Photo: Brent Broza

**PENNYWISE Frontman JIM LINDBERG Announces New Release from His Band THE BLACK PACIFIC**

Jim Lindberg, the lead singer and songwriter for the long-running California skate punk band PENNYWISE, has announced the upcoming release of an 11-song album with his side project, THE BLACK PACIFIC. Titled *Here Comes Our Wave*, the album is set to drop on September 20 via Dine Alone Records. The LP was meticulously recorded, mixed, and mastered by Paul Miner (known for his work with TOUCHÉ AMORÉ, DEATH BY STEREO, and H2O) at Buzzbomb Studios in Orange, California, across two sessions in the spring and fall of 2023.

THE BLACK PACIFIC first introduced themselves with their self-titled debut album in 2010 on SideOneDummy Records. Similar to the new LP, all songs were written and performed by Lindberg, incorporating the talents of his longtime collaborator and drummer, Alan Vega.

“I’ve been crafting songs for PENNYWISE and other projects for many years, amassing a vault of hundreds of demos, including literal boxes of cassette tapes from the past few decades,” says Lindberg. “Some of these tracks didn’t quite fit PENNYWISE, so I collaborated with Alan from THE BLACK PACIFIC, making sense to release them under this name. While many might be quick to label it all as sounding like PENNYWISE, I’ve contributed to over half of the music and lyrics for every PENNYWISE album since our bassist Jason passed away. So, it’s more accurate to say PENNYWISE sounds like me, not the other way around. When I pick up an electric guitar, this is the music that emerges, regardless of the name it’s released under.”

The album kicks off with the high-octane, lead-off single “I Think I’m Paranoid.” Lindberg explains, “This track has been with me for some time, initially inspired by senseless violence, terrorism, government conspiracies, and divisiveness. I’ve since updated it to reflect current issues like hate groups, militias, and global pandemics. Essentially, it’s a panic attack set to distorted guitars at 120 beats per minute.”

The momentum doesn’t subside throughout the album. Tracks like “No Fun” critique sociopath dictators wreaking havoc on innocents, while the relentless “Here We Come” addresses the looming threat of A.I. usurping jobs and potentially humanity itself. The album’s lyrics are timely, capturing the prevalent millennial angst that is increasingly palpable across the globe.

“I’ve always felt the need to channel my frustration with humanity’s self-destructive tendencies—our relentless quest for power, dominance, and greed that jeopardizes both ourselves and the planet. That message is more urgent than ever, so I didn’t want to wait any longer to share these songs,” Lindberg adds.

However, amidst the critique, some tracks reflect a sense of resignation and hope. “Float Away” is a rare love song where Lindberg dreams of building a raft to escape with his wife. “I Won’t Let You Down” tenderly appreciates their shared resilience, celebrating their journey and enjoying sunsets, while “the flash of green” glows through the golden horizon. The album’s closing title track serves as Lindberg’s ‘love song to a wave.’ As a lifelong surfer, you can sense that he finds solace and escape from worldly chaos through surfing and family time.

*Here Comes Our Wave* is a powerful, thought-provoking follow-up to THE BLACK PACIFIC’s debut, capturing a resigned understanding of our flawed world and an enduring belief that love and nature might help navigate the stormiest of seas.

HERE COMES OUR WAVE Tracklist:
01. I Think I’m Paranoid
02. Superhero
03. No Fun
04. Won’t Make a Sound
05. Here We Come
06. Best Day Ever
07. When Paper Burns
08. Float Away
09. It’s Gone
10. Won’t Let You Down
11. Here Comes Our Wave