Friko

Andrew Ross, contributor

Friko's second album, Something Worth Waiting For (out April 24, 2026 via ATO Records), feels like the band stepping into a bigger, bolder version of themselves. Following their strong 2024 debut, they've expanded to a quartet and leaned harder into dynamic, theatrical indie rock with noise edges, sweeping arrangements, and bursts of chaotic energy.

 

The album opens strong with "Guess," a track that builds to a thrashing, cathartic crescendo right away, setting an immediate tone of abandon and intensity that carries through much of the record. Early cuts like "Still Around" and the delightfully unhinged "Choo Choo" amp up the frenzy: the latter throws in playful train-chant vocals, tempo shifts, which makes for the most unhinged joyfully chaotic track. 

 

As it progresses, the band balances the loud with quieter, more introspective moments. Tracks like "Alice," "Certainty," and "Hot Air Balloon" showcase their growing comfort with atmospheric builds, strings, and symphonic touches that add emotional depth without losing the homespun intimacy at their core. The first single released "Seven Degrees" stands out as an anthemic highlight—catchy, jamming, and sing-along ready, with a joyful chaos that captures the band's live energy even on record. The title track closes things on a reflective, big-swinging note that ties back to themes of perseverance and payoff.

 

Production-wise (handled by John Congleton), everything feels fuller and more expansive than before: guitars roar, rhythms hit harder, and the arrangements sprawl in rewarding ways, blending noise-rock aggression with avant-classical flourishes and even some 70s-style balladry. Niko Kapetan's vocals carry that earnest, emotive quality—sometimes cracking with vulnerability amid the noise—while the rhythm section (Bailey Minzenberger on drums, plus the new additions on guitar and bass) drives it all with tight, exhilarating force.

 

Overall, Something Worth Waiting For is a confident step up: more ambitious, noisier in spots, prettier in others, and consistently engaging across its runtime. It doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it spins it with real gusto and heart. If you loved their debut's maximalist indie spirit, this one amplifies it while feeling like natural growth. It's energetic, a bit messy in the best way, and leaves you with that satisfied "yeah, that was worth it" feeling the title promises.