Some bands look great on paper, even before you’ve heard a note. That certainly applies to alt rock/melodic punkers UltraBomb. Featuring musicians associated with Minneapolis scene legends Soul Asylum and Hüsker Dü along with a member of Social Distortion, Ultrabomb is a legacy act in every sense.

Some “legacy” acts just sound tired, but that’s certainly not the case here. From the moment the first notes of UltraBomb’s current single ‘Artificial Stars’ emerge from the speakers, the listener is greeted with a classic and very familiar sound. The melodic punk rhythms driving a wall of ringing guitars is immediately reminiscent of ‘Hang Time’ era Soul Asylum meeting with the more melodic aspects of the Hüskers ‘Candy Apple Grey’.

Those comparisons don’t stop there: even the vocal melodies veer towards Grant Hart’s output with Hüsker Dü, which more than shows a massive writers input from ex-Hüsker Dü bassist Greg Norton, and his melodic ear is a perfect match for Ryan Smith’s huge guitar tone. Throughout a really tight three minutes, the collision of punchy basslines and ringing guitars evokes the Minneapolis scene’s glory years, with Smith’s lead work dropping in between the song’s verses bringing a particular musical highlight here. With the help of a relatively simple lyrical hook, Ultrabomb have created a modern day masterpiece that’s pumped by a very old school heart. If you consider yourself a fan of any of the musicians involved, this is a must-hear.