New York-based art punk band Lip Critic eschew a conventional setup, instead utilizing two drum kits, synths, and samplers to create as much chaos as possible. Deeply rooted in hardcore music, but heavily swayed by internet culture, they pride themselves on switching up rhythms and layering in as many samples as they can get away with. All of this is accompanied by strong indictments of Western capitalist society. Formed by friends Bret Kaser and Connor Kleitz in 2018, they had originally started out with comedic elements in mind, both leaning on samplers to create music they saw as semi-ridiculous. To further achieve that goal, they brought in two drummers, Danny Eberle and Ilan Natter, and the chaotic sound that the four of them crafted became a more serious endeavor in short order. They cut their teeth in venues across Brooklyn, forging a reputation for their energetic and confrontational live shows. In keeping with their D.I.Y. ethos, they recorded and released their early singles and debut EP, 2019's Kill Lip Critic. They carried that mentality onward to self-release their debut album, 2020's Lip Critic II, which ultimately got them noticed by labels and audiences outside of their local scene. They were picked up by Partisan Records, who helped them tour Europe. Their label debut, 2024's Hex Dealer, put them on the map for their inventive blend of hardcore, rap, and electronic music. They began work on a third album almost immediately, but it was scrapped at the last minute after Kaser had his identity stolen. Far from a straightforward narrative, they discovered the thief was a fan who had convinced himself of hidden messages in the music. Rather than pursue it legally, the band sat down with him to record his theories, thus birthing a concept and entirely new set of songs for their next record, 2026's Theft World. In the run up to the album's release, they staged a variety of unconventional shows, referring to them as the Thief Saga. They played in laundromats, boxing rings, and basement bars, basically anywhere they could fit both drum kits, all to redefine spaces for live music. - Biography by Liam Martin