Review
Hot Water Music
Exister

In some ways, you have to seriously respect everything that Hot Water Music has accomplished over the course of their existence from their starting point circa 1993 despite what is now two break-ups, but the much lauded four piece drops their second comeback album with Exister, the band’s first studio album in since 2004’s The New What Next; and since their second hiatus, Hot Water Music teased us all with an awesome two song single (of which has neither song on this bad boy) as to what possibly a new album would sound like.

Exister comes off sharp and energetic right out of the gates, but such vigor (the vocals may remind listeners of fire and brimstone preachers at their most manic and grizzled lived in voices that some of the most respected modern day troubadours exhibit) and songwriting has never been an issue with the members of Hot Water Music (at least for the most part); and what we the long suffering faithful are given as a result of our hopes and cries for another album is what is mostly a triumph of substance as well as style. While you might be hard pressed to find or single out any album filler, the band throws down some songs that stand up well in comparison to any other song in their oeuvre; so when songs like “State Of Grace” and “Pledge Wore Thin” sound destined to become a part of the raucous component of their live show due to their rousing sing along natures or people point to the roiling “Drag My Body” and “No End Lift In Sight” as an exemplary pieces that show the four members’ grasp of their songwriting powers, you know that this is no lackluster effort from Hot Water Music.

At times, it feels as though one can only judge records like Exister against other records by the band because they really are a unique voice in the punk / indie rock universe (even amongst their myriad imitators and pretenders to the crown), and in that sense Hot Water Music definitely turn in a solid effort that sounds and feels like the band had a ton of pent up energy that they decided to finally let loose on the world. Make no mistake, Exister is a Hot Water Music album through and through; and this record is proof that these guys still had plenty to get off their chests.