Review By Helen Brown
Brace yourself for a heavy onslaught from Florida-based Hot Water Music, but prepare to be under whelmed by the punk rockers’ 8th studio release. Fuelled by a take-no-prisoners attitude, Exister is set to a relentless high octane pace, but this pace is directionless as though the brakes have been cut and the album is headed for a messy collision course.
While the beats themselves are quite catchy with some definite bop-along moments, the lazy vocals do not match the consistency of these beats. There are many tracks where there appears to be screaming for the sake of screaming, with no real purpose or direction. There is a lack of vocal control, with a string of nonsensical noises made by mouth.
Exister has a common theme of apathy, which is very fitting considering the sloppiness of the album. There are two tracks that rise above the rest of the mediocre pack, these being ‘Pledge Wore Thin’ as well as the only clear stand out, ‘Drag My Body’, a catchy number with layer upon layer of guitar riffs and impassioned vocals.
Because Exister finishes as quickly as it starts, it is virtually impossible to absorb. The album certainly has its merits though, and Hot Water Music has some wicked instrumental skills but this record is largely the result of a metaphoric train wreck. It does not grab you and is a little too unremarkable, therefore a little too easy to pass you by.
(My rating: 2 out of 5)
Review By Helen Brown
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