A distorted guitar line weaves through an announcement of quiet return. After a four-year hiatus, the alternative rock band The Neighbourhood unveiled their long-awaited record, “(((((ultraSOUND)))))”, dropped by Warner Records on Nov. 14th, 2025.

If The Neighbourhood sounds familiar, it’s probably because of “Sweater Weather” – the moody TikTok staple that hit fourth place on Spotify’s most-streamed chart in 2019. A mix of atmospheric melodies and emotional depth, this dream pop album reels listeners in with its catchy and repetitive lyrics. 

“(((((ultraSOUND)))))” consists of 15 alt-pop earworms. The openers, “Hula Girl”, “OMG”, “Tides”, and “Mama Drama”, build momentum through shimmery synths, bouncy beats, and emotionally charged lyrics.

“Hula Girl” starts with the line, “Saw you dancin’ on my dash,”framing love as salvation at a moment of personal collapse. The instrumentals, meanwhile, sound like a scene from Mission Impossible with its restrained tempo, reinforcing the suspense.

In the subsequent “OMG,” lead singer Jesse James Rutherford croons, “Oh my god, I used to love you” – like accidentally opening an old chat with someone you want to cut ties with. This song doesn’t just reminisce; it examines how unresolved feelings continue to influence choices long after the closure.

“((((ultraSOUND)))))” leans toward an electronic, distorted sound compared to their earlier work. The heavier synths and echoey vocals feel like surround sound. Fans who adored the dreamy aesthetic of “I Love You” will appreciate the immersive callbacks to their prior selves, combined with a launchpad into the future with their new vision.

The Neighbourhood references their older work in their newer production. For example, “Mama Drama” stands out as a counterpart to their hit, “Daddy Issues.” Other similarities include Rutherford’s whispery vocals.

Lyrically, the album sits in ambiguity, drifting between half-finished conversations and love stories. Instead of a detailed storytelling of their four-year hiatus, “((((ultraSOUND)))))” feels closer to an accidental tune into someone’s private late-night monologue.

The Neighborhood retains its cinematic and shady core but levels up to a glitchy daydream rather than a sad love playlist. With their upside-down house icon trapped inside a giant speaker on the cover, “(((((ultraSOUND)))))” sounds exactly as it looks—all the static, glow, and built-up feelings from the quiet years finally blast out of their world and crash straight into ours.

Overall, a 4.5/5 for dream pop and alternative rock fans. It’s introspective and self-aware in equal measure – the perfect soundtrack for walking home after school, lying on your bed at midnight, or zoning out when your brain feels too loud.