The Australian post-hardcore/alternative rock band, Hands Like Houses is in South Africa for a tour and have built a reputation as one of the best groups on the scene. Their fusion of different elements creates a unique sound and they are one of the must-listen-to bands for everyone who is a fan of rock in general.
The band consists of Trenton Woodley – lead vocals, piano, programming, keyboard; Matt Cooper – lead guitar; Alexander Pearson – rhythm guitar, backing vocals, Joel Tyrrell – bass guitar, backing vocals; Matt Parkitny – drums.
Honourable mentions: ‘Glass House’, ‘Momentary’, ‘Introduced Species’, ‘Shapeshifter’, ‘Colourblind’, ‘Sick’, ‘Monster’, ‘Lionhead’, ‘Perspectives’.
5. Overthinking
This track from the band’s fourth and newest album, Anon, is a groovier arena rock-type track but it works perfectly with the band’s newer rock sound. The group ventures into new territory without compromising the classic Hands Like Houses sound. The track focuses on how overthinking can play with a person’s mind and have negative effects. The chorus is brilliant and Woodley’s voice truly shines here.
The lyrics express the essence of the track: ‘I’m overthinking. If I’m through, then I’m beating myself black and blue but it won’t make no difference to you.’

4. No Parallels
‘No Parallels’ is one of Hands Like Houses’s truest track about being free and living in the moment in a happy environment. The piano and guitar work is exceptional and Cooper really outdoes himself with a fantastic main riff. Woodley is also brilliant in the choruses and bridge. His vocals hit new heights as he spews out positivity from his diaphragm: ‘This is happiness, to be everything at once. Be unblinded, be unlearned, be unbridled and unburned. This is happiness. I’m fearless and I’m free, with the open road and the world beneath my feet.’
The lyrics in the bridge continue the theme brilliantly: ‘No fear, just faith, no bit, just break the path and let it lead you. Unknown, unblind, run free, run wild and leave behind what holds you down.’

3. Developments
This was one of the band’s first tracks I ever listened to. I was instantly hooked with the intro guitars’ fast licks from Matt Cooper and Alex Pearson. The guitars crunch their way throughout the rest of the song and create a solid foundation for Woodley’s vocals to shine. He extends his amazing vocal range during this track and it drips with imagery in the lyrics: ‘And I can’t explain enough,
And I won’t let it last the night,
I’ll show you that the image is still there unseen.
‘It’s our guess before the line,
If we shine our lights to see,
The things that we have processed on the lines between.’
The second verse also has a real post-hardcore edge with some palm-muted chugging juxtaposing the keyboard melody in the first verse. The track oozes melody and is one of my favourite tracks on their second album, Unimagine.

2. New Romantics
‘New Romantics’ is a song that focuses on relationships, being yourself and embracing it, even though others sometimes do not see your true colours. This emotional, yet driven song showcases the band’s musicality and ear for a good hook combined with thoughtful lyrics: ‘A hopeless romantic, self-medicated on reality; A misunderstanding is all that anyone can see in me. Pulling up the floor to go deeper down, tearing at the soil to find the ground.’
Tyrell’s bass guitar work is phenomenal in the verses and the hardcore breakdown in the bridge is amazing. Woodley’s vocals are on point again in this relatable song about being romantic and enjoying life’s emotions rather than running away from your feelings.

1. I Am
The best Hands Like Houses song, in my opinion, is this gem from their third album, Dissonants. ‘I Am’ is a track that fuses everything that makes this band such a fantastic mash-up of different sounds. This number’s harder sound is an example of how easily a band can grow in a new direction. The song focuses on staying true to yourself and not falling for every piece of fame and fortune the world can seemingly offer you. It has one of the best breakdowns and raw emotion in their catalogue and the lead guitar riff is mesmerising. Top stuff from a top band.
‘I’m sick, I’m tired of hollow hope, of promises, empty, your way with words, They’re feeding back inside my head. If I will make a change, It’s by my words and not my name,’ are some of the best lyrics in this song.