Vows

Gainesville, Florida influential punk veterans Hot Water Music are excited to announce the release of their brand new and 10th studio LP titled "Vows", set for release on May 10, 2024 via Equal Vision Records. Helmed by veteran producer Brian McTernan, Vows features high-profile guest appearances from the likes of Thrice, Dallas Green (City and Colour // Alexisonfire), The Interrupters, Daniel Fang and Brendan Yates (Turnstile) and Popeye Vogelsang (Calling Hours //ex-Farside). Leading the collection is the album opener “Menace” and blistering “Burn Forever,” two towering tracks that right out of the gate illustrate the power that the members of Hot Water Music — Chuck Ragan (vocals/guitar), Chris Wollard (vocals/guitar), Chris Cresswell (vocals/guitar), Jason Black (bass) and George Rebelo (drums) – put forth across this intense and musically daring 12-song showcase. Both new singles can be streamed below.

“In this day and age, it’s easy to get caught up in day-to-day frustrations,” Ragan says about “Menace.” “What isn’t easy all the time is recognizing our ability to choose our mental state. We own the power to slow down enough to be present in our anger, realizing the paths away from hatred and preparing ourselves for the next time we cross ways with menace.” Wollard adds, “‘Burn Forever’ is about processing grief. Allowing it to happen, and also about the things we learn to help us through it.”

Three decades, 10 albums, and continuing to stand firmly as an enduring pillar of American punk, Hot Water Music remains a source of influence and inspiration for bands the world over. On the forthcoming Vows, the band’s purpose remains the same as it always was: continued evolution with a keen eye on the future. “The theme that kept coming up while working on this record was growth — how writing a song, recording an album, or being in a band is like planting a seed and helping it grow,” the band said. “We think a lot of that had to do with looking back and realizing that over 30 years, we’ve managed to make something special that we all really love.”

Additionally, Vows marks yet another brilliant chapter in the continued partnership with acclaimed producer and hardcore legend Brian McTernan, who worked with the band on 2001’s A Flight And A Crash, 2002’s Caution and 2004’s The New What Next, often thought of as Hot Water Music’s classic period. Not knowing what the endgame was, the band entered the process of writing these new songs with the simple intention of releasing music to celebrate this hard-earned milestone, be it a single, EP or full-length. What they were absolutely sure of, though, was that they didn’t want to make a new record just for the sake of it; this record had to be exciting, relentless and, above all else, necessary.

“Everyone spent a lot of time reflecting on the journey that got us here and thinking about what we want the trajectory to be from here on out while making this record,” the band summarizes. “We hope this album feels like a celebration of our history and future to everyone that hears it. That is definitely what it is and how it feels to us.”

Make sure to also catch them on their upcoming headlining 30th anniversary tour this spring with support from post-hardcore legends Quicksand.

Reviews of Vows on Release Wave

9.0

Punk Veterans Hot Water Music Release two new singles, “Remnants” feat. Turnstile AND “Fences” Feat. Thrice

March 15, 2024 - Legendary independent rock label Equal Vision Records and Hot Water Music are pleased to present “Remnants” and “Fences,” two new singles lifted from the Friday, May 10 release of Vows, the long-standing, influential punk outfit’s brand new album. Featuring contributions from Brendan Yates and Daniel Fang of hardcore heroes Turnstile (who named their band after the 1997 Hot Water Music song) on the rhythmic rocker “Remnants” and Thrice on the atmospheric “Fences,” these two singles continue to illustrate the power that the members of Hot Water Music put forth across this intense and musically daring 12-song showcase.

“‘Remnants’ is a song of friendship and what it means to be a true friend to a person dear to us even through the toughest times of our lives,” the band says. “These values are based on whether or not we choose to be present for one another when all seems to fall apart.” Of “Fences,” the band says, “One of the toughest things in life is remembering and recognizing the importance of living in the moment. With so many distractions in our day-to-day lives, it becomes easy to get lost in the noise of this society and lose focus of our true and present purpose.” Check out “Remnants” and “Fences” below.

Jason Gordon on Friday, March 22, 2024