By Azzam Bilal 
HangupsMusic.com – Philadelphia, PA. The landscape of contemporary hardcore punk is about to be reshaped once again as Soul Glo, the Philadelphia-based quartet that has spent the last several years dismantling genre boundaries, officially announces their highly anticipated follow-up to 2022’s critically acclaimed Diaspora Problems. The new record, titled Na I’m Gon Grab Allat, is scheduled for a January 15 release via Epitaph Records. This announcement marks a pivotal moment for a band that has transitioned from underground favorites to a vanguard of modern heavy music, proving that aggressive music can be as intellectually complex as it is sonically punishing.
The news of the album comes accompanied by the release of a blistering new single, "February Theory," which finds Soul Glo joining forces with fellow Philadelphia luminaries Mannequin Pussy. The track serves as a potent introduction to the band’s current creative headspace, blending the frenetic, hyper-speed delivery of vocalist Pierce Jordan with the melodic yet jagged sensibilities that both bands have championed within their respective spheres. To complement the single, Soul Glo has unveiled a music video directed by Robert Silverstein. The visual is a surreal, high-energy montage of suburban and urban chaos, featuring a barroom brawl centered around a hot dog, a rowdy funeral service that defies traditional solemnity, and a literal interpretation of "kicking the can." The video captures the band’s unique ability to find humor, absurdity, and profound social commentary within the structures of high-octane punk rock.
Na I’m Gon Grab Allat was recorded at Foto Club, a creative hub in the band’s hometown of Philadelphia. The sessions saw the group reuniting with longtime collaborator and producer Evan Bernard, whose understanding of Soul Glo’s chaotic yet precise sound has been instrumental in their previous successes. By choosing to record in a familiar local setting, the band has maintained a tether to the community that fostered their early growth, even as their international profile continues to soar. The album promises to be a sprawling, ambitious work, featuring an eclectic roster of guest contributors that highlights Soul Glo’s refusal to be pigeonholed. The tracklist includes appearances from experimental rapper MIKE, the uncompromising southern rapper Bbymutha, TV on the Radio’s Tunde Adebimpe, and Eugene Robinson of the avant-garde heavy outfit Oxbow. This diverse lineup of collaborators suggests an album that will bridge the gaps between hardcore, hip-hop, art-rock, and noise.
In a press statement accompanying the announcement, vocalist Pierce Jordan offered insight into the emotional and thematic core of the new material. Jordan dedicated the record to "everyone who has known the joy and pain of loving a man," specifying that the album explores "all different types of love: platonic, romantic, familial, self." This thematic focus on masculinity and the complexities of male relationships provides a nuanced backdrop to the band’s sonic aggression. However, the "pain" aspect of this exploration is not ignored; the album features a four-part series of songs titled "Resentment," labeled "Resentment I" through "IV." These tracks, with subtitles such as "Back In Therapy" and "Head Tattoos," suggest a deep dive into the psychological toll of navigating interpersonal dynamics and the process of self-actualization within a restrictive society.
The journey leading up to Na I’m Gon Grab Allat has been nothing short of historic for the band. Since the release of Diaspora Problems in 2022—an album that landed on numerous year-end lists and was recently ranked by Pitchfork as one of the best albums of the 2020s so far—Soul Glo has been selective with their output, focusing instead on high-profile live performances and cultural milestones. They embarked on a massive co-headlining tour with the powerviolence band Zulu, further cementing their status as leaders of a new wave of Black-led hardcore. They also made a high-energy appearance at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, bringing the raw intensity of the DIY basement scene to one of the world’s largest stages.
Perhaps most notably, Soul Glo became the first hardcore band to ever perform an NPR Tiny Desk Concert. The performance was a watershed moment for the genre, stripping away the traditional wall of amplifiers to reveal the technical proficiency and raw lyrical power of the band’s songwriting. In 2023, they kept fans engaged with a searing cover of System of a Down’s "Soil," and earlier in 2024, they released the standalone single "If I Speak (Shut the Fuck Up)," which is featured on the upcoming album. These moves have showcased a band that is constantly evolving, unwilling to rest on the laurels of their past successes.
The upcoming album’s 14-track list indicates a meticulously paced experience. Opening with "February Theory," the record moves through titles like "B.A.N.D.S," "Ppl Worried," and "The Hardest R," before concluding with "Cognac," a collaboration featuring Bbymutha and MIKE. The inclusion of "If I Speak" at the tenth spot suggests it serves as a late-album anchor, while the "Resentment" series is scattered throughout, likely acting as a recurring thematic motif that tracks the emotional progression of the record.
In addition to the album announcement, Soul Glo is preparing to hit the road once again. Next week, the band will join forces with the Oklahoma City noise-rock titans Chat Pile for a highly anticipated tour. The bill is further bolstered by the inclusion of Prize Horse and Shallowater on select dates, making it one of the most formidable touring packages of the season. This run of shows will likely serve as the first opportunity for fans to hear the new material from Na I’m Gon Grab Allat in a live setting, where Soul Glo’s music is often at its most potent and transformative.
The rise of Soul Glo represents a broader shift in the alternative music landscape. By integrating elements of trap, industrial, and spoken word into their hardcore foundation, they have created a sound that feels distinctly modern and urgently necessary. Their lyrics often tackle the intersections of race, capitalism, and mental health with a level of specificity and wit that is rare in aggressive music. With Na I’m Gon Grab Allat, the band seems poised to expand this dialogue even further, using the lens of "loving a man" to explore the vulnerabilities that often lie beneath the surface of punk rock’s outward bravado.
As the January 15 release date approaches, the anticipation surrounding Na I’m Gon Grab Allat continues to build. The album is not just a collection of new songs; it is a statement of intent from a band that has consistently defied expectations. By recording at the Foto Club with Evan Bernard and bringing in a wide array of artistic voices, Soul Glo is ensuring that their next chapter is as grounded in their roots as it is focused on the future. Whether they are performing in a crowded Philadelphia basement or on a massive festival stage, the band’s commitment to uncompromising expression remains their defining characteristic.
The full tracklist for Na I’m Gon Grab Allat is as follows:
01 February Theory ft. Mannequin Pussy
02 B.A.N.D.S
03 Ppl Worried
04 Resentment I: Back In Therapy ft. Eugene Robinson
05 Shiney
06 Resentment II: Kiss My Ass
07 Dick On Hard
08 Resentment III: My Friends Over Me
09 The Hardest R
10 If I Speak
11 Nobody Deserves
12 OTSS
13 Resentment IV: Head Tattoos
14 Cognac ft. Bbymutha, MIKE
With the release of "February Theory" and the detailed roadmap for their upcoming full-length, Soul Glo has set the stage for what is likely to be one of the most significant releases of early 2025. Their ability to balance the personal with the political, and the melodic with the abrasive, continues to set them apart as one of the most vital voices in the global music scene. As they prepare to embark on their tour with Chat Pile and count down the days until the new album arrives, the message from Soul Glo is clear: they are grabbing everything they deserve, and they are doing it entirely on their own terms.
