Hot Water MusicVows

No matter how you slice it, Florida punk veterans Hot Water Music are a rare band.

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After all, how many groups can stick it out for 30 years, survive two separate breakups, and come through it on the other side without having lost any of their original members? 

Maybe it’s a testament to their camaraderie, or the fact that any other iteration of the group wouldn’t capture that magic, but it’s clear that their tenacity and longevity is something to be admired. Add in the fact that 30 years down the line, they’re still knocking out amazing records like Vows, and you’ve got the formula for a band unlike any other.

Arriving two years on from Feel The Void, there’s a certain feeling of triumph that runs through the veins of Vows. An undeniable tribute to their three decades together, it captures that very essence that made them such a renowned band in their earliest days. Of course, diehard followers won’t necessarily find themselves catered to, but one could argue that’s been the case for years. You won’t find the scrappy, instinctual sounds of their earliest releases, and you won’t find a band doing their best to fill every second of the record with noise.

They’ve continued to mature, yet never turned their back on that youthful energy that’s underpinned their entire career, and we’re all better for it.

Instead, you see a band that has matured, respecting their audience with a collection of songs that showcase their myriad abilities. The fast and furious tracks are still there, with Menace, Side Of The Road, and Chewing On Broken Glass vying for your attention thanks to Chuck Ragan and Chris Wollard’s vocals, but they’re complemented by the balance of Much Love or Remnants.

Attention, too, needs to be paid to the collaborative theme that also permeates the record. Though Hot Water Music have never been afraid of calling on their peers, Vows takes it to another level, welcoming the likes of Dallas Green from Alexisonfire and City And Colour, Michael ‘Popeye’ Vogelslang of Farside and Calling Hours, Daniel Fang and Brendan Yates of Turnstile, and members of Thrice and The Interrupters.

Every artist goes through growth, and every artist has a vocal legion of fans who want them to remain static; the very picture of when they first experienced them back in the day. For Hot Water Music, they couldn’t stand still if they tried, especially when a triumphant anniversary release like Vows comes calling. They’ve continued to mature, yet never turned their back on that youthful energy that’s underpinned their entire career, and we’re all better for it.