Jim Lindberg of Pennywise Announces New Album with The Black Pacific

Jim Lindberg of Pennywise Announces New Album with The Black Pacific

By Ace Hartmann | Racketeer Broadcast Association  |

Jim Lindberg, the iconic lead singer and songwriter of the legendary California skate punk band Pennywise, has announced a new album with his side project, The Black Pacific. The album, titled Here Comes Our Wave, is set to be released on September 20th through Toronto-based Dine Alone Records, home to acts like The Dirty Nil, Jimmy Eat World, and NOBRO.

Here Comes Our Wave marks The Black Pacific’s first release in over a decade, following their self-titled debut album in 2010. The album features 11 tracks written and performed by Lindberg, alongside his longtime friend and collaborator, drummer Alan Vega. The record was produced, mixed, and mastered by Paul Miner (Touche Amore, Death By Stereo, H2O) at Buzzbomb Studios in Orange, CA during two recording sessions in the spring and fall of 2023.

Lindberg, known for his prolific songwriting for Pennywise, explained the motivation behind the project: “I’ve been writing songs for Pennywise and various projects for many years, and I’ve amassed a catalog of hundreds of demos, literally boxes of cassette tapes from the last few decades,” he said. “Some of the songs weren’t right for Pennywise, and I worked on them with Alan from The Black Pacific so it just made sense to put out under that name. I think the knee-jerk reaction will be to say it all sounds like Pennywise, but I wrote the music and lyrics for more than half of every Pennywise album we made together after Jason our bass player passed away, so I think it’s more accurate to say that Pennywise sounds like me, not the other way around! When I pick up an electric guitar this is the music that comes out of me, regardless of what name it comes out under.”

The album opens with the high-energy lead single “I Think I’m Paranoid,” a track that Lindberg describes as a “panic attack with distorted guitars at 120 Beats Per Minute.” The song addresses the pervasive issues of senseless violence, terrorism, and government conspiracies, updated to reflect the current climate of hate groups, militias, and global pandemics.

The intensity doesn’t let up throughout the album, with tracks like “No Fun,” which delves into the chaos inflicted by sociopath dictators around the world, and the relentless “Here We Come,” which warns of the encroaching threat of artificial intelligence taking over jobs and potentially humanity itself. Lindberg’s lyrics reflect the growing millennial angst and the urgent need to address the self-destructive tendencies that plague society. “I’ve always felt the need to purge my frustration with our self-defeating tendency to want to destroy ourselves and the planet in a never-ending quest for power, dominance and greed, and that message is more urgent than ever so I didn’t want to wait any longer to put these songs out,” Lindberg explained.

However, not all tracks are steeped in despair. Songs like “Float Away” offer a rare glimpse into Lindberg’s softer side, as he fantasizes about escaping to a faraway place with his wife. In “I Won’t Let You Down,” he reflects on the endurance of their relationship, finding solace in the simple joys of life together. The album’s closing title track, “Here Comes Our Wave,” serves as a poignant ode to Lindberg’s lifelong passion for surfing, capturing the sense of freedom and escape he finds in the ocean.

Here Comes Our Wave is a powerful, thought-provoking album that reflects Lindberg’s duality of resignation and hope. While it confronts the harsh realities of a flawed world, it also finds solace in the bonds of love and nature, offering a glimmer of hope that these connections can guide us through even the stormiest of seas.

Fans of Pennywise and The Black Pacific alike will find much to appreciate in this long-awaited follow-up, as Lindberg’s signature style continues to evolve while staying true to the punk roots that have defined his career.