Since the release of their 2022 debut album Pax Americana, Bad Optics has made lineup changes, toured the West Coast, and released an EP. Now, they're ready to return with a new set of powerhouse songs that prove why they are a formidable force within the punk rock scene.

In March 2025, the band gave us a first taste of what’s to come with the single “Falling from High Places.” This song is a high-octane, melodic triumph with a thick riff that begs you to jump into a mosh pit.

As to why they chose this as the first single, drummer Joshua Ihler said, “That originally wasn’t going to be. When we got the first mixes back, that was the worst-sounding one out of all of them. We had another one in mind, but after the final mixes it went from the worst to best. But that one is good just because it’s short and high energy.”

You can watch the music video for this song on their YouTube page. Guitarist, vocalist, and primary songwriter Christian J. Hidell, who directed and edited the video, spoke about the inspiration behind its creation. Hidell describes it as a “surrealist stew of imagery that expresses the exhaust of performing senseless tasks. It represents a life that turns one into a faceless ghoul like those shown in the video.” Hidell also made sure to remind us that he “really likes David Lynch.”

The song’s lyric—“Picture on the mantle frame of a dead dove in a verdant field. I obediently wait for you to catch my gaze so I can feel. Sybil's on the edge of the room. Violets slowly come into bloom. Giants lumbering in the hall. Pulling me up out of her thrall”—is an example of 19th-century-style Romanticism viewed through an avant-garde lens. These surreal, poetic lines pair well with the frantic energy of the music.

Regarding lyrics throughout the album, the band expressed: “This record was written with the purpose of being a full album. Every song on it was sort of written to complement the other songs. So, there are lyrical themes that carry over—a lot of religious imagery tied with apocalyptic feelings. It’s all very abstract.” They set out to avoid “hyper specifics” in the lyrics, which has been their usual approach.

While The Bounded World by no means abandons the fast-paced, psycho-sounding punk rock style of their previous releases, the record presents a clear evolution for a band looking to avoid cliché approaches to songwriting within the rock genre. Songs like “Heaven in Disguise,” “Behold! The Disappointment Machine,” “Spectral Streams Quenched Sad Upon the Point of Flames,” and the album’s title track widen their sonic palette by adding keys, bells, and complex vocal harmonies.

A few of these musical progressions came with the addition of new guitarist Alex Warton, who joined the band in 2023. “Alex has brought a very different sort of tonal palette to the band that wasn’t there before, and I think we’re a lot better for it,” said Hidell.

Warton shares a mutual sense of enthusiasm about being in Bad Optics. “It’s good to have a band that has clear goals in mind. The music is fun, everyone is good at their instruments. It’s great.”

To promote the album, the band is embarking on a West Coast tour throughout the month of May. They’re especially excited to play their new songs for people, particularly “Tomorrow I Will Be Perfect.” All of the members collectively feel it’s their favorite track. “It’s my favorite song to play, and I think it’s perfect toward the end of the album,” said Ihler.

Looking ahead, Bad Optics hopes to play shows beyond the West Coast and continue writing new material that avoids pigeonholing. 'As far as the music goes, I want to keep trying different things,' said Hidell.

You can listen to The Bounded World on all streaming platforms starting April 30. Make sure to catch them in a city near you—they’ll be playing at Seattle’s Baba Yaga on May 15.