Nordic noise-rock duo Barren Womb have just dropped a new song from their forthcoming split single with Tokyo stoner-psych trio HYLKO. Barren Womb’s new track “The Perils of Self-Improvement” premiered via IDIOTEQ, delivering a mid-tempo noise-rock stomper that skewers the empty promises of self-help culture. Built around a jangly guitar loop and gathering force through pounding drums and impassioned screams, the song ultimately erupts into a huge melodic chorus powered by the band’s trademark dual vocal attack or as IDIOTEQ puts it: “It’s nasty, physical stuff: noise rock tangled up with post-hardcore and the kind of dirty, corroded low-end that doesn’t wash off easy. Recorded during the sessions for their acclaimed 2024 album Chemical Tardigrade, the track was deliberately held back until now. As guitarist/vocalist Tony Gonzalez explains: “The Perils of Self-Improvement was recorded in the same go as the material for Chemical Tardigrade, but since it didn’t quite fit the final sequence for the album, we decided to save it for a special occasion instead.” Listen to “The Perils of Self-Improvement” here. On the other side of the split, HYLKO offer “Green Spa (Cold Region Version)”, a groove-heavy stoner psych journey built around a deep five-string bass riff. Featuring Nori Shio (bass), TofuckG (drums) and Moock (vocals/djembe), the Tokyo trio create a massive sound using only bass, drums and tribal percussion. Produced by Yukito Okazaki (Eternal Elysium) at Studio Zen, the track blends fuzzed-out stoner rock, jazz-tinged rhythms and hypnotic psychedelic textures. Together, the split pairs Norwegian noise-rock abrasion with Japanese stoner-psych experimentation, two bands meeting in the middle through sheer volume and attitude, and is set for release on March 20 via Fucking North Pole Records / Captured Records. Meanwhile, Barren Womb have announced a new run of shows across Norway, the UK, and Japan. Check out the full itinerary below. Norway
20.03 – Trondheim, Moskus
21.03 – Oslo, Vaterland United Kingdom
26.03 – Nottingham, Billy Bootleggers
27.03 – London, Endeavour
28.03 – Bristol, The Old England
29.03 – Brighton, Pink Moon
30.03 – Exeter, The Cavern
31.03 – Canterbury, Lady Luck
01.04 – Glasgow, Bloc+
02.04 – Manchester, Manchester Punk Festival (warm-up)
03.04 – Dundee, Art Antics
04.04 – Bolton, The Alma Inn
05.04 – Gateshead, The Black Bull Japan
15.04 – Fukuoka, Yojigen
16.04 – Hiroshima, HUG
17.04 – Kagawa, Toonice
18.04 – Kobe, Makeshift
19.04 – Kyoto, Socrates
20.04 – Osaka, Hokage
23.04 – Nagoya, Huck Finn
24.04 – Tokyo, Nakano Moon Step
25.04 – Yokohama, El Puente
26.04 – Tokyo, Ruby Room 06.06 – Arnemoen Gard Festival (NO) | 
