It was a cozy summer night in 2022 scrolling through Bandcamp when I discovered Calling All Captains, a post-hardcore, pop-punk, emo band from Edmonton, Alberta.

This happens to me a lot with bands where I’ll discover them, I’ll know who they are, but I don’t form a strong connection with them right away.

In 2022, I certainly liked Calling All Captains. I thought “Chasing Ghosts” was really good and liked their album Slowly Getting Better, but I was just not listening to them frequently in 2022.

Fast forward to 2023 when they collaborated with Felicity, a band I have grown to love.

This is when I started to listen to Calling All Captains more. After hearing “GOD MODE” I wanted more.

So, I revisited their music and have been a frequent flyer in my rotation ever since.

Calling All Captains Background:

Calling All Captains was formed in 2014 in Edmonton, Alberta. The founding members crossed paths in their local music scene. Guitarist and vocalist Brad Bremer and the original singer, Mike, posted an ad looking for a bassist. Nick Malychuk joined the band and began recording and gigging as a trio.

The local buzz attracted more people to the band, including future members, Luca Gauthier and his friend Connor Dawkins. Gauthier started on drums, while Dawkins was also a guitarist and vocalist.

After Mike left the band, Gauthier moved to vocals, and Tim Wilson became their drummer. In 2018, Calling All Captains signed with Equal Vision Records. As of 2023, they are signed to New Damage Records.

Nick Malychuk departed the band at some point in 2023 for unknown reasons, leaving the current lineup as Gauthier on vocals, Bremer and Dawkins on guitar, and Wilson on drums.

Calling All Captains’ Music Style and Influences:

There are several places Calling All Captains draw their influences from. Dawkins loves the Beatles. Gauthier draws influence from more heavier music such as Northlane. When Nick Malychuk was in the band, like Gauthier, he also drew influence from heavier music, citing specifically being huge into hardcore. The pop-punk influence comes from Bremer and Wilson.

Their sound with Mike as their original singer was a lot more pop-punk than their current music. As time progressed, their heavier, post-hardcore influences started to shine. You start to hear it head in that direction with their EP Disconnect.

If you like A Day to Remember, you would like Calling All Captains.

It’s very interesting watching Calling All Captains music videos because you would not expect the vocals you hear to come out of Luca. I am not saying this is a bad thing by any means, but it’s an interesting thing to point out. I am not sure what I was expecting when I put a face to the instruments, but it was not Luca.

There’s something to be said about pop-punk bands with more aggressive vocalists. There’s a time and place for pop-punk like State Champs. However, I am an absolute sucker for that added grit Calling All Captains have in Luca’s vocals.

Calling All Captains Albums and Tracks:

Calling All Captains has a rich history of releasing singles and EPs. Their Bandcamp still has music performed by their original singer, Mike. Their discography up until their 2021 album Slowly Getting Better is available for purchase on Bandcamp.

Tailspin

One of my favorite Calling All Captains songs is “Tailspin.” This song is about a downward spiral and needing to ask for help. Some lines in the lyrics hit deep. “I’d pull the chute if I could find the chord” hit me in particular because sometimes it’s all just that overwhelming. You need help, but sometimes you don’t even know how to help yourself, which can be challenging.

“Some highway signs lead to a better life inside my mind” is another phenomenal line in the song. It adds a layer of hope that some paths and decisions do lead to a better life. Healing is a journey, and within the context of the rest of the song, it can also be an overwhelming journey.

Chasing Ghosts

“Chasing Ghosts” is another song that explores the introspective feelings of feeling lost, chasing after things that are not there anymore. Like “Tailspin,” there is that underlying message of hope that better is out there, you just have to go get it and not settle.

It also recognizes that it can all get hazy and confusing when your thoughts and feelings get mixed up.

Slowly Getting Better: Making an Album

Calling All Captains made a full-length documentary about making their album Slowly Getting Better. It gives viewers an intimate inside look at the making of this album.

“The last record was more focused on relationships and the feelings that could give you, whereas this record is definitely more introspective. It’s more of like self thought… self reflection. We’re going to be getting more into heavier, a little bit more personal, to like, the kinda darker aspects of our lives, it isn’t just like ‘oh my girlfriend broke up with me *sad noises* so many pop-punk bands do that.”

– Luca

These documentaries are an underrated way to get to know the band. Interviews are great, but documentaries show them, more or less, in the wild. Calling All Captains gave an authentic view on what it is like to track a record, from cheering about what was going well to disputes over lyrics.

What I found extremely interesting is they tracked drums last. I am a drums first kind of gal, so I was intrigued to see how a band went about tracking them last.

What Do Fans Have to Say About Calling All Captains?

The YouTube comment section on their latest single “Unlike Me” released in 2023 is flooded with positive comments. Here are a few of the comments:

• “What a banger <3”
• “wow, amazing”
• “This is getting played all summer long. <3”
• “These guys are animals.”
• “This is why I trust YouTube’s algorithm. Was suggested a music video with less than 1k views for a band I never heard of… and it’s THE BEST music I’ve heard come out this year. 10/10 will be downloading all songs!“
• “Shieeeee why is this so good?”
• “can relate atm”

Conclusion

Calling All Captains will tailspin their way into their hearts because they are living proof post hardcore is very much still alive and well. They have a nice blend of pop-punk, emo and post hardcore. They sound like A Day to Remember, but the influences they draw from bands like The Story So Far bring a heavier melodic flair to it.

If these bands are up your alley, I cannot recommend Calling All Captains enough.