Don’t fret if you purchased the album before today, see the band’s post about how you can receive a free copy of the remastered version!

The album starts on a rather dark note with songs such as “Mainline” and “Boy, You’re Gonna Hurt Someone”. The songs have a more aggressive feel to them than any other song the band has written before and at times it feels like could be trying to appeal to the dark side of the Rise family. Oddly enough, after those two songs the album kicks into high gear with the upbeat and catchy “State of Grace”. The band powers through the album but the darker elements are still there. For example, on “Drown in It” and title track “Exister”, the guitar riffs almost have a Motorhead feel. The band have not lost their ability to create a powerful anthem sound though as songs like “Drag My Body” and “The Traps” have a classic garage punk sound. The best parts of the band lie in their simplicity though, such as the song “Wrong Way” which main hook is “We’re taking a wrong way / whenever / wherever we go we find something wrong”. Everyone has felt like they have made a wrong turn in life and repeatedly felt like life was kicking them to the ground. It’s the conviction that the band takes which makes it significant.

Exister is the album that Hot Water Music needed to get their feet off the ground again. Simply put, it’s a triumph. While there are songs to pick and choose from, the album works best as a whole and leaves you wanting more. This is an album that can open up doors to new fans and bring back those who grew with the band. With every Hot Water Music release, the band shows off its array of layering distorted guitar riffs, dual vocals, and a general sense of raw emotion. Exister is no exception and at times takes their signature sound above and beyond.

The band also kicks off their tour with headliner Thrice tomorrow, May 4, in San Diego. See a full list of dates at their Facebook or website (linked above) which includes Animals As Leaders on all dates.

Check back here (or their Facebook page) for more updates to come!

You can still purchase a physical copy of the 7″ released for Record Store Day at Hello Merch.

The new album is the follow-up to their critically acclaimed debut album Summer House which was independently released in June 2010.

Tracks like “Terry V Torri” will have you instantly hooked when the vocalist belts out from the get go “I’m usually not one to pick fights, but you really crossed the line”, just as the guitar chords, drums and 3 part harmonies come crashing in. The song’s bridge slows down the tempo with their trademark twinkly guitars and emotive group vocals that are reminiscent of Four Minute Mile era Get Up Kids, before breaking down into a head bobbing and melodic upbeat ending that pulls the song back together. “Medal of Honor” takes the opposite approach by starting at a slow pace over quiet guitar chimes before singer belts out “I’m not a fuckin trophy, but to you I might as well be”. This leads into another fist in the air sing along chorus of 3 track vocals, before slowing down into another head bobbing mini-breakdown. Although this may seem formulaic, You Blew It! still knows how to switch gears at the right time. “I Am, I’m Trying”, which most likely serves as track 1 to Side B of the LP, is a peaceful instrumental of layered guitar jangles that slows down both the pace and mood of the album. This is the perfect way to transition into the 2nd half of the record, and it is obvious these guys have had their dose of American Football and The Appleseed Cast. The instrumental is followed by “The Fifties”, another slow song that simply utilizes a cleaner vocal style story telling approach over a noodling guitar lead and bass line, that wouldn’t sound out of place on an Owen or Into It Over It record. The energy level of the album picks right back up on “Good for Bond, Bad For You” , a definite highlight of the record. This is the one song that manages to combine all of the above mentioned techniques utilized throughout the record into one 3.5 minute long snapshot.

You Blew It’s debut LP clearly represents a time when music wasn’t full of over polished production tricks. Instead, they opt for a more stripped down and reckless approach, but that’s what makes it work. In fact, it’s the raw production and chaotic approach that gives this album so much character and sincerity. It’s also what differentiates this band from so many of their contemporaries, who are trying to rehash the sounds of the late 90s with over-production and auto-tune. The songs on this album are honest, full of energy and a vast array of emotions, and remind me of why I fell in love with this type of music in the first place, several years ago. Complex guitar layering, quiet to loud build ups, raw fuzzy distortion, and gang vocal sing along choruses pay homage to the sounds The Get Up Kids, Promise Ring, and Cap’n Jazz helped create in the mid 90s, and without sounding forced. This record could easily fit right on Doghouse, Crank, Deep Elm, or Jade Tree’s mid/late 90s roster, while still sounding current. What I love about these guys is that they clearly know their influences and are not afraid to show it, yet they still manage to find their own sound while focusing on their greatest strengths. And although some will say they sound dated with their throwback 90s emo-punk sound, I can confidently say that they’d have no problem fitting right along side newer bands like Into it Over It, Transit or Polar Bear Club, just as well.

You Blew It! may not be breaking any new ground with their debut LP, but they do a great job of recapturing a period in time when music felt alive and honest. The album drops Tuesday April 24, so do yourself a favor and pick it up!

RIYL: The Get Up Kids, Into It. Over It., Algernon Cadwallader, Transit