The creative project of Johnny Franck (formerly of Attack Attack!), Bilmuri returns with Kinda Hard, a record that feels just as chaotic as it does intentional. Blending heavy metalcore moments with pop-punk hooks and unexpected country influence, the album leans fully into Bilmuri’s irony and sincerity—offbeat humor, exaggerated track titles with genre mashups and the underlying themes of relationships, burnout, and self-reflection. With Kinda Hard, that balance feels more intentional than ever.
Rather than choosing one lane, Franck leans into the chaos by stacking contrasting sounds: metalcore breakdowns against glossy pop hooks, country twang with alt-rock textures, even moments of saxophone layered over heavy guitars. These sounds create something that shouldn’t quite work on paper but somehow does. It’s messy by design, but that unpredictability is exactly what makes Bilmuri. (Especially on tracks like “BLINDSIDED,” “BETTER HELL (THICC BOI),” and “Corn-Fed Yetis”)
From the moment the brief, explosive opener “Kinda Hard” kicks in, the tone is set. It’s loud, fast, and over almost as quickly as it begins… but that’s the point. It acts as a warning shot for everything that follows: heavy guitars, glitchy production, and a refusal to stay in one lane for too long, again, exactly what Bilmuri somehow makes work. Rather than easing listeners in, he throws you straight into the deep end.
Tracks bounce between metalcore breakdowns, pop-punk choruses, and even country-inspired moments without feeling forced. Songs like “Blindsided” carry a polished, almost radio-ready hook, while “Better Hell (Thicc Boi)” leans into heavier, more chaotic energy. Then there are moments like “Corn-Fed Yetis,” which feel intentionally absurd on paper but somehow land thanks to Franck’s commitment to the bit.
But there’s a self-awareness to it all with lines that feel tongue-in-cheek one second and surprisingly honest the next. Singing “I make a joke out of it, but I still feel it hit me”, as he frames emotional discomfort with humor first, almost deflecting it. Themes of relationships, frustration, and emotional burnout run throughout the record, but they’re rarely presented in a way that feels overly heavy. Instead, Franck filters them through humor and exaggeration, making even the more vulnerable moments feel approachable rather than overwhelming.
That said, Kinda Hard isn’t trying to reinvent Bilmuri’s sound, if anything it’s leaning into the same tongue-in-cheek he’s been giving listeners since Bilmuri’s inception in 2016. Some listeners might find the formula familiar, especially if they’ve followed previous releases, but there’s also something to be said for knowing exactly what works and leaning into it. The hooks hit, the production feels tight, and the pacing keeps things moving without dragging.
Kinda Hard feels like a reflection of Bilmuri as a project: a little chaotic, a little unserious, but still grounded in real emotion.
Catch Bilmuri on tour.
KINDA HARD TOUR DATES (tickets here):
4/17 – Denver, CO – Fillmore Auditorium
4/18 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Union Event Center
4/20 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Palladium
4/21 – San Diego, CA – SOMA
4/24 – Dallas, TX – South Side Ballroom
4/25 – San Antonio, TX – Boeing Center at Tech Port
4/26 – Houston, TX – Bayou Music Center
4/28 – Oklahoma City, OK – The Criterion
4/30 – Minneapolis, MN – The Armory
5/1 – Chicago, IL – Aragon Ballroom
5/2 – Madison, WI – The Sylvee
5/3 – Detroit, MI – The Fillmore Detroit
5/5 – Atlanta, GA – Coca-Cola Roxy
5/7 – Charlotte, NC – Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre
5/8 – Raleigh, NC – The Red Hat Amphitheater
5/11 – Moon Township, PA – UPMC Events Center
5/12 – Cincinnati, OH – The Andrew J Brady Music Center
5/13 – Nashville, TN – The Pinnacle
5/15 – New York, NY – The Rooftop at Pier 17
5/16 – Washington, DC – The Anthem
5/17 – Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall at Fenway
7/18 – Grand Rapids, MI – Upheaval Fest *Bilmuri Only
9/4 – Orlando, FL – Hard Rock Live
9/5 – North Myrtle Beach, SC – House of Blues
9/6 – Birmingham, AL – Avondale Brewing Company
9/8 – Indianapolis, IN – Egyptian Room
9/10 – Philadelphia, PA – The Fillmore Philadelphia
9/11 – Philadelphia, PA – The Fillmore Philadelphia
9/12 – Buffalo, NY – Buffalo RiverWorks
9/13 – Toronto, ON – HISTORY
9/15 – Milwaukee, WI – Landmark Credit Union Live
9/18 – Columbus, OH – KEMBA Live! Outdoor Amphitheater
9/20 – St Louis, MO – The Pageant
9/22 – Omaha, NE – Steelhouse Omaha
9/23 – Fayetteville, AR – Ozark Music Hall
9/25 – Albuquerque, NM – Revel Entertainment Center
9/26 – Phoenix, AZ – The Van Buren
9/27 – Anaheim, CA – House of Blues
9/30 – Seattle, WA – Paramount Theatre
10/1 – Portland, OR – Theater of the Clouds
10/3 – Reno, NV – Grand Theatre
10/4 – San Francisco, CA – The Masonic
