Upcoming Releases

West Los Angeles punk outfit Victory Kid have released their new single “You’re Alright,” a taste of Catalyst, the band’s upcoming sophomore album arriving May 24 via SBÄM Records.

In 2020, frontman Harrison Nida found himself unraveling—grappling with depression, weed dependency, and the weight of a decade-long relationship he knew was slipping away. At the same time, drummer and co-founder Carlo Ribaux had moved back to Zürich, pushing the band into a long-distance dynamic and an uncertain future.

So Nida did the only thing he could do: he wrote.

What began as an outlet quickly became an obsession. Written during what Nida describes as his “reality at the bottom,” Catalyst emerged from a cycle of isolation and compulsive creation—days spent waking up, getting high, and disappearing into the studio, only to repeat it all again hours later. “My days became waking up, smoking two joints, and plunging into the studio,” he recalls. “This album became the only thing pushing me forward.”

From a flood of material, the band ultimately shaped 19 songs that map the terrain of mental health, political disillusionment, fractured relationships, and the slow, often painful process of self-realization.

Sonically, Catalyst is Victory Kid at their most expansive. Long known for weaving ska, reggae, and melodic textures into their punk foundation, the band leans fully into contrast here—balancing explosive, pit-ready anthems with moments of restraint, vulnerability, and reflection. No two songs sound the same, yet each contributes to a cohesive emotional arc.

Producer Michael Pepe adds, “Victory Kid approached this record with poise, grace and the vision to execute a rock album that would stand the test of trends for years to come. From rehearsing in a Southern California garage to tracking in the depths of Capitol Studios, the record slowly took on a life of its own. It now lives in its final form—a complete piece of rock meant to be experienced front to back.”

At its core, Catalyst is about change. It confronts the cycles that keep people stuck—whether internal struggles or external pressures—and challenges the listener to recognize them. It’s about accountability, about facing reality head-on, and about finding the momentum to move forward.