think all things are 5x5 when in fact they are anything but. Yes. Yes.43 minutes, 57 seconds
Since our conversation has reached a Christopher Nolan length epic, we've decided to split this chat into two44 minutes, 5 seconds
parts. [music] Be sure to follow, subscribe, and click the notification bell so that you don't miss part two of our interview with44 minutes, 13 seconds
Singer, Song Writer of AWOLNATION & The Barbarians of California
Best known as the mastermind behind the multi-platinum alternative rock force AWOLNATION, Aaron Bruno is a songwriter, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist who has spent decades defying genre boundaries. Long before radio-dominating hits like "Sail" racked up billions of streams, Bruno was forged in the fiery underground of West Coast punk, metalcore, and post-hardcore.
The Career Arc & Musical DNA:
* Early Punk Foundations: Before mainstream stardom, Bruno cut his teeth screaming in West Coast underground acts like Insurgence and Home Town Hero.
* The AWOLNATION Phenomenon: Launched in 2010, AWOLNATION transformed Bruno into a global rock staple. His ability to blend massive electronic hooks with explosive vocal intensity yielded multi-platinum hits across five studio albums.
* Return to Heavy Roots: Driven by an itch for raw, unfiltered aggression, Bruno formed The Barbarians of California alongside Eric Stenman. Trading synth-pop production for abrasive riffs and crossover thrash stomp, the project marks his full-circle return to metallic hardcore.
Vocal Style & Performance
Bruno's vocal versatility bridges the gap between commercial radio appeal and throat-shredding hardcore intensity. Whether delivering soaring melodies or brutal, barked screams, his live presence is defined by raw emotional output and relentless physical energy.
The ShitTalkReviews Take
While casual listeners know him for massive radio singles, heavy music heads respect Bruno for never abandoning his roots. Stepp… Read More
