Was it worth the wait? In short, yes. Many people (myself included) had started to doubt whether we'd ever hear a new Hot Water Music album, as the four-piece went on an indefinite hiatus in 2005, leading to Chuck Ragan (vocals/guitar) concentrating on his alt-country/roots solo material and Chris Wollard (vocals/guitar), Jason Black (bass) and George Rebelo (drums) forming The Draft then playing in other projects. However, they reunited in 2008 and have been playing shows and festivals since, before heading into the Blasting Room in Fort Collins, CO with the Descendents' Bill Stevenson (Bouncing Souls, Rise Against, NOFX) producing.

So what about the tracks? Well, opener 'Mainline' starts the album in fine style with an aggression that's been missed, before Wollard's vocals on the mighty stand out 'Boy, You're Gonna Hurt Someone' floor you. 'State Of Grace' and 'Drown In It' follow and, again, the songwriting shines and the propulsive rhythms and massive choruses win your heart. One of the album highlights is certainly 'Drag My Body' as Chuck Ragan hollers, “I'm hardly feeling human anymore/enough to drag my body from the floor” in his distinct and powerful voice as the track ebbs and flows from a measured verse to the soaring chorus. 'Safety' shows the maturity and some fine backing vocals while the title track opens with Jason Black's mighty bass playing before erupting into a driving, urgent anthem with fine call-and-response vocals between Wollard and Ragan, making it another highlight. Seguing into the more melodic but still punchy 'Wrong Way' and 'Take No Prisoners', they're not as essential but still solid album tracks, it's with the rousing 'Pledge Wore Thin' that they hit another high, with a rootsy, soulful edge brought by Ragan. 'No End Left In Sight' shows why they're seminal in post-hardcore as well as punk, with a staggering rhythm, before 'The Traps' hits with an upbeat sing-along that harks back to the 'No Division' days. Closer 'Paid In Full' finishes the record in explosive, caustic style as they sing “out for blood/by any means necessary” and prove they've rediscovered their fire.

The time away has clearly done them the world of good. From the first spin it's clear that 'Exister', the band's eighth studio album and follow-up to 2004's 'The New What Next', is far more focussed and sure of the band's identity than that last, fan-dividing album and can sit proudly alongside their classics like 'Caution', 'A Flight And A Crash' and 'No Division'. While there's certainly elements of the music that they've made since then, this is classic HWM, while still sounding reinvigorated and current.

This is one hell of a comeback that proves HWM aren't just existing, they're living and loving it again. Celebrating their twentieth anniversary next year, it's great to have them back to reclaim their crown.