Hands Like Houses Move Forward By Remaining Themselves On ‘Dissonants’

Part of the charm of Canberra rockers Hands Like Houses has always been their nonchalant dismissal of whatever musical trends happen to be sweeping the heavy market at any given time.

Sure, one could easily categorise them as ‘post-hardcore’ or ‘post-emo’ or whatever other hyphenated descriptors happen to buzzing about the blogosphere at the moment.

But in a genre so heavily driven by trends, Hands Like Houses have always said ‘fuck that’ and continued to follow their own true north and their fans have always loved them for it.

It doesn’t make them the most fashionable band, but heavy music fans don’t normally concern themselves with fashion and it’s a scientific fact that good songcraft never goes out of style.

All that said, Dissonants is definitely a marked progression in the band’s sound. Don’t worry, all of that lavish (and dare we say Coldplay-esque) grandeur is still present, but the band’s third full-length effort is a far more explosive and indeed heavier affair.

Singer Trenton Woodley remains a compelling frontman, able to provide enough vocal and emotional oomph to keep you hooked, whilst eschewing that metalcore whine so popular with today’s bands.

Tracks like ‘Perspectives’, ‘Colourblind’, and ‘Motion Sickness’ are certainly standouts, but it would be inaccurate to frame other tracks like ‘Division Symbols’ and ‘Glasshouse’ as filler.

Dissonants is a cohesive machine whose gears were assembled with forethought and considerable acumen. A song like ‘Perspectives’ is a flash point in a prolonged battle campaign.

Of course, one can’t review a Hands Like Houses album without mentioning the ever-present electronic elements and the bleeps and bloops of previous releases are still present on Dissonants.

All too often, bands can lose themselves whilst pursuing new directions, but Dissonants retains the personality that’s been integral to the band since their debut, Ground Dweller.

The album is an exercise in balance, and Hands Like Houses manage to walk the tightrope admirably. The alchemy of Dissonants is in the way it combines the old with the new.

No doubt the band’s third album will do little to quieten discussions of just what genre Hands Like Houses’ music falls under, but with songs this well-crafted, does it really matter?

Hands Like Houses’ this album, Dissonants, is available now. Visit the band’s official website for more details and order info!