We have a desperate need for great punk records right now. It seems like we should have a larger contingent of bands weighing in on America’s love affair with fascism. Last year, Big Life‘s The Cost of Progress was the gold standard, and UltraBomb may replace it at the top of the heap this year. Leave it to a group of veterans to blaze the path forward.
From the opening track, “Darwin Awards”, UltraBomb show off a fusion of the best aspects of their members’ other projects. You can hear Soul Asylum in Ryan Smith’s vocals, and the riff recalls late-period Hüsker Dü. “Artificial Stars” has a classic Greg Norton bassline. Veteran punk drummer Derek O’Brien has held it down for Social Distortion, Adolescents, and Agent Orange, and he does the same here.
UltraBomb are not a nostalgia act taking a victory lap. The urgency of these 11 tracks is palpable, and the songwriting is consistently great. The Bridges that We Burn is a catchy, punchy, pissed-off collection focused on the ways we are undoing our society. I recommend listening to the lyrics carefully, but The Bridges That We Burn is so catchy that you might need a few listens to keep your focus on the lyrics rather than the hooks that will burrow into your brain. It’s a punk record with a rock soul, or is it the other way around?
“No Cap” is one of the clear highlights, with its anthemic verses and sped-up chorus that has a Descendents vibe. While it is likely you will hear echoes of Norton’s most famous band in the song structures, particularly in the middle section of the record, these songs have much stronger production than those canonical Hüsker Dü releases, courtesy of John Fields. It is thrilling to hear the brilliance of Norton’s songs truly pop in this way.
“Checked Out” has an instantly memorable riff and solo. “Sicko Rants” is a playful attack on unquestioning talking heads. “Look Forward in Anger” also confronts the endless cycle of outrage from “news” outlets that keeps everyone fearful of all varieties of the Others. “Last Time” is one of the tracks that colors outside the lines, with verses that strut along a Norton bassline before cracking open for a big rock chorus. It’s one of the times you can hear the band creating something that’s not as easily traced to the members’ DNA, and it is fun to hear them incorporate doot-doots into a song about addiction.
The Bridges that We Burn is a political record through and through, and Norton is unapologetic about it. These songs were written when ICE was invading Portland and before his home state became an ICE target. The murder of Alex Pretti happened on the street in front of the studio where the group recorded their album, and themes of unrest and fighting back are woven into several tracks.
However, there is room for a little humor on “BSS”, with the key line, “Love over bullshit any day / If we stick together we can get away.” One can only hope. At the very least, it will be a great night when I get to yell all the words back at the band in a room full of UltraBomb fans.