Today, Hot Water Music have announced that they will be releasing their new EP, Shake the Shadows, on May 24th via Epitaph Records.
Shake Up The Shadows finds the band – comprised of guitarist/vocalists Chuck Ragan and Chris Wollard, bassist Jason Black and drummer George Rebelo – still putting together some of the best music of their career. The record was recorded at Black Bear Studios in Gainesville, with the band’s live sound person Ryan Williams (who produced their 2017 full-length Light It Up), and shows that Hot Water Music still has it in them 25 years into their career.
Outside of Hot Water Music, most members have other music endeavors that they put their attention towards. Shake Up the Shadows is a perfect representation of incorporating some of these as influences. “I’ve never stopped singing or performing and along with that comes learning just how far I can push things,” Ragan explains, crediting Williams with helping to bring that emotion out of him on this EP, explaining that the band were careful not to overthink their approach in the studio.
And while Hot Water Music has never really spent much time being expressively political, lyrically that has more of an impression on Shake Up The Shadows. Ragan explains, “I think we’re living in a really volatile and terrifying time where people are turning a blind eye to the hatred that’s happening in this world and thinking of themselves rather than the big picture. I think that sentiment is present in these new songs the way it has always kind of been there in our music.”
To celebrate the album announcement, the band has released the first single, “Rebellion Story,” which you can find below.
To celebrate their 25 years as a band, Hot Water Music is playing anniversary shows around the world with dates in the U.S. listed below. Pre-order Shake Up the Shadows here.
Artwork:
Track-listing:
- By Any Means
- Shake Up The Shadows
- Denatured
- Rebellion Story
- Afar and Away
HOT WATER MUSIC 25TH ANNIVERSARY US SHOW DATES
June 21-22 Philadelphia, PA – Underground Arts
June 24-25 Austin, TX – Barracuda
July 26-27 Denver, CO – The Bluebird Theater
Sept 14 Saint Augustine, FL – Backyard Stage at The Amp
Feb 20-21 Richmond, VA – The Broadberry