ULTRABOMB BRINGS TOGETHER THREE SEASONED VETERANS OF THE PUNK ROCK
SCENE: GREG NORTON (HÜSKER DÜ) ON BASS AND VOCALS, DEREK O’BRIEN
(SOCIAL DISTORTION, AGENT ORANGE, ADOLESCENTS) ON DRUMS AND VOCALS,
AND RYAN SMITH (SOUL ASYLUM) ON GUITAR AND VOCALS.
WITH DECADES OF PUNK HISTORY BEHIND THEM, THE TRIO DELIVERS MUSIC
THAT FEELS RAW, URGENT, AND UNMISTAKABLY CURRENT—DRIVEN NOT BY
NOSTALGIA, BUT BY THE FIRE OF EXPERIENCE.
THEIR UPCOMING ALBUM, THE BRIDGES THAT WE BURN, ARRIVING MAY 1, 2026,
WAS RECORDED AT CREATION AUDIO IN MINNEAPOLIS AND PRODUCED,
ENGINEERED, AND MIXED BY JOHN FIELDS. THE RECORD PUSHES ULTRABOMB’S
SOUND FORWARD WHILE STAYING TRUE TO THE STRIPPED-DOWN INTENSITY
THAT DEFINES THE BAND.

Failed Models, hailing from Chicago, delves into societal disillusionment, existential introspection, and the inherent contradictions of the human experience. Their music is a visceral expression of frustration, defiance, and a yearning for authenticity in a world that often feels artificial.

Chicago-based Fascinator erupts with moments of explosive power and passages of airy space powered by honest vocals and lyrics that grapple with personal politics and loss in a divided universe.

The Chicago trio is influenced by the exposed-livewire power of various indie Midwest guitar bands and the thick cloaks of noise found billowing through classic shoegaze songs. Singer Erik Uppenberg’s lyrics explore the gouging, isolating forces of prejudice, objectification, and ableism in music and culture among other themes affecting identity and the heart.

Fascinator was founded in 2022 by friends and neighbors Jarrett Dapier and Erik Uppenberg. The two bonded over favorite music – a bond that grew as they began writing music together. Adding Ed Jaffe on bass in 2023 brought a heft and cohering force to the band that led quickly to writing their first 4 songs.

After hearing early demos, drummer and composer Matt Walker (The Smashing Pumpkins, Filter, Cupcakes, Morrissey, Garbage, of1000faces) signed on to produce and mix the band’s first EP. In November 2023, Fascinator recorded what would become the Trust Falls EP with Walker and engineer Scott Tallarida at Trigger Chicago across one single, brutal afternoon.

In 2024, Fascinator released the product of that session: the Trust Falls EP. On it, the band explores the contrast between bursts of distortion and powerful, unexpected rhythms in four songs that feature vast sonic range and thoughtful, personal storytelling.