Weakened Friends return with “NPC,” a glitchy, explosive new single from their upcoming album Feels Like Hell, out October 10 on Don Giovanni Records. The track dives into simulation theory with a sly mix of humor and unease, questioning whether our choices are truly our own or just coded responses in someone else’s game.
Featuring a blistering guest solo from guitar icon Buckethead — a solo that sounds like a supercomputer combusting in real time — the song fuses existential dread with sonic chaos. “Weakened Friends are one of my favorite groups,” Buckethead says. “Their new record is incredible. I was honored to be part of it.”
In an era where apathy often whispers instead of roars, Feels Like Hell cuts through the static. Vocalist Sonia Sturino confronts spiritual exhaustion under late-stage capitalism with an unshakable energy, imagining freer worlds untouched by control or constant surveillance. It’s a record that refuses to go numb.
“NPC” follows the release of the album’s opener, “Tough Luck (Bleed Me Out),” and the band’s cathartic cover of “Torn.”
Weakened Friends’ story is rooted in care and resilience. Formed over a decade ago when Sturino invited bassist Annie Hoffman to start a band, their journey took an unexpected turn when Annie and Sonia fell in love. After the departure of their original drummer, Annie’s former partner Adam Hand — far from harboring resentment — joined out of support for the relationship, solidifying a dynamic built on trust, empathy, and shared purpose.
For Sturino, Feels Like Hell also marks the first album since embracing their identity as a gender-nonconforming person. Recording these songs meant hearing themselves without compromise — no longer softening their voice to fit expectations. “I’m not scared to hear myself anymore,” Sturino says.
Next month, the band plays Riot Fest before launching a headlining tour from October 16 to November 20. Partnering with The Ally Coalition, they’ll bring an advocacy presence for LGBTQ+ youth to most stops. Tickets are available now.
“NPC” is streaming on all platforms, and its music video can be found on YouTube.
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Tour Dates [Tickets]:
09/21 - Chicago, IL @ Riot Festival
10/16 - Troy, NY @ No Fun
10/17 - Rochester, NY @ Bug Jar
10/18 - Toronto, ON @ The Sound Garage
10/22 - Cincinnati, OH @ Radio Artifact
10/23 - Chattanooga, TN @ The Boneyard
10/25 - Gainesville, FL @ THE FEST
10/29 - Charlotte, NC @ Snug Harbor
10/30 - Durham, NC @ The Pinhook
10/31 - Atlanta, GA @ Altar at the Masquerade
11/01 - Greenville, SC @ Swanson’s Warehouse
11/05 - Cudahy, WI @ X-Ray Arcade
11/07 - Detroit, MI @ Lager House
11/08 - Cleveland, OH @ Grog House
11/09 - Columbus, OH @ Ace of Cups
11/12 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Bottlerocket Social Hall
11/13 - Washington, DC @ Comet Ping Pong
11/14 - Philadelphia, PA @ Nikki Lopez
11/15 - Brooklyn, NY @ The Sultan Room
11/16 - Amherst, MA @ The Drake
11/20 - Cambridge, MA @ The Sinclair
11/21 - Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground Showcase Lounge