In Metz, the fearless noise rock trio who released five full-length albums on Sub Pop between 2012 and 2024, it was singer and guitarist Alex Edkins. Slinging indie rock and hardcore records in his hometown record store while attending university, Edkins became an ardent student of rock ‘n’ roll; from the psychedelic 1960s to the DIY 1990s and beyond.
Alex Edkins has fronted the long-running punk band Metz for nearly two decades. The trio may have gone on hiatus in 2024, but Edkins has stayed busy with his solo project, Weird Nightmare. Every band worth its salt has a member who worked in a record store. The new Weird Nightmare album “Hoopla“, mixes and matches these wide-ranging influences in fun, exhilarating combinations, showcasing his sophisticated musical mind. Bursting to life with hooks and earworms.
Citing influences like The Replacements, Elvis Costello and Teenage Fanclub takes some swagger, but Edkins delivers, especially on his sophomore solo album, “Hoopla”.
While his debut channeled lo-fi, underground energy, “Hoopla” embraces full-on power pop, thanks in part to production from Spoon’s Jim Eno. Following the previously released single “Forever Elsewhere,” which Stereogum called “… an undeniably infectious power-pop anthem”, Weird Nightmare has shared an official video for their new song, “Might See You There,” which was directed by CC Mulligan.
Edkins shares about the track: “‘Might See You There’ is about going back to visit my hometown and being flooded with teenage nostalgia. Small-town boredom and isolation almost feel like a gift in today’s highly connected world. I feel fortunate for that time spent idly, down in the basement, learning the entire Rancid “Let’s Go” album on guitar with my friends. I find it easy to romanticise that time in my life, even though I was, without question, a disgruntled kid who badly wanted to escape my surroundings and see the world.
“I was listening to a lot of the Irish bands The Undertones and Protex while writing this one, and I think there is a fair bit of their influence. Just the simplicity and big bar chords mostly.
Seth Manchester and I were very into the idea of adding piano and bells to the outro, akin to the Phil Spector-produced “End of the Century” album by The Ramones. The great Julianna Riolino sings with me on the choruses, too!”
“Weird Nightmare is all about hooks and melody. Still delivered with levels in the red, but these are ultracatchy powerpop songs first and foremost, and really good ones at that.” – Brooklyn Vegan
“The debut Weird Nightmare album from Metz guitarist/vocalist Alex Edkins is a hook-filled set of blown-out power-pop with distorted guitars, punchy rhythms and bright pop melodies.” – KEXP
“Alex Edkins finally lets those melodies loose, resulting in an irresistibly euphoric blast of feedback spattered garage-pop that is just what the doctor ordered to chase away any lingering post-lockdown blues.’” – The Quietus
“All chiming chords and smart harmonies, “Wrecked” is a boisterous ode to ’90s indie-rock and everything that followed.” – [“Wrecked”] Guitar World
“Bully’s Alicia Bognanno joins Alex Edkins of Canadian punk iconoclasts Metz on this rip-roaring taste of his upcoming self-titled solo debut. Bognanno’s killer vocal steals this one.” – [“Wrecked”] Fader
“Hoopla”, Weird Nightmare’s Stunning New Record Is Available Friday, May 1st, 2026, Worldwide From Sub Pop
The Fat Angel Sings 