A thrilling, anarchic debut.
The ‘90s are back with a fury, and HotWax has the perfect album to get everybody into wearing smudged eyeliner and slouchy flannels again.
Fans have been anxiously awaiting an album from Hastings-based trio HotWax, and after five years, they’ve finally released their debut record Hot Shock. The group has made quite a name for themselves in the live show circuit, touring around and performing with a youthful, raw intensity. HotWax consists of vocalist and guitarist Tallulah Sim-Savage, bassist Lola Sam and drummer Alfie Sayers, with Sim-Savage penning most of their lyrics.
The trio’s intensity is immediately heard with the album’s opener and early single, “She’s Got A Problem,” consisting of head-throbbing bass, epic guitar riffs and Sim-Savage’s broody, falsetto vocals that place this track right in the ‘90s. The band is not messing around, and you can feel it in your bones.
Sim-Savage’s vocals are a definite standout, and they make it so her commanding presence is felt on every track. With such epic instrumentals, it can be easy to lose the vocals, but Sim-Savage doesn’t just command space, she dominates it.
Speaking of instrumentals, HotWax’s are untouchable. They operate with a synergy that feels almost like a telepathic connection between the trio. Every instrument has its own presence without overpowering the other. In fact, they all work to complement each other. This synergy is evident on the fifth track, “Hard Goodbye.” From Sayers’ insane drum fills to Sim-Savage’s siren-like vocals, the band is consistently excellent. This kind of chemistry can lead to some great moments of HotWax letting loose. The band is driven by a wild, almost insatiable energy in “Dress To Our Love,” and the guitar solo in “One More Reason” is so frenzied and outrageous, it must come from true skill and control.
HotWax’s lyricism is most powerful in the album’s final songs, “Lights On,” “Chip My Teeth For You,” and “Pharmacy.” The band delivers tales of heartbreak, your expected rock’n’roll angst and fading memories with a true sincerity. The album’s closer “Pharmacy” couples that sincerity with stripped down instrumentals, making it a real outlier. It’s still done incredibly well, and it shows that even without all the flair and dramatics, HotWax is still insanely talented.
Even with all this talent, HotWax is sure to deliver it efficiently. Every track barely exceeds 3 minutes, ensuring a tightness to all their tracks that is usually reserved for pop. It’s like the trio knows exactly what they want to say and how they want to say it. There’s no time wasted with unnecessary flair, just raw energy.
Hot Shock is a great album and an epic debut for a band that’s sure to be known for years to come. The record is full of hard-hitting, head-splitting rock’n’roll meticulously engineered to get you up and moshing. There’s no doubt that HotWax is here to stay.
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