Album Reviews

The Bridges That We Burn is already album number three for UltraBomb, the band featuring former members of Hüsker Dü, Soul Asylum and Social Distortion). And to just blurt it right out: it’s their best effort to date. I already enjoyed their first two albums, but they have never sounded more like they are just having a great time playing together. Hell, with ‘BSS’ they even wrote a hardcore polka song, complete with accordion that Descendents would be proud of.

Produced and engineered by John Fields (Jonas Brothers, Pink, Miley Cyrus), the band effortlessly bounces between punk rock, power pop, and grunge, sometimes all within the same song. Fans of Greg Norton, Derek O’Brien, and Ryan Smith’s past work will find plenty to love here.

Opener “Darwin Awards” immediately sets the tone: pure power-pop bliss taking aim at humanity’s self-destructive tendencies. “Artificial Stars” channels serious Replacements vibes, while “Zombie Zeroes” hits with a grittier swagger. “No Cap” carries shades of Soul Asylum in the verses before exploding into full punk-rock mode in the chorus. Elsewhere, “Checked Out” barrels forward with far more energy than any apathetic person could muster, and “Look Forward In Anger” leans into punchy, punk-infused power pop.

What ties these songs together is their relentless energy, ridiculous catchiness and the way the band makes it all sound completely effortless.

The Bridges That We Burn track listing:

1. Darwin Awards
2. Divert/Deflect
3. Artificial Stars
4. Zombie Zeroes
5. No Cap
6. Sicko Rants
7. Checked Out
8. Look Forward In Anger
9. BSS
10. Last Time
11. Mosquito Crucifixion