Skip to main content

Maverick Ad

Home

Main navigation

  • Home
  • Cover Stories
  • Features
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Cashbox Legacy Awards
  • Past Covers
  • Weekly Archive
The Riptides Light the Fuse with “Bad Habit” From ‘Burn After Listening’ Album

Breadcrumb

  • Home
  • The Riptides Light the Fuse with “Bad Habit” From ‘Burn After Listening’ Album
The Riptides
Fri Apr 04, 2025
Cashbox Canada

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.”

Listen on Spotify here: open.spotify.com/album/47hKLOkSal7nRYQQUpJ6qR

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?

linktr.ee/Theriptides
theriptides.bandcamp.com/
instagram.com/theriptides/?hl=en
facebook.com/TheRiptides/

Reviews
Album
The Riptides
Month: Dec 2022
Siibii Montreal-Based Queer Non-Binary Indigenous Artist Siibii Follows Up…
Umbe B Cuban Music Innovator Umbe B Captivates Listeners With Chilling…
Afrotronix Montreal’s Afro-Futuristic Afrotronix Releases RUN AWAY TA…
Broken Wolves Toronto Dark-Folk Luminaries Broken Wolves Mourn Lost Dreams On "The…
Carla Muller Canadian Folk Artist Carla Muller Crystallizes The Meditative…
CHRIS ANTONIK Caps 2022 With “Learning To Love You” CHRIS ANTONIK Caps 2022 With “Learning To Love You”
FOG Blues & Brass Band Kitchener/Waterloo's FOG Blues & Brass Band Put the Swing in…
Canadian Country Artist Lynne Taylor Donovan Offers Special Holiday Wishes with “Dear Santa” Canadian Country Artist Lynne Taylor Donovan Offers Special…
Ron Robertson Ron Robertson Releases Second Album “Bristol”
Techno Westerns Toronto-Based Pop Outfit Techno Westerns Dazzle On “Mystery Man”
The Otherness Says “We Can Be One” With Dreamy New Single The Otherness Says “We Can Be One” With Dreamy New Single
Sharron Katz Singer-Songwriter Sharron Katz Releases Double A-Side For The…
Month: Jan 2023
Blaine Walker Blaine Walker Releases New Anthem In “Party In The 6ix”
Dillon Ryan & The Dream Romantic Dillon Ryan & The Dream Romantic Release Madchester Vibe in New…
Low Budget Rock Star Low Budget Rock Star Pay Tribute To Passing Of Drummer In “More Than Ever”

Pagination

  • First page « First
  • Previous page ‹ Previous
  • …
  • Page 86
  • Page 87
  • Page 88
  • Page 89
  • Current page 90
  • Page 91
  • Page 92
  • Page 93
  • Page 94
  • …
  • Next page Next ›
  • Last page Last »

CEO/PUBLISHER/EDITOR IN CHIEF
SANDY GRAHAM

email:sandygrahamemg@gmail.com 

Canadian Journalists:

Contributing Journalist - Canada and Global
Don Graham
email: dongrahamwriter@gmail.com

Contributing Journalist - Canada and Global
Lisa Hartt
email: lisahartt87@hotmail.com

Contributing Journalist - Canada 
Michael Williams
email: greydread@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

International Journalists:

Contributing Journalist - Sweden
Malin Osth
email: malin@musicdays.se

Contributing Journalist - Sweden
Jonas Tancred
email: jonas@musicdays.se

Contributing Journalist - USA
Rob Durkee 
email: rockster2746@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Web Developer/Technical Support
Chris Wardman

email: info@chriswardman.com
website: chriswardman.com

Cashbox Cover Design and Graphic Artist
Jain McMillan

email: jainmcmillan@gmail.com

Contributing Photographer 
Tracey Savein - South Paw Productions
southpawproductions@rogers.com

 

 

 

Footer menu

  • Home
  • Features
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Cashbox Archive
  • Issue Archive
  • Past Covers