NOFX might’ve called time on touring, but Fat Mike’s not exactly done leaving us with surprises. Case in point: the brand new track “What Are We Doing This For” featuring none other than rising punk project Codefendants. It’s scrappy, fast, political, and everything you’d expect from a NOFX song that almost didn’t make it out into the world.
In classic Fat Mike fashion, the story behind this one is as chaotic as it is honest. The band never actually finished their last album. But between the half-done guitars, drums, and scattered lyrics, Mike managed to complete four tracks—and this is one of them. Originally meant to be sung by him and Melvin, Mike admitted it just didn’t land. Enter the Codefendants, who stepped in to give the song its proper dual-vocal punch. Their rapid-fire delivery and genre-fluid edge give the track that extra bite, while NOFX’s riffs keep it grounded in the punk roots that started it all.
Julio “Ceschi” Ramos from Codefendants put it perfectly: recording this track felt like being thrown back to the hardcore crossover days of Suicidal Tendencies, with Fat Mike himself coaching the group through the mile-a-minute lyrics. The song tackles the Trump/QAnon era of disinformation and anti-intellectualism, but it’s not just a history lesson—it’s a gut punch of a reminder that punk’s role as a protest voice is still alive and kicking.
And while this song is a rare drop from the NOFX vaults, there’s even more on the way. The band has announced A to Z, the first installment of a brand new triple album series due out December 5th. Expect unheard demos, live cuts, and even a brand new song called “Barcelona.” It’ll be available on a ridiculously cool half-purple, half-red vinyl with yellow and orange splatter—limited to 3,500 units for the collectors.
So yeah, Fat Mike might joke about not wanting to finish the last few tracks, but if “What Are We Doing This For” is anything to go by, we’ll take whatever scraps he’s willing to throw our way. Punk’s better for it.
