It’s hard to believe that while HotWax are still on the brink of being old enough to drink in America, the trio has been releasing singles for nearly five years. They’ve been refining their rough-around-the-edges rock sound through numerous notable support gigs and live performances in recent years, opening for acts such as Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Royal Blood, and Frank Carter. Although the Hastings-via-Brighton trio may still be considered newcomers compared to the veterans in the genre, there’s a genuine sense of achievement that permeates their debut. With just ten tracks totaling under 30 minutes, ‘Hot Shock’ provides a succinct yet powerful display of their interpretation of punk-rock, staying true to their goal of mirroring their live energy. ‘Strange To Be Here’ erupts into a state of chaotic energy, followed by the swagger of ‘Dress Our Love’; later, ‘Chip My Teeth For You’ presents a darker, grittier vibe that quickly evolves into an urgent anthem. It's true that there aren’t many dynamic surprises throughout the album—except for the perhaps unexpected acoustic-led closer ‘Pharmacy’—but as a debut, it serves as a focused showcase of their abilities to date.
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Their debut exudes a genuine feeling of achievement.