If the world feels like it’s gone off the rails, it’s because it has—and The Riptides have the soundtrack for it. Fueled by a post-pandemic punk-rock panic attack and loaded with melodies that hit like a right hook, Burn After Listening is the Ottawa band’s most audacious record to date. Their third single “Bad Habit” is out now—an infectious slice of pop-punk perfection that slams like Green Day but with the heart and hangups of a bruised romantic. Think The Clash at their catchiest, Screeching Weasel at their wittiest, and The Queers with just the right amount of existential dread.
From the pounding pulse of “Bad Habit” to the chaos-soaked cover art by Ottawa visual wizard Andrew Beck, The Riptides are taking no prisoners. “This record was born in the weirdest time,” the band shares. “There was so much uncertainty, and it gave us room to really go deep. Lyrically, it’s satire, reflection, and frustration—wrapped up in fast hooks and shout-along choruses.”
Written during the darkest days of lockdown, Burn After Listening is a punk-rock grenade lobbed directly into the absurdity of the world. The Riptides decamped to The Blasting Room in Fort Collins, Colorado, where engineer Andrew Berlin and mastering legend Jason Livermore (Descendents, NOFX) helped the band fine-tune every jagged edge. The result is a record that’s sharp, shiny, and primed to explode.
And explode it does. “Bad Habit,” with its punchy chorus—”You’re a bad habit that I don’t wanna quit”—is a full-blown power-pop anthem that’ll make you question every decision you’ve ever made at 2AM. It’s the type of song you scream along to while speeding down the highway with a broken heart and a pack of regrets. Teenage Bottlerocket’s drummer Darren Chewka and guitarist Kody jumps in on this one, and you can hear the adrenaline in every riff. “Having them on the track was unreal,” the band says. “We grew up on their stuff.”
But they didn’t stop there. The album also features guest vocals from Heavy Kevy of Insanity Alert and Merel from Dutch punk outfit Lone Wolf, each adding firepower to tracks like “Bottom Feeder” and “Get Over You.” “We called in some favours from friends we love and respect,” says the band. “They helped make this album bigger than we ever imagined.”
In their own words, “Every song has its own identity, but together they make up a record that keeps you on your toes. We still sound like us, but this one pushed us creatively—sometimes into uncomfortable places. But that’s what punk is all about, right?”
And Burn After Listening is punk with purpose—rebellion with a melody and a mission. It’s a middle finger to stagnation and a love letter to those still figuring it all out. “This is us pulling apart the mess and making something loud, fast, and real. We don’t have all the answers, but we’ve got killer harmonies and a ton of distortion.”
Catch The Riptides live when they bring their sonic mayhem to Ottawa very shortly. Expect sweat, shouting, maybe some spilled beer—and a whole lot of catharsis.
“You’re a bad habit that I just cannot quit…” And with songs this good, why would you even try?
