Fat Wreck Chords Signs Mysterious New Band — Fans Convinced It’s a NOFX Side Project

• Fat Wreck Chords Signs Mysterious New Band — Fans Convinced It’s a NOFX Side Project

In a move that has the punk community buzzing, Fat Wreck Chords announced today the signing of a previously unknown band called The Latchkey Prophets—and fans are already convinced there’s more than meets the eye.

The label posted a cryptic teaser on Instagram: a grainy, black-and-white photo of four masked figures in a basement studio, accompanied by the caption, “Sometimes the old school makes new noise. Welcome our latest signing. #LatchkeyProphets #FatWreck2025.” Within hours, punk forums lit up with speculation, with many pointing out sonic and visual cues linking the new band to NOFX.

“Those drum fills are so Erik Sandin,” one Reddit user noted after the band’s debut single “Rent Control Revival” dropped on Bandcamp. “You can’t unhear it once you know.” Another fan highlighted the familiar snark in the lyrics and the gritty bass tone, which some believe unmistakably echoes Fat Mike’s style.

While neither Fat Mike nor the label have confirmed any identities, the band bio only deepened the mystery: “Born from the ashes of broken tours and lost weekends, The Latchkey Prophets don’t exist on paper. But they’ve always been here.”

This isn’t the first time Fat Wreck Chords has played with anonymity. The 2000s saw the release of secretive compilation tracks and hidden projects, including pseudonymous releases tied to label veterans. However, if the rumors are true, this would mark the first time in years that NOFX members have collaborated on a new side project since the band’s farewell tour began.

Whether it’s a marketing stunt, an inside joke, or the real deal, one thing’s clear: Fat Wreck fans are all in.

More to come as the story unfolds.