Anon.

by Hands Like Houses

Overview

Following the breakthrough success of their 2016 effort, Dissonants, Australian rock quintet Hands Like Houses evolves into a new beast with fourth album Anon. Polished and streamlined, Anon. finds them expanding their scope with fresh tricks and unlikely directions, which could prove especially divisive for longtime fans who favor angsty screaming and punk-metal aggression. Much like contemporaries Bring Me the Horizon, Hands Like Houses do not shy away from the pop end of the spectrum, favoring addictive hooks and radio-friendly production -- provided by Colin Brittain (5SOS, One OK Rock) -- that push their early hardcore tendencies into the background. While there's plenty of familiar heaviness on tracks like the rousing "Monster"; the heavy "Black"; the grunge-indebted (and subtle Silverchair nod) "Half-hearted"; and the pounding "Tilt," that power and aggression are balanced by frontman Trenton Woodley's increasingly lustrous vocals and the band's newfound restraint and control. For every shredding riff, there's a layer of glossy atmosphere; for each raspy scream, there's a soaring, singalong chorus. Elsewhere, these changes are pushed even further. On "Kingdom Come," they employ handclaps and shimmering effects ripped straight from BMTH's That's the Spirit, while on the epic "Bad Dream," they take notes from Muse's arena-ready playbook, adding propulsive stomp and whimsical effects that could bring a roof down. The most surprising entry on Anon. is "Through Glass," a gorgeous, midtempo pop gem that recalls the 1975's "Somebody Else." A brave move on the band's part -- this is the precise moment of potential division for those hardcore fans -- "Through Glass" is a vibrant and emotionally exhilarating standout that is unlike anything they've recorded to date. Like the chrysalis on the album cover, Hands Like Houses are on the cusp of their next phase as a band with Anon. Setting aside expectations of what's possible for a post-hardcore act, the album is a declarative move that finds the band setting their sights on a wider audience and larger venues. Tightly executed and packed with highlights, they pull it off with ease. ~ Neil Z. Yeung

Product Details

Release Date:	10/12/2018
Label:	Hopeless Records
UPC:	0790692253210
Rank:	67942

Tracks

1. Kingdom Come
2. Monster
3. Sick
4. Overthinking
5. Through Glass
6. Half-Hearted
7. No Man's Land
8. Black
9. Tilt
10. Bad Dream

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Hands Like Houses   Primary Artist
Alex Prieto   Synthesizer
Callan Orr   Synthesizer
Jonathan Gering   Synthesizer
Colin Brittain   Synthesizer,Vocals (Background)
Meron Ryan   Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

James Paul Wisner   Mixing
Mike Green   Composer,Producer
John Nicholson   Drum Technician
Mike Kalajian   Mastering
Tom Lord-Alge   Mixing
Alex Prieto   Mixing,Engineer,Producer,Programming,Additional Production
Ryan Potesta   Assistant Engineer
Erik Ron   Composer,Producer
Callan Orr   Composer,Programming,Additional Production
David Peters   Assistant Engineer
Hands Like Houses   Composer
Jonathan Gering   Programming,Additional Production
Colin Brittain   Mixing,Composer,Producer,Programming,Additional Production
Trenton Woodley   Group Member
Matt Cooper   Group Member
Anthony Reeder   Engineer
Alex Pearson   Group Member
Matt Parkitny   Group Member
Joel Tyrrell   Group Member
Leeanna James   Composer
Stuart Miller   Photography
Brendan Collins   Guitar Technician,Assistant Engineer