Draft:Calling All Captains

They've been labelled everything from pop-punk to emo to post-hardcore, but Calling All Captains cover all of that and more on (e)motion sickness, their explosive and expansive new collection.

Born and still based in the suburbs of Edmonton, Alberta, the band has earned accolades in recent years with a string of increasingly potent releases and relentless approach to touring. They've headlined cross-Canada treks, shared stages with the likes of The Offspring, Pierce the Veil, Billy Talent, and Our Lady Peace, and performed high-profile festivals from the eclectic Electric Love to the iconic Vans Warped Tour – all propelling them to new plateaus on an impressive career trajectory. In fact, Calling All Captains were just dubbed one of the five acts shaping Canadian pop-punk by the CBC, the country's national broadcaster.

"(e)motion sickness marks the first time we've written music as a four-piece, and honestly, it felt very freeing," begins guitarist / vocalist Brad Bremner, speaking on behalf of bandmates Connor Dawkins (guitar / vocals), Luc Gauthier (lead vocals), and Tim Wilson (drums). "Considering how close we are and the level of trust between us, I think we felt empowered to really push ourselves and experiment with some entirely new sounds."

Since dropping their head-turning debut EP Nothing Grows Here in 2019, Calling All Captains have been remarkably prolific, quickly cementing their status as genre-bending innovators in a crowded and often stagnant scene. They amassed millions of streams with their first full-length, Slowly Getting Better, followed by "Unlike Me," the lauded lead-up single preceding (e)motion sickness – all while touring tirelessly to set the stage for their most ambitious offering to date.

Co-produced with frequent collaborator Quinn Cyrankiewicz, (e)motion sickness delivers a more potent distillation of Calling All Captains' diverse and distinguished brand of punk rock.

"Wallflower" storms out of the gates with an unparallelled urgency and impact as each member gets to flex their chops. "Be Cool" carries the energy forward, showcasing the band's ever-evolving sonic textures and undeniable vocal hooks.

After reminding any doubters of what they do best, the band confidently explores previously uncharted territory with "Float Back," an understated, refreshingly rhythmic palette cleanser ripe with cool electronic flourishes, and "One More Day," which finds Dawkins playing frontman over a stripped-down acoustic track with tasteful string arrangements.

All are welcomingly anchored by the band's unapologetically transparent, heart-on-sleeve lyricism. "Even with how raw we were on 'Unlike Me,' these ones somehow feel even more personal," offers a candid Gauthier. And while lyrics are poetry by definition, the term feels like it falls short in this context.

"I can't put it any other way; writing these songs really helped me get to a better place," the singer elaborates. "I think that's a byproduct of just saying exactly what I'm feeling and not shying away from anything that comes with it."

That ability, at least in part, is a byproduct of the incredibly close bond that's coalesced between these four, cemented by countless hours in the studio and miles on the road – and it's abundantly clear every time Calling All Captains take to the stage that their fans feel like an extension of it, hence their recent sold-out shows across Western Canada.

"All the things we've done that we wouldn't have otherwise – the places you go, the people you meet, even the tough situations... We've been through so much together, it's actually incredible," Dawkins offers. "I don't think a lot of people have this kind of chance to experience so much with their best friends, and that's what keeps us constantly pushing and growing."

(e)motion sickness marks the culmination of that growth to-date, building atop Calling All Captains' rock-solid musical foundation with an even wider array of sonic influence and lyrical prowess, and ultimately, making the essence of what they do rather difficult to describe.

Really, you just need to listen for yourself.