Urethane was chasing horizons when they made Chasing Horizons.

Pop-punk band Urethane was formed during the 2020 pandemic shutdown by professional skateboarder Steve Caballero, who has also played guitar with bands such as the Faction, Odd Man Out, Soda, and Shovelhead. He’s joined in Urethane by War Fever singer-guitarist Tim Fennelly (who lives in Carlsbad), Skipjack bassist Chad Ruiz (from East County), and BombPops drummer Dylan Wade (of Oceanside). Their debut album Chasing Horizons, released in September via Cyber Tracks, was produced, engineered, and mixed by Cameron Webb (Motörhead, Megadeth, Alkaline Trio, NOFX, Pennywise).

According to Caballero, “Expect part skate punk, and part emotionally-driven pop punk. Urethane’s diverse mix of hook-laden, melody-soaked songs will have a little something for every fan of the genre. The album is jam-packed with catchy choruses and melodic hooks that range from mid-tempo sing-a-longs to aggressive fist-pumping screamers. Also, it was written during quarantine, so the lyrical theme leans a bit dark.”

The album title comes from the song “Wyoming,” which bassist Chad Ruiz says is about giving up, running away, and starting over. “There is a line where the [song’s] character is on an open road chasing the horizon, and it just made sense. During the short life of this band, we have been chasing horizons non-stop. It’s that kind of fun feeling you get when you’re just out on the road going for it. We are very blessed to be chasing horizons.”

The album covers a wide range of emotions and topics. Narcissism is the subject of “Avalanches,” featuring Toby Morse of H2O. “Inheritance,” which includes Jim Lindberg of Pennywise, is said to concern “the bad traits and genetics we inherit and are forced to live with,” according to Caballero. “Love Letter Bombs” is about “being your own worst enemy,” “What You Get” concerns embattled relationships, and “What Becomes Of Us” offers one final hopeful note of “love conquering even the darkest times.”

The track “Gravity” deals with personal depression, as depicted in a music video featuring the band members performing in a cutaway household set, with each member at first separated by thick walls as they all endeavor to play in time and in tune with each other, despite the foundational barriers that separate them. Then they all come together in one room to rock out with the radio friendly pop-punk number. Shot by Mario J. Rivera, the video includes an exterior scene that sports a bit of flaming CGI trickery, taking full advantage of the videographer’s happening upon several San Diego firetrucks parked in front of a house fire and exponentially exaggerating it with special effects. The same trick is used to seemingly set fire to the video extras seen in the shot.

The “Gravity” video features artist Mark deSalvo (NOFX, Lagwagon), along with skateboarding icon and actor Kevin Staab, known from Thrashin’ (1986), Barge at Will (1989), and The Last Day of Summer (2007). Says fellow skater Caballero, who holds the long-standing record for the highest air achieved on a halfpipe, “We’re very honored to have Kevin Staab star in our video. For one, he’s such a recognizable ‘80s skateboarding legend. Dude, come on. He’s the one that invented the trick half cab back in 1983.”  

For his part, Caballero, who is of Japanese and Mexican descent, has also released a compilation CD via Sessions Records called Bandology, featuring all of his various groups over the years. One of those bands, The Faction, landed their song “Skate and Destroy” on the soundtrack of Powell Peralta’s Bones Brigade Video Show. Urethane will perform on Saturday, November 13, at the 13th annual Thanksgiving Punk Rock Food Drive, taking place all day through closing at Legacy Brewing Company in Oceanside.