Hands Like Houses - Chemicals
Australian post-hardcore band Hands Like Houses had an incredible year from releasing three EP’s to releasing several tracks featuring guest appearances from Underoath, RedHook, and The Gateway Plan. The band finished the year by releasing a new track titled Chemicals, which will be featured on their upcoming album A T M O S P H E R I C S. The album is set to drop February 14th and will mark their first album with their new vocalist Josh Raven.
With this single, Hands Like Houses tells the story of struggling with living inside your head and refusing to seek help. It captures the attention of listeners with simplistic lyrics set with a complex, atmospheric melodies.
The lyrics unfold like a personal narrative, inviting listeners to a world where the protagonist is battling with their own thoughts and the weight of carrying their own pain. The opening lyrics “You didn’t wanna know, how far the river had to run to take you home,” set the tone for the protagonist on a journey of self-discovery, and the long road it took to get there.
The protagonist battles with being alone with their thoughts and the struggles of overcoming their pain. “Hear the echo of an empty ‘wish you well’” suggests the protagonist is unable to communicate their feelings with the people surrounding them and forcing themselves into self-isolation rather than reaching out for support.
The song features moments of where the vocals are distorted, almost being overpowered by the melody. The band effectively conveys the feeling of being trapped inside your own head and the disconnect often felt when battling with internal struggles.
With the song featuring such a complex melody, it makes sense to keep the lyrics simple and to the point. The band does not add any personal stories and struggles, which allows listeners to relate to the song and project their own experiences into it. Lines like “Run away from the pain, couldn’t find a way to fix you, nothings changed” are simple, but capture the loneliness and internal struggles of the song’s theme.
Make sure to give Chemicals a listen and follow along as they enter a new chapter of their career!