G-punk originators (hed)p.e. are back, baby! The Huntington Beach nu metal band dropped "Violent Girl," the first single from their upcoming album Relapse. In addition to being the band's seventeenth studio release, Relapse is also the first album to be put out on the band's own independent label, Creator One. The July announcement described the label's mission as "building a home for artists who refuse to fit/think inside the box. Heavy. Hip-hop. Punk. Metal. Rock. if it’s real, we’re looking for it." Relapse is available for pre-order at officialhedpe.com.
That independent spirit is alive and well in this hooky new track featuring the band's trademark in-your-face blend of hip-hop, metal, punk, and ska. Vocalist Jared Gomes is quick to note the track is not literally about a physically aggressive young woman:
'Violent Girl' is not a song about a girl! It’s an analogy, a metaphor. I’d rather the listener figure it out than just give away the secrets.
While Gomes (aka Jahred aka MC Underdog) plays coy for the press, his lyrics are far less opaque. Speaking directly to "the middle-class zombie," Gomes rages against the machine while putting in work both as a businessman and an entertainer, all in the name of that which matters most in life: family. For Gomes, the son of Indigenous Brazilian and Afro-Brazilian parents, despite life's ups and downs, he's living the American dream. Dude even makes a point to shout out his hot wife—twice. Ain't no rule says you can't be a G and an unrepentant Wife Guy.
I wake up in a rage / I have no place in your machine / It's not for me / hypocrisy / It's not for me / you bullied me / it got to me / I retaliated / The prophecy is a lie / Another day another dollar / I wear my blue collar like a crown / It's a violent world / That’s why we crashing out
Where Nas famously sang "Life's a bitch and then you die" (hed)p.e. flip the sentiment, finding resilience and inspiration in life's grind. The government, society, insecurities, drugs, whoever did 9/11—none of that can stop you when you have a purpose. With "Violent Girl," Gomes and crew make it clear they're holding onto life until their last breath.
Fans have plenty of chances to see (hed)p.e. in their element live in the coming months. The band is currently supporting Nonpoint, SOiL, and Spineshank on The Even More.. Outta Control Tour. Starting in September, the band will play their 2000 breakout album Broke in its entirety across the UK and Ireland on their Still Broke 25th Anniversary Tour with special guests Cold. From there, they'll continue across the UK on a co-headlining tour with Spineshank.
Check out all the dates and the music video for "Violent Girl" below.
(hed)p.e.'s 2023 album Detox is out now on Suburban Noize Records.
The Even More.. Outta Control Tour
08/11 Lexington, KY @ Manchester Music Hall + ^
08/12 Sauget, IL @ Pop’s + ^
08/14 Ringle, WI @ Q and Z Expo Center + ^
08/15 Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave II + ^
08/16 Kansas City, MO @ RecordBar + ^
08/18 Colorado Springs, CO @ Black Sheep
08/20 Boise, ID @ Shrine Social Club + ^
08/21 Spokane, WA @ Knitting Factory + ^
08/22 Seattle, WA @ El Corazon + ^
08/23 Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theater + ^
08/25 Roseville, CA @ Goldfield Trading Post + ^
08/26 San Jose, CA @ The Ritz +
08/28 Pomona, CA @ Glass House + ^
08/29 Las Vegas, NV @ 24 Oxford + ^
08/30 Mesa, AZ @ Nile Theater + ^
09/01 Lubbock, TX @ Jake’s + ^
09/03 Austin, TX @ Come And Take It Live + ^
09/04 Dallas, TX @ Tree’s + ^
+ with Spineshank
^ with (hed)p.e.
08/27 West Hollywood, CA @ Whisky A Go Go
Still Broke 25th Anniversary Tour
09/22 Southampton, UK @ The 1865
09/23 Bristol, UK @ The Fleece
09/25 Exeter, UK @ Phoenix
09/26 Liverpool, UK @ Arts Club
09/27 Manchester, UK @ Rebellion
09/29 Dublin, IE @ Opium
09/30 Belfast, IE @ Limelight 2
10/02 Glasgow, UK @ Slay
10/03 Newcastle, UK @ Anarchy Brew
10/04 Wolverhampton, UK @ KK’s Steel Mill
10/06 Nottingham, UK @ Rescue Rooms
10/07 Norwich, UK @ Waterfront Studio
10/08 London, UK @ The Dome
10/10 Milton Keynes, UK @ Craufurd Arms
10/11 Brighton, UK @ Concorde 2
10/13 Montreuil, FR @ Bal Chavaux
10/14 Aschaffenburg, DE @ Colos-Saal
10/15 Berlin, DE @ LARK
10/16 Bielsko-biała, PL @ Rude Boy
10/17 Praha 7, CZ @ Cross Club
10/18 Wien, AT @ Szene
10/19 Munich, DE @ Strom
10/20 Stuttgart, DE @ Im Wizemann (Studio)
10/21 Köln, DE @ Luxor
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