This has been a long time coming, arguably too long. It’s been at least a year or two since HotWax had the full weight and value of the indie hype machine behind them, only for it to move on regardless of whether its recipients could capitalise or not. And that’s not really fair, in the tacit implications that a debut album has to be rushed out. Now that Hot Shock is finally out, it’s even less fair that it seems destined to receive a less concentrated boost. HotWax are still a good band who do deserve it, with a blend of indie, grunge and garage-rock that’s capable of plenty of power and flourish. Hopefully that’ll find its feet in the coming months, and an in-store tour and signing run on release week is a good starting point. Ross Peacey headed down to Bristol’s Rough Trade to check it out.



















Photos by Ross Peacey (Instagram)






