Photo by Dominic Gendron, album artwork by Seb Theriault (SterioDesign)
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This great band from Calgary (Alberta – Canada!) goes way back to the mid 90’s although I did not pick up on anything from them until either 2016 or 2017. This would have been their album The Revenge of the Fifth which was released in early 2016 and first heard by me on a now defunct Internet radio station. Several songs from that album (“Years,” “Red Pawn’s Race” and the tittle track) still remain in various rotations and playlists for me to this day. Getting the heads up that this single dropped on April 21st and that a new album will follow was definitely good news.
This track has a nice loud start before dropping into a strong vocal offset by a sharp drum line. Throughout the song you get a healthy dose of buzzy guitars and an aggressive bass that has a few prominent moments all to itself. Belvedere’s sound is a little more refined than prior releases but they give up nothing in regard to energy and maintain the sense of a real driving purpose behind the music. This is a really great melodic punk song and the full album will be released on June 19th via Thousand Islands Records.
Vote here to nominate this for my best of 2026 list:
Musicians on this are: Casey Lewis (drums, vocals), Dan Wollach (guitar, vocals). Steven Rawles (vocals, guitar) and Ryan Mumby (bass, vocals).
Just a few ideas if you have the time: purchase music when you can as streaming does not pay much even times a thousand, support and get to know your local community, live well and be a good neighbor 🙂
Although I had heard a few bits and pieces of info about this band prior to getting the chance to preview this single (thanks to Mike Cubillos at Earshot Media) I had not given their music much extended listening time. The one prior release I had spun a few times was “Sidewalk” (2024) and that was a pretty dense song, both in tone and message…good but heavy.
Gottlieb is known as a political band but this new track definitely is a personal one with a deep message centered quite literally on the song title. Although the music starts off with a little bit of a peppy bounce it is quickly covered by some tense, tight guitar playing and a thundering rhythm section. Accompanied by an urgent and angry vocal this song is tempestuous as hell, a 2:27 minute release of coiled energy.
The full album is set for a May 1st drop via Quite Panic.
Vote here to nominate this for my best of 2026 list:
Just a few ideas if you have the time: purchase music when you can as streaming does not pay much even times a thousand, support and get to know your local community, live well and be a good neighbor 🙂
I was definitely super excited when I got the chance to preview this album, especially as the bands that the musicians here have been associated with (Hüsker Dü, Soul Asylum and Social Distortion among others) are integral parts of the sprawling soundtrack of my life. Outside of their work with those groups I have also followed and been a fan of their other projects and seeing them all together on this Ultrabomb release is basically epic in my opinion.
The lead-off track here (“Darwin Awards”) is a real powerhouse that comes in on blazing guitars and is soon joined by an energetic vocal. This one runs on full power all the way through to the end. The next song “Divert / Deflect” picks up on a nice, heavy drum line, something you can feel coming right through your speakers. A punchy guitar riff carries along with it from there and combines with a chanting vocal to give a protest anthem vibe. “Artificial Stars” is next (prior posted review here) and then you dive into an amazing wave of bass on “Zombie Zeroes.” That texture lays a great foundation for a spirited, run-around the stage kind of musical composition…I bet it plays great at a live show.
My favorite is up next (“No Cap”) and I have to say I had a whole flashback experience every time I played it. There are distinct parts to the song’s arrangement and for me they were a kind of perfect kaleidoscope of the sounds and energy of the 1980’s punk / alternative scene, especially in the Twin Cities area. I will just leave it at…this one is awesome.
The number six track on this album is “Sicko Rants” and it is a pop-punk rocker all the way through; from melodic guitar lines to jumpy drums and a sassy vocal performance. Following along after is “Checked Out” which starts on an urgent, demanding rhythm sound interlaced around a cascading guitar riff. While that driving force remains in place throughout the song, there is a nice counterpoint provided by a more mellow vocal track on the verses. There is also an excellent, multi-part bridge that runs from 1:45 – 2:33. “Looking Forward In Anger” (very cool bass in this one also) is followed by “BSS” which has a heavy groove and a conversational-style vocal until the chorus. At that point it switches into a brief but wild breakdown with all instruments at max power. This one is indeed about BS and it is not happy about it at all.
The final two selections are “Last Time” (a swinging punk tune and standby for the cool guitar solo at the 2:00 mark) and “Mosquito Crucifixion.” This last song comes out of the gate fast and loud with a tight, well-played instrument combo. It is nothing less than a triumphant sound explosion to cap off a very strong set of eleven tracks.
Overall The Bridges That We Burn is an excellent album from these accomplished musicians. They have an innate sense of how to craft powerful, interesting music that stays mostly in the punk lane but has some extra depth and a few nice side-steps along the way. Picking up a copy of this one is highly recommended! It is out May 1st via DC-Jam Records / Virgin Music Group.
Vote here to nominate this for my best of 2026 list:
Musicians on this are: Greg Norton (bass, backing vocals), Derek O’Brien (drums, backing vocals) and Ryan Smith (lead vocals, guitar)
You can check out the “No Cap” video here:
Please let me know your opinion in the comment section below
Just a few ideas if you have the time: purchase music when you can as streaming does not pay much even times a thousand, support and get to know your local community, live well and be a good neighbor 🙂
Before you jump on checking out this new song from Pleasure Pill…if you want to hear something pretty darn good from their back catalog check out “I’d Rather Be” which came out in 2024.
This new single, out in advance of the April 24th full EP release on Quiet Panic, definitely rolls out on a very comfortable, easy-going groove that leads into a dreamy-style vocal line. Pulled along by a strong multiple-guitar wall of sound and drums that come out on top at just the right moments this song has a nice kind of buzzy energy. If you have a few extra study moments you can spend some time following the bass line as it weaves around the sonic structure here, adding a nice, pulsing foundation. This track grew on me the more I listened and is a great peek at what is to come on Alive in a couple weeks.
Vote here to nominate this for my best of 2026 list:
You can check out the video for this now right here:
Just a few ideas if you have the time: purchase music when you can as streaming does not pay much even times a thousand, support and get to know your local community, live well and be a good neighbor 🙂
Well, I had not heard of this band before getting the heads up from Mike Cubillos at Earshot Media and am quite happy that I got the chance to listen to it early (it is out now via Norwood Fisher’s InnaNuttshell Reekordingz). Along the road to learning more I also was able to read a very interesting bio on this group who go all the way back to 2006 and a gig at a bowling alley. I am sure they can tell their own story much better than me but suffice it to say that there has been a colorful history and it is very cool to see them now ready to put this new single (and soon the full album) out into the world. They have a few other songs out there if you want to check out some historical sounds.
Coming in on a slightly muted, melodic bass groove that has kind of a comforting feel to it this track quickly picks up a nice, heavy drum line and a lively tempo. The choruses have some nice group vocals and the guitar sound is loud and poignant. An interesting and unexpected element on this tune is added by some keys that add a unique foundation to the sound. I really enjoyed listening to this and am looking forward to the album release.
Vote here to nominate this for my best of 2026 list:
Musicians on this are: Dave Tab, Gram Tab, Scott Beattie and Rob Wheeler
Just a few ideas if you have the time: purchase music when you can as streaming does not pay much even times a thousand, support and get to know your local community, live well and be a good neighbor 🙂
jack mesenbourg 