There’s a quiet confidence running through UltraBomb’s new single “Artificial Stars,” and it’s the kind that only comes from experience. This is not punk rock trying to relive a moment. It’s punk rock made by people who have lived through many of them and still feel the pull to write something honest, urgent, and forward-moving.
“Artificial Stars” is the first glimpse of the band’s upcoming full-length The Bridges That We Burn, due out April 3, 2026, and it immediately sets a tone of resolve rather than nostalgia. The song moves with tension and purpose, balancing melody and grit in a way that feels grounded and human. There’s urgency here, but it’s not frantic. It’s the sound of pushing ahead even when the future feels uncertain.
Lyrically, the track leans into themes of isolation, endurance, and that stubborn instinct to keep reaching forward. It doesn’t spell everything out. Instead, it lets the mood do the talking, pairing reflective moments with sharp, driving energy. The result feels introspective without being heavy, determined without being preachy.
UltraBomb’s chemistry comes from a shared history that runs deep in punk rock, but what stands out most is how present they sound. Greg Norton’s melodic bass work gives the song emotional weight, Derek O’Brien’s drumming keeps everything locked and relentless, and Ryan Smith’s guitar lines cut through with clarity and purpose. Each part serves the song, not the legacy behind it.
What makes “Artificial Stars” compelling is its restraint. The band don’t lean on volume alone. They let space, dynamics, and melody carry the emotion. It feels deliberate, like a band that knows exactly what it wants to say and doesn’t need to shout to be heard.
As the opening chapter of The Bridges That We Burn, this single feels like a statement of intent. UltraBomb aren’t interested in looking back for comfort. They’re focused on momentum, honesty, and the idea that punk rock can still mean something when it comes from a place of lived experience. “Artificial Stars” doesn’t chase light. It creates its own.
