Hot Water Music – Vows (Album Review)

Hot Water Music – Vows
Released: 10th May, 2024

Lineup

Chuck Ragan | Vocals & Guitars
Chris Wollard | Vocals & Guitars
Chris Cresswell | Vocals & Guitars
Jason Black | Bass
George Rebelo | Drums

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“Lead a life, the best we know.” – ‘It’s Hard To Know’, No Division, Chuck Ragan, Hot Water Music 1999.

It is perhaps unlikely that Chuck Ragan knew when he gloriously and gruffly sung the above mentioned lyrics for ‘It’s Hard To Know’, from Hot Water Music’s critically acclaimed third LP No Division released in 1999, how much those seven words would flawlessly epitomise the Southern gospel punk rockers’ lifetime. Nearing 30 years of existence, the band have undergone their peaks and valleys (two short hiatuses are unbelievably a part of their history), yet they consistently released arguably some of the most memorable and influential punk-fused-post hardcore the world has been fortunate enough to experience.

They lead a life, the best they know.

Hot Water’s 10th studio album Vows is only days away from being released and without revealing too much this early in the article, it acts to a degree like their astonishing autobiography. Harnessing their gravel-soul-punk originality but with another outstanding step forwards in their sound evolution; dare this writer says it, the quintet has showcased their best from a lifetime of punk craftsmanship. Thankfully they have also brought their musical friends from different eras of their career onboard to help tell this spellbinding story.

“Do we suffer only to recover? Coming up for air before the cycle takes me in.
Suffocating, aspirations fading. Coming up for air until the cycle starts again.”
Doesn’t this chorus to the opening track and single ‘Menace’ read like the preface to the previously mentioned autobiography almost too perfectly? HWM remarkably go above and beyond that idea, they converted this prestigious poetry into probably the catchiest hook they have written, and its delivery by newest member (since 2017) The Flatliners’ Chris Cresswell is magnetic. It is possibly the closest tune the five-piece have to the pop-punk genre, but it is Ragan’s charismatic coarseness interchanging with Cresswell’s charming croon that amazingly arrests the listeners to most likely stop in their tracks, and become fully enraptured by its exquisiteness.

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What is even more fantastically haunting is how well that chorus fits with describing the “need” that Hot Water Music encounter to regroup and create. Their life’s Vows perhaps?
‘Searching For Light’ acts like a reverse mirror to 2022’s ‘Habitual’; if the latter was the question, then the former is the answer. Musically they are similar, Chuck steers the ship with his empowering gruff conviction that nearly brings wholesome tears to the eyes of the observers. However, it’s the anthemic stomping chorus that will have fans howling at the ceilings; it is almighty in its incredible essence.

‘Burn Forever’ has Chris Cresswell taking the lead in an indie-punk fusion with popcore enthralments. In all honesty, his position in HWM has amplified where the five-piece are able to take their adored sound. The energy that Chuck and Chris Wollard deliver vocally from Cresswell’s melodies are simply, thrilling.

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‘Trusty Chords’, ‘Remedy’, ‘Rooftops’, ‘Drag My Body’ and numerous others are considered Hot Water’s best and strongly demanded in their live performances every night. These are undoubtedly many of their global favourites, until now. ‘After The Impossible’ is in all probability, the song to awaken thousands more to the sensation that is Hot Water Music. Mr Ragan begins with an enchanting husky serenade that Bruce Springsteen would almost certainly admire, it is impossibly powerful with its “less is more” approach and truthfully, Chuck has never sounded better. The heartland rock and immeasurable soul present in the first 35 seconds are as, or even more illustrious than what The Gaslight Anthem have delivered in years, part of which is enhanced by a soon-to-be-mentioned companion. The Americana element then hits with a love song sentiment and extraordinarily it is still Hot Water Music, but it just continues to build in every captivating capacity. Around the three-quarter mark of the compelling composition enters a familiar angelic voice that an immeasurable amount of music fans swoon for, Dallas Green of City & Colour and Alexisonfire fame. This guest spot creates an illustrious atmosphere that is interrupted sublimely when the duet between Chuck and Dallas takes flight, and the track follows with a brilliant “loud vs quiet” interplay.

This single is made for stadiums.

A very difficult one to follow, however, HWM do so gallantly with a different spirit – a more hard indie rock orientation with punk vitality; ‘Remnants’ even has hints of Them Crooked Vultures that seem to filter through the catchy adventure. Jason Black’s bass efforts are tremendously tantalising on the track and shine through accentuating the infectious aspects. The contributions from Brendan Yates and Daniel Fang of Turnstile assuredly amplify the song to another dimension superbly.

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‍‘Chewing On Glass’ is classic Hot Water’ and Chris Wollard puts his best foot forward with punk radiance and moments of alt-folk-rock flirtations. ‘Fences’ amazingly escalates the vitality again, a collaboration with long-time friends California’s experimental rock quartet Thrice, this song is probably the most ambitious in HWM’s discography. Thrice’s presence is immensely felt at the halfway point of the track; remarkable components of volumes three and four of The Alchemy Index and then that engaging pop: “Woah oh-ah-oh” of ‘In Exile’ weave their way wonderfully into the track’s DNA. To be frank, it’s perplexing why an artistic undertaking between these two acts hasn’t happened until now.

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is the poppy emocore curveball. Chris Cresswell delivers a breathtaking infectious gem that allows all the Water’ gentlemen to run wild: Heavy moments, tender intermissions, yells, croons, post-rock ripples and even some hardcore energy all mixed into a thundering exploration. It must be heard to be believed; it may also be divisive – but give it time, get a ‘Better Sense’.

‘Wildfire’ is a very suiting title as it harnesses hostility. The aggressor of the album, it unhesitatingly exposes an anguish that acts as a dark horse on this journey. By no means is it without strength; truthfully, this is an irate statement that many music enthusiasts would relate to. Perhaps the best way to describe it is with a question: Do you need Rage Against The Machine vigour but with punk instruction? Turn this up. The spoken word contribution by Calling Hours from Farside boosts the antagonism exceptionally.

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is the hug we all need in these difficult times; try to not repeat this heartstring grasper, this writer dares you. ‘Touch The Sun’ is exactly that, extreme heat; the five-piece indisputably know how to write a circle-pit instigator. Mr Cresswell surprisingly ignites the punk flame with stunningly charged vigour in silvery splendour – it is fast, it is harmonious and there is even a groove breakdown to push fellow enthusiasts around to. Florida’s finest know how to Light It Up.

To close, ‘Much Love’ and its delicate beginnings acknowledges Further Seems Forever’s ‘Light Up Ahead’ beautifully (Rest in power Jon Bunch). Chuck Ragan gifts another righteous performance, a brilliant ballad of eloquence with magnificent huskiness that is complimented by Aimee Interrupter and Kevin Bivona of the ska-punk act The Interrupters. It is the closer that will take the air from your lungs, the focus from your life’s difficulties and leave you with a new hope.

Did you know that Thrice first toured with Hot Water Music in 2001? Did you know Alexisonfire first toured with HWM in 2004? Did you know Turnstile are in fact named after a track on Hot Water’s debut full-length Fuel For The Hate Game released in 1997?

Hot Water Music have lived up to their (probably unknown) prophecy: “Lead a life, the best we know.”
These Vows will ‘Burn Forever’.

Hot Water Music – Vows tracklisting:

1. Menace
2. Searching For Light
3. Burn Forever
4. After The Impossible (feat. Dallas Green)
5. Remnants (feat. Daniel Fang and Brendan Yates)
6. Chewing On Broken Glass
7. Fences (feat. Thrice)
8. Side Of The Road
9. Wildfire (feat. Popeye Vogelsang)
10. Bury Us All
11. Touch The Sun
12. Much Love (feat. The Interrupters)

Rating: 10/10
Vows is out Friday, May 10th via Equal Vision / Cooking Vinyl Australia. Pre-Order here
Review by Will Oakeshott @TeenWolfWill