Last spring, Hot Water Music singer/guitarist Chuck Ragan shattered every bearded boy's heart by announcing that the band's "indefinite hiatus" was actually the end. The Florida foursome lasted over 10 years, had just as many releases, and put on one of the best live shows I'd ever witnessed—I can't say the news didn't sting a little bit.

The big pill became a little easier to swallow, though, when Ragan's bandmates—Chris Wollard, George Rebelo, and Jason Black—resurfaced under a new name, the Draft, which was a project on which the three had been working during Hot Water's hiatus. With Hot Water Music officially a piece of the past (a very good piece, of course), the Draft took their chance to focus on the future and began working on a record, with Wollard taking on the vocals, Black on bass, Rebelo on drums, and Todd Rockhill (of Discount) picking up the second guitar.

The band toured a bit through the spring and summer, and this month they released their debut, In a Million Pieces on Epitaph. Hot Water Music are a hard act to follow, but the possibility of naysayers didn't faze Black and his bandmates.

"We knew when we started doing this that there were going to be some unpleasant things," he says, "but it's been okay so far. It's been much less shitty than I thought it was going to be. There have been a few people who've said, 'This doesn't sound the same!' Well, no shit! We're not the same band; we're not playing the same songs. But I think overall people have been really excited."

In a Million Pieces doesn't abandon everything Black, Wollard, and Rebelo ever did as songwriters in Hot Water Music. The songs are still anthemic, full of the same cathartic energy that earned Hot Water high praise, but inspired by the freedom of a fresh start, the Draft enthusiastically utilize sounds never before heard from Hot Water Music—horns, a xylophone; even the vocals get a little more melodic and upbeat than HWM's usual abrasive and passionate style.

"It's different, but it's still the three of us," says Black. "It's definitely different than anything we would've done in Hot Water, but I also would say if you like Hot Water you will probably like this record. Unless you only like the songs that Chuck sang, and then I still think you'll probably like it."

Despite the "former–Hot Water Music" tag that's going to follow them around probably for the rest of their lives, the Draft are concentrating on the future.

"I'm excited that the record's coming out, and people will be able to hear the material and then come to the show. [Not having a record out while touring] sucked. That's been the hardest part. We're really excited to go play shows and feel like we're accomplishing something a little bit more now."

The Draft play El Corazón, Mon Sept 18, 8 pm, $10, all ages, with the Lawrence Arms and the Blackout Pact.