The latest EP from Calling All Captains is their most authentic and challenging release to date – sharing the all-too-real experience of losing yourself (and others by proxy) in a slow decline instead of one sudden seismic shift. The Things That I’ve Lost delivers 7 new tracks that are emotionally raw, unguarded, and painfully human.
Nearly 10 years since the release of their first single, the Edmonton 4-piece have been grinding and gaining a much deserved following. But this success has its price. Facing fatigue, burn out, and constant questioning of their place in the world, Calling All Captains openly share their vulnerabilities and masterfully transpose their struggles into their songs. What historically may have been perceived as weaknesses has become the bands greatest strength, and has endeared them to their ever-growing fanbase.
The first lyric of the opening track ‘Stay Away’, delivered by Luc Gauthier, poses the question: “Am I Strong Enough?” This becomes a running theme as the EP unravels like a dog-eared journal of lived experiences that discards any facade of pretense or banality. From then on out, The Things That I’ve Lost digs in and delivers each track as an unfiltered anthem for all those struggling to come correct, and moving forward with small, uncertain steps.
Driven by the unrelenting energy that Calling All Captains have become synonymous with, the instrumentation and song structures have never felt tighter or more purposeful. Their blend of post-hardcore, pop-punk, electronic flourishes and well-placed screams act as the perfect vehicle to carry the strained (but never faltering) vocals. Fans of Calling All Captains will find comfort in the band’s signature heavy riffs and blasting patterns, but will be pleasantly surprised with the momentum shifts that transition from track to track. There are even touches of hip-hop-esque delivery that round out in ‘Dark Clouds’.
Photo: Karly Watson
A standout element of the new EP (there are too many to include) is the deliberate contrast presented in the lyrics. There is a purveying sentiment that isolation is the answer, but it is at odds with wanting to be needed…or needing to be wanted? On ‘Call Me’, the song acknowledges the difficulties faced by others who are trying to support someone who is struggling with their identity.
While the subject matter of each track dwells on what has been lost, the EP is very much about what is found. Calling All Captains have found their community of fans, and their fans have found them. The Things That I’ve Lost does not offer any trite solutions, but instead acknowledges that there are people who just need to hear that they are not struggling alone.
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Fronted by Luc Gauthier (vocals) with Connor Dawkins (guitar/vocals), Brad Bremner (guitar/vocals), and Tim Wilson (drums), Calling All Captains have carved a reputation for transforming struggle into something cathartic — channeling vulnerability through raw power and melodic precision.
