About Me
Bilmuri, the stage name of John Franck, is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and producer whose work is characterized by his unique ability to blend genres to produce alternative and experimental music. Initially, Bilmuri attracted attention when he was the clean vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the metalcore band, Attack Attack! until 2010 when he left the group. Later, Franck created the band known as The March Ahead, where he continued refining his music and creative direction. In 2016, Bilmuri embarked on his solo career as a musician using his own name. His music has since been characterized by its unique blend of alternative rock, post-hardcore, pop, electronic components, and the amusingly internet-influenced aesthetic.
Biography:
Franck left Attack Attack! in 2010, choosing to step away from the group and focus on his personal faith and other priorities. In 2011, he formed The March Ahead with multi-instrumentalist Mike Caswell. The project continued Franck’s interest in experimental rock and electronic music, releasing its self-titled EP and several singles. One of its most recognizable releases was a rock-oriented cover of One Direction’s “Story of My Life,” which helped introduce the project to a wider online audience.
In 2016, Franck launched his most important and enduring musical project: Bilmuri. The name is a playful reference to actor Bill Murray, reflecting the humorous personality that would eventually become an important part of the project’s identity.
The Birth of Bilmuri:
Bilmuri initially developed around post-hardcore, pop-punk, emo, and alternative rock. However, Franck quickly demonstrated that he had little interest in remaining inside one genre. Electronic production, pop melodies, heavy guitars, experimental arrangements, country influences, comedy, and internet culture gradually became part of the Bilmuri formula.
The early catalog included releases such as Jaguar Shark, Bilmuri, Frame, Banana, Solid Chub, Taco, and Wet Milk. These projects established Franck as a highly productive independent musician capable of recording, producing, and experimenting with music at an unusually fast pace.
Rather than following a conventional career path, Franck built Bilmuri around creativity and personality. Song titles, artwork, humor, collaborations, and social-media presentation all became part of the experience. Behind the deliberately ridiculous presentation, however, was sophisticated musicianship and detailed production.
Discography:
Bilmuri’s discography is extensive, particularly because Franck has consistently released albums, EPs, collaborations, and singles throughout the project’s history.
Some notable releases include:
Jaguar Shark — 2016
Bilmuri — 2016
Frame — 2017
Banana — 2017
Solid Chub — 2018
Taco — 2018
Wet Milk — later in the early Bilmuri period
Rich Sips — 2019
Muri and Friends — 2020
Eggy Pocket — 2020
400LB BACK SQUAT — 2021
Goblin Hours — 2022
American Motor Sports — 2024
Kinda Hard — 2026
The exact character of the project changed considerably from release to release. Early Bilmuri leaned heavily toward alternative, emo, and electronic music, while later projects became increasingly ambitious in their mixture of metal, pop, country, and experimental sounds.
400LB BACK SQUAT and Goblin Hours:
400LB BACK SQUAT, released in 2021, demonstrated how far Bilmuri had moved beyond traditional genre boundaries. The album combines heavy guitars with electronic textures, melodic songwriting, humor, and an intentionally eccentric presentation. The official album premiere includes tracks such as “LORDFARQUADZILLA,” “ACOWBOYSHEAVYLOAD,” “JACKEDANDSTACKEDMASSONSTER,” and “KEEPINITBEEFY.”
The following period produced Goblin Hours, another important stage in Franck’s development. Collaborations became increasingly central to Bilmuri’s music, allowing him to combine his sound with artists from different parts of alternative and heavy music.
Together, these releases helped establish Bilmuri as something much larger than a side project. Franck had developed a recognizable musical identity of his own.
American Motor Sports:
The album contains ten tracks, including “BETTER HELL,” “EMPTYHANDED,” “MISS MEE,” “SPINNIN’ YOU AROUND,” “2016 CAVALIERS (Ohio),” “ALL GAS,” “BLINDSIDED,” “STRAIGHT THROUGH YOU,” “TALKIN’ 2 UR GHOST,” and “DRUNK ENOUGH.” It also features guest appearances from musicians including Dylan Marlowe, Knox, Mitchell Tenpenny, and A R I Z O N A.
What makes the record particularly interesting is the way Franck refuses to treat country and metal as opposing styles. Twangy guitars, country melodies, fiddle, saxophone, electronic textures, pop hooks, and heavy breakdowns can exist within the same musical world.
“SPINNIN’ YOU AROUND,” for example, combines a huge melodic chorus with heavy guitar work and a breakdown, while “STRAIGHT THROUGH YOU” takes a softer approach and incorporates saxophone. “TALKIN’ 2 UR GHOST” explores regret and emotional vulnerability, while “DRUNK ENOUGH” closes the album on a much more serious and reflective note.
Expert Reviews:
Another Sputnikmusic review gave the record a perfect 5/5, describing it as a highly energetic and unusually cohesive mixture of humor, heartbreak, heavy grooves, country sounds, and melodic hooks.
Other reviewers were similarly enthusiastic. ALTCORNER rated the album 10/10, praising its polished production and describing it as one of Franck’s strongest projects. The Live Wire gave it 9.5/10, emphasizing the way the record moves between metalcore, pop, country, and alternative music without losing its identity.
Not every reaction was completely positive. Some listeners felt that the short runtime—approximately 28 minutes—left certain songs feeling underdeveloped, while others preferred earlier releases such as Goblin Hours or Eggy Pocket. That criticism is useful because it highlights the central tension in Bilmuri’s music: the songs are intentionally compact, immediate, and hook-focused rather than traditionally expansive.
Personal Life:
His decision to leave Attack Attack! in 2010 was connected to his desire to focus on his relationship with God. His faith consequently became part of his public story during the early years following his departure from the band.
Franck’s personal experiences also appear to influence his songwriting. Bilmuri’s later music frequently explores relationships, heartbreak, regret, emotional uncertainty, and personal struggles beneath its humorous presentation. American Motor Sports particularly balances playful imagery with vulnerable themes. “DRUNK ENOUGH,” for instance, approaches emotional pain and the realization that alcohol cannot replace genuine human connection.
This contrast has become one of Bilmuri’s defining characteristics: the music can be absurd on the surface while remaining sincere underneath.
Musical Style and Legacy:
Franck’s greatest strength may be his willingness to combine sounds that traditionally occupy different audiences. A Bilmuri song can move from a catchy pop chorus to a crushing breakdown, then introduce electronic production, country instrumentation, or a saxophone solo.
That unpredictability has become the project’s signature.
From his early days with Attack Attack! to The March Ahead and eventually Bilmuri, Johnny Franck has built a career around experimentation rather than musical boundaries. Bilmuri’s discography shows an artist continually reinventing his sound while retaining a recognizable sense of humor, melody, heaviness, and emotional honesty.