Protons and Electrons: Atom 9 – Cop Knock / Cheap Sleaze – Freeze Queen​/​Troll Trap

Rally, a simple one word name, but a hell of a band. They are both catchy but have some skronk and grind. Michael from Rally has been a NeutronFriends sideman on the guitar numerous times, drummer Dan not only ran Conan and Tony’s old label… but he has sat in with NeutronFriends on drums as well. I’m pretty sure this is their first release, looking forward to many more!

Oh yeah, NeutronFriends side is about messianic figures that turn out to be total jerks. It happens. The badass leads at the end are all NeutronFriends live guitar player Erica Strout of Motherfucker.

2025

The Way of the Neutron – Mini-anthems for overwhelming and far too interesting times, defiant fight songs for those counted out or not counted at all. Still here. Still operating.

For immediate release: March, 13 CONAN NEUTRON & THE SECRET FRIENDS PRESENTS NEW SINGLE AHEAD OT THE UPCOMING ALBUM RELEASE – ‘SHARKS KEEP MOVING’ Getting closer to the first Japanese tour and the release of ‘The Way of The Neutron’, Conan Neutron & the Secret Friends are happy to present the second single off the new album. Download HQ album cover. Genres: punk-rock, noise-rock. Format: CD, LP, DR. FFO: Fugazi, The Cars,Queens Of The Stone Age, The Melvins. Label: Seismic Wave Entertainment [A Private Soundcloud] Track-list: 1.Who Dares 2.Sharks Keep Moving 3.A Villain of Circumstance 4.Exit Interview 5.Official Business 6.Relentless 7.A Dream of Flight 8.Chekhov’s Grift 9.Integrity Wins Again 10.Bulletproof Tiger 11.The Burden of Dreams 12.The Way “It’s good! Swampy, dirty riffs.” – Gerald V. Casale, DEVO “It’s heavy maaaaaan.” – Bob Weston, Shellac Mini-anthems for overwhelming and far too interesting times, defiant fight songs for those counted out or not counted at all. Still here. Still operating. Spangle, and sass, small scale arena rock for smart alecks and malcontents. Big riffs, critical thinking, and big smart rock for freaks, nerds and weirdos. The latest work of the mighty Conan Neutron & the Secret Friends, The Way of the Neutron (2025) is a mission statement of the most compelling order. Blending heavy riffs, huge hooks and harmony with relentless abandon. RE: ‘Sharks Keep Moving’, Conan Neutron says: “Ah, the shark terror of the deep. A little known fact about them is most sharks must keep moving to ensure water flows over their gills for respiration. Otherwise they will perish. What better metaphor for creative resilience, as an an artist changes and evolves? It is a central theme of the record and the song and the band. Sound wise the Jaws like main riff ties the whole thing together. The verses evokes Gang of Four more than most Neutron Friends songs, but has a pleasantly surprising Desert Rock(tm) style bridge with a few choice phrases that tie into the ‘not just survive, but thrive’ mindset of the record.” Telling the story of an ethos, a life of uncompromising music and the perseverance of the creative good fight in spite of overwhelming content and stimuli. It is not only the bands most accessible record, it stands alone as a case study for endurance.

We’ll stay off the pulpit here, but your pre-orders of LP, CD or just digital all help keep the band going to the next thing. Thank you so very much for those that can. If this isn’t in the cards for you, please consider sending the link to a friend or making a social media post. Cannot overstate how much that helps this particular flying circus.
Spangle, and sass, small scale arena rock for smart alecks and malcontents. Big riffs, critical thinking, and big smart rock for freaks, nerds and weirdos. The latest work of the mighty Conan Neutron & the Secret Friends, Way of the Neutron (2025) is a mission statement of the most compelling order. Blending heavy riffs, huge hooks and harmony with relentless abandon. Telling the story of an ethos, a life of uncompromising music and the perseverance of the creative good fight in spite of overwhelming content and stimuli. It is not only the bands most accessible record, it stands alone as a case study for endurance. The very characteristic attitude is a part of Conan Neutron’s DNA. Talking about the first single off the upcoming long-play, Neutron states:

“Who Dares? Is a mission statement song. Most attributable to something a super villain would scream as a hero enters the room, this is a song about not just surviving but thriving often against insurmountable odds. One challenge at a time, one step at a time, one punch at time, one round at a time. Featuring a simple guitar hook and a relentless menacing main riff, it is a motivational soundtrack to dogged persistence. Who Dares? I’m the one who dares.”

About the second single, Sharks Keep Moving:
“Ah, the shark terror of the deep. A little known fact about them is most sharks must keep moving to ensure water flows over their gills for respiration. Otherwise they will perish. What better metaphor for creative resilience, as an an artist changes and evolves? It is a central theme of the record and the song and the band. Sound wise the Jaws like main riff ties the whole thing together. The verses evokes Gang of Four more than most Neutron Friends songs, but has a pleasantly surprising Desert Rock(tm) style bridge with a few choice phrases that tie into the ‘not just survive, but thrive’ mindset of the record.”

And the third single, A Villain of Circumstance:
A Villain of Circumstance is the 3rd Way of the Neutron single. A tonal sequel to Chesapeake Ripper’s perceived villainy it has the line “Dreaming is useless when you’re around.” It is one of the poppiest songs and features background vocals by the incredible Kate Wakefield of Lung. 

The previous record is a split LP with the incredible LUNG called: Adult Prom  on Learning Curve Records in 2023, This follows up 2022’s Dangerous Nomenclature. A three song concept ep and 2020’s Dark Passengers: their last dedicated full length release and 3rd full length album. After a relentless and creative 10 year run so far, with love from college radio, press and crowds alike. Neutron Friends show no sign of slowing down at all. Some people may be more familiar with the podcast,  Conan Neutron’s Protonic Reversal , or the 4 Day Caterwaul music festival in Minneapolis but make no mistake about it. Neutron is a born rocker and very good at what he does and the Secret Friends in all iterations are a world class rock band. 

Available now to pre-order, and to stream in full in bandcamp by March 20th. You can now find your way… to the Way of the Neutron.
1. Who Dares?
2. Sharks Keep Moving
3. A Villain of Circumstance
4. Exit Interview
5. Official Business
6. Relentless!
7. A Dream of Flight
8. Chekhov’s Grift
9. Integrity Wins Again
10. Bulletproof Tiger
11. The Burden of Dreams
12. The Way

Who Dares? on Spotify, Apple Music, Youtube

“What’s in a name? Would ‘Kiss From a Rose’ by any other name sound so sweet?”
Easy concept, kids. Two bands that are idiosyncratic and unique and are frequently related to the cultural dead end of “project” team up for a wild concept.

THE MISSION: pick 3 song titles
Each band writes a song to the song title, without hearing or knowing anything about the other band’s work.

The title inspires the music, the lyrics, the entire approach. Certainly things have a chance of getting interesting, yes?

Anyway, what transpires is the results of this collaboration/challenge. Feast your ears upon it… if you dare!
DANGEROUS NOMENCLATURE.

—
VINYL PRE-ORDER COMING SOON THROUGH LEARNING CURVE RECORDS, when we have a more realistic idea of the timeline when it might actually arrive. Thank all the Adele and Taylor Swift collector’s records for that.

credits

released February 4, 2022

The Erratic Retaliator Strategy
Mike – guitar, vocals
Ron – bass, vocals

—

Conan Neutron & the Secret Friends:
Conan Neutron – Vocals/Guitars
Tony Ash – Bass
Dale Crover – Drums
Toshi Kasai – Backup Vocals, Keys, Synth

Recorded and produced April 15th, 2021 and September 11th, 2021 by Toshi Kasai at Sound of Sirens

NeutronFriends Heavy Industries, Worldwide.
STILL ON TOP!

—
Artwork by Chris Williams – Plastic Flame Press (plasticflame.com)
Mastered by Bob Weston, Chicago Mastering Service, January 2022
Neutronfriends.com

LCR-080-1 / SW030