Why We’re Excited For Hands Like Houses ‘Dissonants’

Canberra heavy outfit Hands Like Houses will be reaping the rewards of their hard work in the studio with their third album, set to be released in late February.

The upcoming album ‘Dissonants’ encompasses a notably new sound and, unlike most heavier acts who soften as their career progresses, Hands Like Houses have taken a more aggressive approach this time round. Their latest release Colourblind has continued the empowering rage of recent singles I Am and New Romantics.

“Although boasting heavier moments with epic breakdowns and a more intense vocal delivery, there is still plenty of space for your ears to chill.”

Since their sophomore album ‘Unimagine’ the Canberra rockers have applied heavier and more intricate guitar riffs, bigger breakdowns, and cleaner behind-the-scenes production. They’ve also managed to keep the dynamical flow heard in their previous albums ‘Ground Dweller’ and ‘Unimagine’. Although boasting heavier moments with epic breakdowns and a more intense vocal delivery, there is still plenty of space for your ears to chill.

Interestingly, ‘Dissonants’ sees vocalist Trenton Woodley incorporate dirty vocals for the first time. As demonstrated in their single I Am (the opening track on ‘Dissonants’) Woodley’s growls are expertly in contrast with his tried-and-true clean melodic vocals. However, the lead vocalist has assured us that Hands Like Houses wont be frequent screamers.

“We’re never going to be a screaming band but if a part calls for more aggression then we’re not going to shy away from that. We’re not going to become some clone of another band, we’ll do it our way,” Woodley said.

It’s obvious these boys are trying to make a statement, not only through new techniques but also by creating anthem like choruses inspired by political and cultural commentary. As stated by Woodley, “Colourblind is about our cultural obsession with binary ideas — we are black or white, politically left or right, for or against, right or wrong.

“We’re so caught up in black, white, and the infinite shades of gray we forget that we live in a world of colour — those we can see and then even deeper, beyond and between,” Woodley said.