No one goes into a new and highly anticipated album expecting an album that draws you in slowly, increasingly unraveling with multiple listens. For me, I love it when I put on an album and fall in love hard and fast. With Hands Like Houses third studio album Dissonants I was ready to feel the same spark I felt listening to Unimagine for the first time, but that was not the case. Dissonants was the kind of album that I needed to dig into to find the magic. Once it clicked it was so worth it.
Hands Like Houses third album is full of songs that are powerful, melodic and heavy. What they accomplished with Unimage the band has taken to the next level with Dissonants. The album starts energetic and strong on the first third of the record with back to back hard hitting tracks “I Am”, “Perspectives”, “Colourblind” and “New Romantics”. These songs offer some of the heaviest riffs I can recall from the band’s discography and really showcase the band’s ability to blend aggression and melody. Particularly evident on the song “Colourblind” that effortlessly shifts between subtle and booming adding to the emotional build of the track.
The last two-thirds of the album was where I found myself torn on this album over the course of several replays. While tracks like “Division Symbols”, “Stillwater” and “Motion Sickness” eventually proved themselves to be stand-out tracks, the album’s repetitive song structure becomes apparent. Without multiple listens, the songs all blend in the same start, build, soar, repeat framework, and it’s easy for songs to get lost in some of that sameness. Otherwise, these are all solid and enjoyable tracks.
The magic on this record, though, is in the emotional appeal and lush imagery presented in the lyrics. As I kept listening to this album, hearing more and more of the lyrics each time, it was hard not to want to make note of many beautiful lines. From the powerful “We’re colorblind from the black and white, but we’ve never burned so bright” of “Colourblind” to the restless “How did we get so old and never notice? How did we gain the world and lose the moment?” of “Stillwater”, These songs beg for a deeper connection between each other and our world. It’s hard to not revel in that alone.
Dissonants can be an easy album to pass over on a first listen, but that would be such a shame. This album has a lot to offer both musically and lyrically. It is worth the time to let these songs sink in and have the chance to resonate.
Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Recommended Tracks: “Colourblind” and “Stillwater”
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