Hot Water Music - "Light It Up"

This may come as a surprise, but Hot Water Music were one of the first punk bands I was exposed to.  From the first time I heard the intensity of vocalist Chuck Ragan booming over these Post-Hardcore blasts, I was totally invested.  But when it comes to their debut album, "Fuel for the Hate Game", I have some mixed feelings.  There are certainly great things about this album, and all of the classic Hot Water Music elements are there.  But I feel like this album is a little rough around the edges for me.  Not to mention, just too much of the album was dedicated to the band really defining their sound I felt.  Thankfully though, Hot Water Music quickly picked up the pace with 1997's "Forever and Counting".  While this album still didn't quite pack the punch as the band eventually, this album was loads more memorable.  From the Post-Hardcore and Emo influence on "Manual" to the punchy and memorable "Just Don't Say You Lost It", this album had plenty going for it.  But Vocalist Chuck Ragan still was finding his voice, and on tracks like "Position" and "Translocation" there seemed to be a disconnect between him and the rest of the band.  Hot Water Music continued to be just south of the mark with their next album, "No Division".  The tracks were suddenly much punchier, and tracks like "Rooftops" and "Jet Set Ready" were instant classics for the band.  But there were still so many moments that were mediocre.  Hot Water Music in 2001 however, released their first true classic album, "A Flight and a Crash".  The tracks on this album were just so much more focused and punchy.  For the first time, I really felt a strong connection between Chuck and the rest of the band, as he started penning some of his catchiest and most aggressive tunes like "Jack of All Trades'.  It was only a matter of time before Hot Water Music released their first true classic, "Caution".  This album was almost completely perfect with passionate track after passionate track.  Songs like "Remedy" and "One Step To Slip" have simply become synonymous with the Hot Water Music sound, and it's a must listen to album.  But shortly after Hot Water Music released "The New What Next", and I have no idea what happened on there.  There were certainly good tunes like "All Heads Down".  But tracks like "Keep It Together" and "Under Everything" had absolutely no meat to them whatsoever.  Hot Water Music then took some time off, about 8 years.  They returned in 2012 however, with "Exister".  This album, while it wasn't as hard-hitting and passionate as early albums, showed Hot Water Music sounding refreshed and still easily able to throw together a decent Punk tune.  So it's been about 5 years since we heard from Hot Water Music.  Once again, these singles, for the most part, have sounded pretty rejuvenated, so let's talk about this album.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZUbuVokKc8

( Honestly, one of the first Punk tracks I was ever exposed to)

This album starts off with “Complicated”, and it’s a very promising intro honestly.  I love the brooding sounds at the intro that just explode into this track which just has so much energy to it.  To be honest, as far as this sound goes, the classic Hot Water Music sound, Chuck and the rest of Hot Water Music sound like they’re doing fantastic.  I’ve been iffy about their group vocals at some times in the past, mostly because Chuck is such a gigantic lead singer.  But man, the group vocals actually sound great here and give this one such a unified sound.  Even lyrically, the boys sound completely refreshed, almost to a level which rivals some of the material on “Caution”. “Complicated” is a booming, explosive intro that reminds us who Hot Water Music are.  And while this track is almost 4 minutes long, it’s so anthemic that I really don’t mind.   Then we have “Light It Up” which is easily some of the most Hardcore influenced and explosive material that I’ve heard from the band possibly ever.  Chuck’s performance on this one really isn’t like him at all, as he jerks around different sounds and octaves constantly.  I’ll be honest though, he pulls it off very well.  Not to mention, the group vocals continue to work really well for the group.  And at the very least, it makes it a little less obvious that the band is getting up there in age.  So hell yes this works really well for the band, I don’t even mind that “Light It Up” is only a minute and a half”.  So far, I’m really impressed with just how sonically great this album is sounding.  “Show Your Face” continues to show that the boys really know the classic sound down that they know people want to hear.  This one is a little more on the rails and steady, but man, it works really nicely.  Chuck sounds just as ravenous as always, and he continues to sound even bigger with these gigantic group vocals.  This is just a by the books Hot Water Music tune.  But sadly, that’s what sort of leads this album to it’s downfall to an extent.  Take for example “Never Going Back”, which sadly really doesn’t cut it for me.  In a lot of ways, this is just too much of a “comeback” single”.  I feel like this one is all about focusing way too hard on the past and not just looking towards the future which I sort of just wish they would do.  The instrumental doesn’t have the slightest bit of edge to it, and there are sure as hell no Post-Hardcore influences in sight.  However, I do have to give credit where it’s due, Chuck sounds brilliant and impassioned.  I just wish some of the kinks were more ironed out on this one. 

    Sadly though, halfway through the album a LOT of these tracks just start blending together.  On “Rabbit Key”, I really can’t tell this riff apart from any of the earlier riffs.  Not to mention, Chuck sounds like he’s half asleep on this track, and he’s usually a major reason I love Hot Water Music.  I’m not really sure what happened to the triumphant sound of the earlier tracks here, that celebrated a great thing instead of just constantly dwelling in the past.  Even the group vocals on this one seem completely uninterested with what’s going on.  It’s moments like this that just make me wish this album didn’t happen.  “Sympathizer” is up next, and is actually a big step back in the Post-Hardcore direction, which is certainly the right direction.  I do love just how crunchy and intense this riff is.  Chuck also does seem to be back awake at least, as he’s back to sounding at least sort of like himself.  But the sluggish pace of “Sympathizer” is putting me to sleep.  I do think this one still has a lot going for it.  I love the grungier sounding instrumental and all of that.  But Hot Water Music really do need to give me a little wake-up call here.  Because minute by minute this album is getting safer and safer.  However, I do really love the vocal performances in the last minute which actually end up being some of the most passionate of the album.  Thankfully, “Vultures” is the sort of wake-up call I really need.  I love just how determined this riff is, and just how rough Chuck’s vocals come off.  As far as an abrasive track goes, this may be the most explosive track here.  The group vocals continue to be a huge part of this album, which I do think really shows that Hot Water Music still have a lot to give us.  But after a few tracks that have really underwhelmed me, “Vultures” shows a whole lot of promise.  It’s explosive and oddly hypnotic between the backing vocals and Chuck’s repeated chorus.  “Bury Your Idols” on the other hand is a little smoother, which I’m totally fine with since the instrumentals seem just as driving.  However, I don't know why, but these vocals here from Chuck aren’t cutting it for me.  I feel like he’s seriously having to reach for some of these vocals on the verses.  It’s just not nearly as interesting as I would have hoped it would have been.  However, Hot Water Music do save “Bury Your Idols” with a big, sing-a-long chorus the likes that they would have put together many years ago.  This album continues to be very average at best, which isn’t too bad at this point in their career, but I certainly wish I could say more. 

    “Overload” is up next, which certainly packs the punch instrumentally that I really needed to hear.  But my God, these vocals here are just a serious disconnect.  First off, Chuck, what the hell happened?  He started off the album sounding so refreshed.  But on this track, he sounds like he’s already bored with this album and would much rather be doing something else.  He barely even sounds into the chorus, which is easily the tamest one we’ve heard here in quite some time.  Nothing about “Overload” seriously clicks with me.  And while yes, the instrumentals are upbeat and lively, nothing actually coincides with the energy coming from them.  On the other hand, Hot Water Music seem to seriously take their time with the intro of “High-Class Catastrophe”.  It ends up helping them out a whole lot.  On this one, Chuck sounds seriously passionate once again, and it’s as if to him this performance actually means something.  This may not be the most exciting or life-changing instrumental.  But “High-Class Catastrophe” overall really works well in my book.  It’s good to hear the boys taking everything that made them so great years ago and packaging it up as nicely as they still can.   It’s rough, it’s a little grunge, and it’s easily one of the most emotional tunes here.  Honestly, if they gave me an album of all material like this, I would be thrilled.  And out of nowhere, “Hold Out is the sort of invigorating track that I’ve been dying to hear from them.  While this isn’t Chuck’s most memorable performance here, it’s still decent.  Overall, “Hold Out” is simply put, is a passionate track from one of Post Hardcore’s finest.  And while this isn’t as gruff and rough as some of the band’s earlier material, I can’t help but want to sing along with this one.  So it’s certainly not like Hot Water Music CANT still write compelling material.  But sadly Hot Water Music really don’t end this album off on a high note.  Moments into “Take You Away”, this one is rubbing me all sorts of wrong ways.  Chuck on this track sadly sounds ancient, and like he would rather be doing literally anything else than performing with Hot Water Music.  The sort of Southern flair to this one isn’t doing anyone any favors either.  This one literally just takes the steam out of everything good that Hot Water Music has done here sadly. 

Rating: 7.0/10

Give A Listen To: "Complicated", "Show Your Face", "Vultures", "High Class Catastrophe"

Genre : Punk Rock / Post Hardcore

If You Dig This, Check Out - Hot Water Music - "Caution". Alkaline Trio - "Good Mourning", The Gaslight Anthem - "The 59 Sound"

Overall Thoughts: This was a Punk album that I was VERY excited to hear.  I've always had such a soft spot for Hot Water Music, and I really couldn't see how this wasn't going to be a solid album.  But Hot Water Music, really aren't what they once were.  Sure, there are some explosive perofrmances and determined playing.  But so much of this album there is a major disconnect among band members.  Even Chuck Ragan often sounds like he would much rather be doing something else.