In the fluorescent glow of a Maryland rehearsal space, Teen Mortgage stands poised at their most pivotal moment — the imminent release of ‘Devil Ultrasonic Dream’, their Roadrunner Records debut that transforms 1980s moral panic into a searing commentary on modern America.
The duo — James on guitar and vocals, Ed manning the drums — have been crafting their particular brand of defiant punk energy since their early days in the UK, before James made the pivotal decision to relocate to Maryland roughly five years ago. That transatlantic journey hasn’t just been geographical; it’s shaped the very essence of what Teen Mortgage would become.
“Opening for Weezer and Smashing Pumpkins was pretty sick,” James reflects, seated during a break between rehearsal sets. “Playing in the arenas and then watching their sets every night was a huge learning experience.” The path to those arena stages hasn’t always been straightforward, but it’s been marked by moments of pure punk-rock magic — like when “Ed launched faygo bottles on stage with Insane Clown Posse at their set at Aftershock.” It’s the kind of detail that perfectly encapsulates the spirit of Teen Mortgage: serious about their art, but never above embracing the chaotic joy of rock.
Their debut album ‘Devil Ultrasonic Dream’ emerged from the spaces between shows, a collection that started as something far more expansive than what would eventually make the final cut. “The songs were written in between touring last year,” the band explains. “We would continually add demos to a SoundCloud playlist, and it totalled 23 songs by the time we wanted to record. Then we picked the best 11 songs.”
The creative process wasn’t without its challenges. As they note, “Over-analysing and over-listening can damage your perception of a song – you have to rest your ear and remember why you made your creative decisions.” It’s a lesson in trusting one’s instincts, particularly when crafting something as politically charged as ‘Devil Ultrasonic Dream’.
The album’s thematic exploration of 1980s satanic panic imagery isn’t just an aesthetic choice — it’s a deliberate commentary on contemporary American society. “We’ve always been interested in horror and the occult and how its symbolism relates to the real world,” they explain. “In the US, theocratic fascism and the corporate gutting of the working class has been on the rise since Reagan was president in the 80s. It’s a lot more obvious now under this current administration. Devil Ultrasonic Dream draws the parallel between then and now.”
This willingness to engage with controversial religious imagery is a brave move. “Not yet,” they respond when asked about backlash, before sharing an amusing anecdote: “A while ago, someone on Reddit tried to implicate us in the Pizzagate conspiracy” – a viral 2016 alt-right conspiracy about a paedophilia ring that operated out of a Washington pizza restaurant – “because we were releasing an EP through King Pizza Records and did the release show at Comet Ping Pong. James unwittingly fanned the flames by wearing a Thrasher skategoat shirt in the promo photo for the show. The Reddit post was like the Q Anon version of the Pepe Silvia scene in It’s Always Sunny.”
The album represents more than just musical evolution — it’s helped crystallise their identity as musicians. “We learned how to realise our mission statement as a band,” they reflect. That mission seems increasingly global in scope, with the band expressing hopes that this record will take them “All over the world; we have wanted to tour Australia for a hot minute now.”
Even as they prepare to launch ‘Devil Ultrasonic Dream’, other projects simmer in the background. “Ed’s band Tired All The Time has new music coming out this year,” they mention, while their own future plans are cryptically expressed in three words: “Deepen the lore.”
Their parting words cut straight to the heart of what Teen Mortgage represent: “Free Palestine. Protect trans kids. Solidarity forever – that’s what makes the union strong.” It’s a statement that positions them firmly within punk’s tradition of political engagement, addressing some of 2025’s most urgent concerns. At a time of increasing censorship and political polarisation, their embrace of unflinching social commentary is necessary resistance.
The fact that fans are already getting Teen Mortgage tattoos — something the band describe as “mind-blowing” — suggests they’re tapping into something that resonates far beyond mere provocative imagery or catchy hooks. They’re articulating anxieties and hopes that feel particularly relevant to this moment in history, all while creating music that demands to be experienced.
Teen Mortgage’s album ‘Devil Ultrasonic Dream’ is out now.
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