Artist: Hands Like Houses
Album: Dissonants
Label: Rise Records
Release Date: February 26, 2016
Back in 2012, Hands Like Houses first emerged in the post-hardcore scene. Their take on the genre was rather refreshing: a post-hardcore band with no screaming vocals. Don’t get me wrong, I love heavy music and could listen to it all day. However, hearing a six-piece band with a new take on the genre that places a heavy focus on instrumentation, musicality, and soaring clean vocals is always a nice surprise on live show lineups that are clogged with chugging, open-chord metalcore artists.
Since 2012’s Ground Dweller and 2013’s Unimagine, fans have been eagerly awaiting the newest chapter in Hands Like Houses’ career. Enter the superbly crafted Dissonants. This is the first album in the band’s arsenal to not feature keyboardist Jamal Sabet (who left in 2014 to pursue other projects). This time, the band worked with producers James Paul Wisner and Erik Ron to bring the album to life.
From the second “I Am” kicks in, you’re enveloped in a soaring, anthem-like world of music. Trenton Woodley sings each soaring vocal melody with fierce conviction, while Matt Cooper (lead guitar), Alexander Pearson (rhythm guitar), Joel Tyrrell (bass), and Matt Parkitny evoke ridiculously beautiful musicianship.
The energy throughout the record is rather high, taking things down a notch once we get to ‘Motion Sickness’. A smooth, ambient synth line emanates throughout the speakers, before launching back into a strong chorus.
The album concludes with the epic “Bloodlines”, proving once again why Hands Like Houses could very soon be a reigning force within the music scene.
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This has been another Shameless Promotion.