Lip Critic Announce New Album and Tour, Share Video for New Song

Why It Matters

The album turns a personal security breach into a creative catalyst, showing how underground artists can monetize adversity and deepen fan engagement. Its extensive tour expands Lip Critic’s market reach, underscoring the commercial viability of niche hardcore acts.

Key Takeaways

• Theft World drops May 1 via Partisan Records.
• Band turned identity theft into album concept.
• North American tour starts Feb 19, spans 24 dates.
• Video released for new track 'Legs in a Snare'.
• Album explores stealing's power and surreal storytelling.

Pulse Analysis

Lip Critic’s decision to channel a personal identity‑theft incident into a full‑length record reflects a growing trend where artists convert adversity into narrative capital. By documenting the fan‑turned‑thief’s theories and embedding them in lyrical motifs, the band creates a meta‑story that resonates with listeners attuned to authenticity and subcultural lore. This approach not only differentiates Theft World in a crowded hardcore market but also generates press intrigue, driving organic discovery across music blogs and streaming platforms.

The partnership with Partisan Records provides the band with a distribution network that balances indie credibility with broader market access. The twelve‑track album, anchored by the visually striking “Legs in a Snare” video, showcases a blend of aggressive riffs and experimental storytelling, appealing to both purist fans and newcomers seeking fresh sonic narratives. By framing the project as an ode to the pervasiveness of stealing, Lip Critic taps into universal themes of loss and reclamation, positioning the record for playlist placements that favor concept‑driven releases.

The accompanying 24‑date North American tour, launching in February, serves as a strategic rollout that reinforces fan loyalty while opening revenue streams through ticket sales, merch, and localized streaming spikes. Hitting key markets—from the Midwest to the West Coast—allows the band to capitalize on regional hardcore hubs, fostering community engagement and media coverage. For industry observers, Lip Critic’s model illustrates how niche genres can leverage storytelling, label support, and touring synergy to achieve sustainable growth in an era dominated by digital consumption.

Lip Critic Announce New Album and Tour, Share Video for New Song

The New York hardcore band will release Theft World through Partisan on May 1st · By [Kiana Mickles](https://pitchfork.com/staff/kiana-mickles/) · February 10, 2026

Lip Critic have finished a third album, titled Theft World. The hardcore band will release the project via Partisan on May 1. Watch a video for the record’s new song, “Legs in a Snare” below.

Theft World came together when Lip Critic’s frontman, Bret Kaser, had his identity stolen. The incident led to the band meeting the culprit, a young fan who admitted to the crime. With Kaser’s stolen social‑security number, the fan made hundreds of purchases, including copies of the group’s entire discography, believing that there were secret codes hidden in the songs that comprised a scavenger hunt.

Instead of taking legal action, the band asked to hear more about his theories, recording him as he elaborated on the intricate world he believed was embedded in Lip Critic’s music. The resulting 12 songs include the fan’s imagined characters and surreal realms.

“Theft World is an ode to the power and pervasiveness of stealing,” the band wrote in a press release. “It’s about taking something ugly and using it to make something cute. It’s about eating an absurd world and falling in love with it as you digest.”

On February 19, Lip Critic will launch a North American tour in support of the forthcoming album.

Tracklist – Theft World

1. Two Lucks

2. Jackpot

3. Debt Forest

4. Talon

5. Charity Dinner

6. Drumming With Izzy

7. My Blush (Strength of the Critic)

8. Shoplifting

9. Legs In A Snare

10. My Wife And The Goblin

11. Yard Sale (230 Take)

12. 200 Bottles Of Eviction

Theft World Tour Dates

• 02‑19 Iowa City, IA – Gabe’s

• 02‑21 Chicago, IL – Music Frozen Dancing

• 05‑25 Troy, NY – No Fun

• 05‑26 Boston, MA – The Rockwell

• 05‑27 Montreal, QC – La Sala Rossa

• 05‑28 Toronto, ON – The Garrison

• 05‑29 Detroit, MI – The Sanctuary

• 05‑30 Chicago, IL – Beat Kitchen

• 06‑02 Denver, CO – Hi‑Dive

• 06‑04 Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Court

• 06‑05 Reno, NV – Holland Project

• 06‑07 Seattle, WA – Barboza

• 06‑08 Vancouver, BC – Wise Hall

• 06‑09 Portland, OR – Polaris Hall

• 06‑11 Sacramento, CA – Cafe Colonial

• 06‑12 San Francisco, CA – Bottom of the Hill

• 06‑13 Los Angeles, CA – Zebulon

• 06‑14 Phoenix, AZ – Valley Bar

• 06‑17 Austin, TX – 29th Street Ballroom

• 06‑18 Dallas, TX – Dada

• 06‑19 Hattiesburg, MS – Fat Cat

• 06‑20 Atlanta, GA – Masquerade (Altar)

• 06‑21 Durham, NC – Pinhook

• 06‑23 Pittsburgh, PA – Little Giant at Bottlerocket Social Hall

• 06‑24 Philadelphia, PA – PhilaMOCA

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Lip Critic: Theft World Album Art

$33 at Rough Trade

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About the author

Kiana Mickles is a staff writer at Pitchfork. She previously worked as the reviews editor at Resident Advisor and was born and raised in New York.