Biography

Philadelphia’s Ultra-Lite describe themselves as ‘New Alt,’ and it’s a good way to think about it. The three songs on their EP Moldy pull from grunge, emo, and post-hardcore, and in the end resemble none of the above. It’s the sort of powerful debut that’s clearly rooted in certain sounds and styles but never feels content to simply ape its idols. So it’s doubly impressive that the band’s newest material dwarfs that EP. The band recently hit the studio with producer Joel Hamilton, and from those sessions were born “The Jewel of Cincinnati” and “Tears (for Two),” the first singles off a soon to be released LP. They’re crisper, fuller, and more immediate than anything on Moldy. “Jewel” is bouncy and bold, the kind of song that would fit as comfortably on the radio as it would on a Warped Tour sampler. “Tears” is a bit fuzzier, built on a whirring guitar riff and a hook that calls back to the heyday of early 2000s radio rock. For as fully-formed as Moldy was, these songs ratchet things up, showing off the more layered sound the band employs on the album. The riffs hit harder, the hooks pop more, and every single note comes through clear as day. These songs show off a widescreen version of the band, one that’s hungry for more. It’s a statement of intent: 2023’s Ultra-Lite’s year. “Are you even listening?” Dave Hurban croons in the chorus of “Tears,” and for your sake, I hope you are. Bio by Zac Djamoos