'Nuisance' by queer punk / riot grrrl band Babe Haven blends nu-metal, thrash & punk, cementing their place as one of punk's most vital rising voices

Babe Haven's sophomore album Nuisance is a compact, confrontational collision of punk, riot grrrl, nu-metal and thrash, channeling the band's aggressive live energy into ten tracks of resistance and catharsis. Originally released digitally in June 2024, the album receives its first physical release through Hassle Records in 2026, coinciding with the band's debut UK and European performances and a headline U.S. tour.

Formed in Boone, North Carolina by Lillie Della Penna and Naomi Poesel, Babe Haven emerged from the contemporary queer punk scene with a sound rooted in riot grrrl's confrontational spirit but increasingly resistant to straightforward genre classification. Heavy riffs, hardcore intensity and the rhythmic weight of nu-metal became integral to the band's approach, while its songs developed around themes of empowerment, resistance and pushing back against judgment and exclusion. The group has built its reputation in large part through an explosive live presence, selling out shows and sharing stages with Die Spitz, Mannequin Pussy, Soft Play and PUP while establishing a growing national audience.

Nuisance represents a significant expansion of that foundation. Tracks including 'Gas Pedal,' 'Die (and Rot),' 'Blind Yourself,' 'Bubbleguts,' 'Suck It Up' and 'Final Girl' move between punk immediacy, metallic weight and abrasive hardcore energy, while 'Interlude (Girl Brutal Remix)' further disrupts the album's stylistic boundaries. Rather than treating its nu-metal, thrash and punk influences as separate reference points, Babe Haven folds them into a deliberately visceral sound that retains the unpolished urgency associated with '90s grunge, hardcore and riot grrrl while sounding firmly rooted in the current underground.

The band's combination of musical aggression and community-minded punk ethos has made Babe Haven a rapidly rising presence within the scene. The Luna Collective described the group as 'a powerhouse of raw emotion and unapologetic grit,' praising Nuisance as evidence of both its evolution and commitment to an authentic, unpolished sound. TopShelf Magazine similarly characterized the band's live impact as 'raw, visceral, unforgettable.' With its physical debut through Hassle Records, Nuisance captures Babe Haven at the point where its DIY beginnings, increasingly formidable live reputation and heavier musical ambitions converge.

Track Listing

• Gas Pedal
• Die (and Rot)
• If I Were You
• Blind Yourself
• Interlude
• Nuisance
• Bubbleguts
• Can't Call This Cat
• Suck It Up
• Final Girl

Additional Details

Label: Hassle Records

Genre: Alternative/Punk

Language: English

Run Time: 23:21 mins

Region: 0

Release Date: 11/06/26

UPC: 5061122880845