The Bridges That We Burn <\/em>is their third album after 2023 debut Time To Burn<\/em> and 2024 follow-up Dying To Smile<\/em>, but their first with their new line-up after the departure of original members Finny McConnell and Jamie Oliver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Norton is joined in the latest incarnation by Derek O\u2019Brien (Social Distortion, Agent Orange, Adolescents) on drums and Ryan Smith (Soul Asylum) on lead vocals and guitar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It’ll be no surprise given their CVs that they trade in melodic punk played with power and passion, and there are 11 slices of it here, dealing with subjects like the frustrations of modern life and polarising politicians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many of the songs were written last summer and reflect the uncertain times many Americans find they’re living in under the Trump administration.<\/p>\n\n\n The record kicks off with Darwin Awards<\/em>, an upbeat song about taking chances in life, but carrying the cautionary warning: “Bad choices make good stories if you live to tell the tale.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Divert Deflect <\/em>is angrier and more angular, and it doesn’t take much of a leap to imagine it’s about Trump and his “nothing to see here” style of government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lead single Artificial Stars<\/em> is another upbeat track with a very H\u00fcsker D\u00fc feel thanks to its shimmering guitar lines, while Zombie Zeroes<\/em> is a heavier track, ending with a real wig-out of a guitar solo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Latest single No Cap<\/em> is an anthemic slice of melodic power-pop with a great chorus which will make the moshpit explode when they play it live, while Sicko Rants<\/em> is about coping with all the crap life throws at you, defiantly insisting “we’re all dead but still alive\/fighting hard just to survive, you know.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"ultrabomb\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ipamusic.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/UltraBomb-pic-by-greg-norton.jpg?resize=640%2C480\")