We recently had the grand opportunity to check out the latest single, “NVR KNO”, from Boston chiptune collective, Battlemode. You can listen to “NVR KNO” Here

Battlemode bleep/bloop into the autumn season with a lively and unhinged new hyper-pop bop called “NVR KNO,” set for streaming release today ( Thursday, September 11)

We all need to level up in our lives , and we can’t think of a better way to do that than to bask in the 8-bit glow of “NVR KNO”, from Battlemode.

“NVR KNO”, is a euphoric tune, that is a kaleidoscopic cautionary tale about dating in the 2020s, arrives with a rainbow comet tail alongside a live show and dance party slate that will send your circuit board into overdrive.

It’s no wonder the panoramic 8-bit electronic-pop project of Biff, Astro, and Sam Mulligan enlisted two new members to the Battlemode posse, bringing sweet boys Leo (guitar/bass) and Isaiah (drums) into the mix to flesh out the sound and enhance the overall sonic attack. 

“There’s still so much left to do,” says Astro. “We feel like Boston Calling was just a stepping stone onto our future purpose. We still have an entire genre to define. We’re definitely getting a Grammy someday but for now we plan to write our best music yet, stay in Boston, and flood the city with amazing chiptune.”

The plan holds up. The “NVR KNO” drop is quickly followed by Hack The Planet, a 30th anniversary audio/visual orgasm co-hosted with Double Feature on Friday, September 12 that brings ‘90s cult classic techno-drama Hackers back to the Somerville Theatre, where Battlemode will perform live ahead of the film

After last year’s sold-out party, this year’s Hackers screening brings stars Laurence Mason (Lord Nikon) and Renoly Santiago (Phantom Phreak) to an all-evening rager that includes digital, binary code projections all over the 115-year-old theatre by Mike Videopunk; live remixes of the film presented by Double Feature (Wubson x Danny Aye), and an afterparty for the true believers of what the band calls “Hot Hacker Autumn.” 

From there, Battlemode appear at the 2025 Moon Over Salem festival at Bit Bar in downtown Salem on Saturday, September 13, prepare their own Astro Fest for late September (details on that very soon!), and are busy playing a full serving of parties in New York City and all over New England — all while collaborating with other local artists and working tirelessly to get Willie Burmley Jr,. elected as the next mayor of their home base of Somerville. 

And let’s not forget the cherry on the chiptune cake….the Battle-bois are carefully growing the Boston chiptune community, planning potential live dates in Japan come 2026, and organizing the sophomore edition of their own Boston Bitdown, which pressed play earlier this year as instantly one of the largest chiptune festivals in the world, bringing more than 50 artists to the Boston area across five venues in three days.

Battlemode, has a lot going on and we are here for all of it.