Special: First Listen Thoughts: Every Time I Die "Radical", Calling All Captains "Slowly Getting Better", Hot Milk "I Just Wanna Know What Happens When I'm Dead"

Every Time I Die - Radical

Label: Epitaph Records

Press release: Every Time I Die have detailed their ninth studio album, entitled ‘Radical’, the band’s first in five years. It follows 2016’s ‘Low Teens’. Lead vocalist Keith Buckley reflected on the overall themes of ‘Radical’ as an album, noting it deals in “difficult matters” that are also “universal and more communal experiences”. “The songs are realistic in that they acknowledge that things require a lot of work, but it’s ultimately a very hopeful and uplifting record,” he said.

My thoughts: I think we can officially put ETID in the conversation of consistant heavy bands with Silverstein and August Burns Red. Both those bands however release more music than ETID but the band has other pots on the stove (including professional wrestling??) Radical is a 16 track trip all over the soundscape we've come to expect from the band. Sly is probably my highlight but All This And War and the previously released Planet Shit are not far behind. Overall there wasn't any song I thought that wasn't good or at least interesting but given the near hour run time and those "interesting" tracks potentially not holding up over multiple listens I'm not quite prepared to claim Radical as the new best ETID record but it's certainly got the makings.

Calling All Captains - Slowly Getting Better

Label: Equal Vision Records

Press release: Titled Slowly Getting Better, the upcoming album from the Canadian pop-punk/post-hardcore quintet, Calling All Captains, is their debut full-length album and is scheduled to be released in October this year, via Equal Vision Records. The upcoming album intends to be a compilation of hardships, persistence, love, and acceptance, and is a thrilling follow-up to the 2019 EP, Nothing Grows Here. After their initial recording plans were halted in 2020 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the band was able to bring in their Nothing Grows Here producer, Quinn Cyrankiewicz, and safely record the album at The Audio Department in their hometown.

My thoughts: While the whole pop punk seems to be going in either an 808/emo rap direction or the blink-182 riffs route. Calling All Captains is still out here championing heavy pop-punk music like the early The Story So Far records and since TSSF has backed away from that styling I'm glad we have CAC coming out of the west coast of Canada to pick them up. The guitars are crunchy, the vocals are rough, loud and emotive and the song structures are nearly as strong as the lyrics around mental illness and hardships of being a First Nations kid in modern society. 

Hot Milk - I Just Wanna Know What Happens When I'm Dead

Label: Music For Nations

Press release: Hot Milk have announced a new EP, 'I Just Wanna Know What Happens When I’m Dead'. "These songs are honest," says Han Mee. "I have nothing to hide. Everyone’s on anti-depressants these days. It’s the world we live in, it makes people sad. Capitalism. Is it broken? 100 per cent. I’m angry that the fact that we’re sold a world that actually doesn’t make your inner peace happy. Humans need love and community and a lot of the time, there is no love and the community has dissolved. "We’re angry, both politically and existentially in terms of the system we now live in. But also, we’re angry at the fact that we’re sad quite a lot, but we’re trying to not just sit there and take it. We’re trying to fix it, by building a family through this band."

My thoughts: Hot Milk knows how to write a good hook. That fact is undeniable. The most negative thing I can think about is that I wish this was a full length. Between the 2 EP's the band has released they could've had one hell of a debut album but alas we must wait but hopefully it's worthwhile given all the influences we get on this record, from pop, to heavy guitars, classic rock-esque solo's, electronic elements and supreme song writing tackling the overwhelming feeling of being in this world.

Special: Top 10 Warped Tour 2018 Merch Items

So yeah... Unless you've been living under a rock Warped Tour kicked off this week and although some of us have to wait a month before attending our California friends have been able to take it in already and on top of combing social media and the internet for setlists we're also checking out all the cool merch all the bands are selling!

As a rule of thumb I decided to keep the merch to one item per band and no duplicate items (i.e. you won't see 10 t-shirts). I also didn't include any music, what I mean is no limited vinyl records, pre-release CD's, or download card pre-orders and alike. On with the list!

10. Warped Tour Hoodie w/ dates

It's simple but classic. This way you'll always remember the last Warped date you ever went to.

9. Simple Plan Pop Socket

Pop sockets are all the rage right now and although a couple bands are selling them, SP really nailed the design and price point for there's.

8. The Maine Tank Top

You know how sometimes you wear a band shirt and people will say "Awesome, where'd you get it?" or "Sick shirt, have you seen them live?" well you won't have to worry about that if you're rocking this bad boy as it answers all those questions.

7. Mayday Parade Shorts

The mosh shorts seem to be slowly being fazed out (much to my chagrin) but Mayday Parade is coming in clutch with these bad boys at a good price that I will not be passing up on.

6. Knuckle Puck Long Sleeve

Based on their new album Shapeshifter, Knuckle Puck absolutely nails this long sleeve. It's a new trend that's been popping up in the Pop Punk circles but only the bigger bands can gamble on it at this point but I think it's here to stay and we'll see a bunch more of these popping up in the coming year.

5. Every Time I Die Poncho

Ugh. Can you believe it? It was fine all day and then all of a sudden a surprise rain cloud comes overhead and starts pouring right before Senses Fail takes the stage. Luckily your best friends from Buffalo in ETID have you covered as they brought out ponchos with their name in small font on the front and their logo on the back (pictured). Good on you boys.

4. State Champs Windbreaker

Now lets say it's not a rain cloud and you're in for a long Warped with constant rain. Are you going to find shelter and hang out there all day? Just leave? Hell no. You're going to get up there and party in the pit and stay dry with this sweet State Champs windbreaker and although it doesn't feel like it, fall is just around the corner and this will come in handy.

3. Waterparks Power Bank

So we've covered the worst case Warped scenario, the rain. But what's the worst that could happen on a clear day? Your phone dying. Worst of all you haven't taken photos of Real Friends shredding yet and you have a wrist band for the Waterparks meet and greet where you wanted a selfie with Awsten. Have no fear, just hit up their tent and grab a power bank and you'll be good to go enjoy the rest of Warped with a charging cell.

2. Story Untold Tee

I'm sorry, this shirt is just too cute and look at that price. If there's a better shirt at Warped this year, I'm yet to see it.

1. Grayscale Drawstring Bag

I know what you're thinking... "Donny man, there's so much cool merch. Pop sockets, fanny packs, power banks and you're telling me a simple drawstring bag is the best?" Yes I am. Do you know why? The guys in Grayscale are giving these out for free to the first 30 people that visit their merch tent everyday. But don't just grab the freebies make sure you buy something to support them, even if it's just a copy of their excellent debut "Adornment" that they're selling for $5.