Equal Vision Records has brought together punk veterans Hot Water Music and Quicksand for a brand new, four-song split EP. The release features each band covering classics from the other’s catalog—Hot Water Music takes on Quicksand’s “Fazer” from their album Slip, while Quicksand covers “Free Radio Gainesville” from Hot Water Music’s No Division.
Additionally, the EP includes two unreleased tracks: “Supercollider,” Quicksand’s first new song since their 2021 album Distant Populations, and “Undertow,” a new Hot Water Music song from their Brian McTernan-produced Vows sessions.
When two legends come together to record a new release, the stakes are high. But when you realize that both bands not only meet but exceed those expectations, delivering with the power of their prime, you begin to grasp the weight and value of their experience and mastery.
Fresh off our recent interview with Chuck Ragan, he joins forces with their friends from Quicksand, who bring their unmistakable style, layered melodies, and, above all, those signature thick, tight riffs. These four tracks guide us through a raw and thrilling experience that only legends of this caliber can create.
The collaboration is a significant moment for both bands, highlighting their mutual respect and longstanding connections. Hot Water Music vocalist/guitarist Chuck Ragan reflected on the relationship, stating: “Like many who grew up listening to hardcore and punk rock from early ages on, we were inspired and driven by a lot of work from all the members that make up Quicksand and of course by Quicksand themselves.”
“Fast forward to 1999 when we had the honor of working with Walter Schreifels as he produced our record No Division. That experience went from surreal and intimidating to completely comforting and empowering. Our respect and admiration grew tenfold until we got the chance to tour with them. We already admired and respected them, now we love them like family.”
Ragan added, “Getting to know Alan, Walter and Sergio on the road and now doing a split together has been an incredible experience, and though we find ourselves in the most normal situations with these salt-of-the-earth souls, we’re still pinching ourselves from time to time.”
Quicksand’s Walter Schreifels shared similar sentiments about the collaboration: “It’s an awesome, full circle moment for me to be a part of this split with Hot Water Music. It wasn’t too long after Quicksand broke up that I got to meet and work with Hot Water Music as producer for their album No Division. It was an absolutely magical experience. We had so much fun, the album came out amazing, and at the very end of the last day of recording, I added a vocal to my fave song ‘Free Radio Gainesville’, which we covered for the split. I’m beyond grateful that all these years later Quicksand is back doing what we love along with our brothers in HWM, still playing with that same passion that drew us together in the first place. Feels like home.”
Hot Water Music and Quicksand will be making the following appearances together this November in Europe.
Ahead of the tour, Hot Water Music received a significant honor in their hometown of Gainesville, Florida. On Thursday, October 24, the band was presented with the Key to the City by Mayor Harvey Ward at a ceremony held at City Hall. This accolade places them alongside other notable Gainesville artists like Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and Laura Jane Grace. The day was officially declared “Hot Water Music Day,” coinciding with their appearance at The FEST 22.
Reflecting on their 30-year journey, Hot Water Music emphasized themes of growth and perseverance. “The theme that kept coming up while working on this record was growth—how writing a song, recording an album, or being in a band is like planting a seed and helping it grow,” the band commented. “We think a lot of that had to do with looking back and realizing that over 30 years, we’ve managed to make something special that we all really love.”
Quicksand, formed in 1990, has similarly left a lasting impact on the post-hardcore scene.
Their debut album Slip (1993) was praised by The A.V. Club as “a nearly flawless record that combines the irony and heaviness of Helmet with Fugazi’s penchant to dismantle sound in the most energetic ways.” Their 1995 release, Manic Compression, topped LA Weekly’s Top Five Best Post-Hardcore Records list. After a long hiatus, they returned with Distant Populations in 2021, reaffirming their place in alternative rock and post hardcore pantheon.
Hot Water Music and Quicksand are embarking on a European tour starting November 7:
07 — Munster, DE — Skater’s Palace
08 — Hannover, DE — Capitol
09 — Amsterdam, NL — Melkweg Max
10 — Antwerp, BE — Trix
12 — Stuttgart, DE — LKA Longhorn
13 — Munich, DE – Muffathalle
14 — Vienna, AT — Simm City
15 — Leipzig, DE — Felsenkeller
16 — Berlin, DE — Huxley’s
18 — Stockholm, SE — Debaser
19 — Gothenburg, DE — Musikens Hus
20 — Copenhagen, DK — Richter
21 — Hamburg, DE — Grosse Freiheit
22 — Wiesbaden, DE — Schlachthof
23 — Cologne, DE — Palladium
