The new album from Canberra band Hands Like Houses sees the group progress from their heavier rock sound to a modern rock & roll sensibility.
Frontman and vocalist Trenton Woodley says their new album '-Anon.', released in October, marks another step forward in their perpetual evolution and that it was always bound to be a polarising record for long-term fans. “There's some shift in sound,” Trenton says.
“We've always taken steps between records that have been a creative choice just to keep ourselves fresh and keep people on their toes as well. We went for a lot more of a raw rock & roll sound on this record with a few more contemporary influences that we're really enjoying ourselves.
“There's always a lot of nerves and apprehension with releasing any music and the fact it is a little bit different meant we were always going to be a little unsure of how it was going to go down. But we've been absolutely blown away by the support; it's been a really positive outcome across all sections.”
The latest single lifted from '-Anon.' is the track 'Monster', which has lifted Hands Like Houses into a new arena of mainstream success by being selected as the official song for WWE Super Smack-Down and being used by Fox 8 in the DC Universe.
For what it has done for the band's profile thus far, Trenton calls '-Anon.' their most significant album yet. “This album was very much a go-hard-out-or-go-home situation for us,” he says.
“We've reached a point in our careers where everything counts maybe more than it used to; we are trying to build on what we've done and reach out more.
"We've always tried to write good songs regardless of style or genre, and for us this is the album we've poured the most intent in to as far as making something that can be listenable for everyone, without alienating fans.
“The music we make will always have our collective voice and our fingerprints all over it, but in terms of significance it was a big swing for us making something that did have a broader appeal, especially at home in Australia.
"We had the opportunity to let our influences come through, and to us that feels a lot more significant than just putting something together to suit a purpose.”
Hands Like Houses will be on tour in Australia with '-Anon.' next February supported by Ocean Grove.
With a strong overseas contingent of followers, Trenton says it's a proud achievement for the band to be able to play their biggest headline shows anywhere, ever. “Playing shows at home in Australia is always special for us,” he says.
“It took us a long time to get a bit of traction going in Australia because we were so busy overseas for the first few years of our career.
"So to be able to play not only big shows at home, but the biggest headline shows we've played anywhere in the world is bloody exciting.”
'-Anon.' is available now.
Hands Like Houses 2019 Tour Dates
Fri 8 Feb - UC Refectory (Canberra)Sat 9 Feb - Enmore Theatre (Sydney)
Fri 15 Feb - The Tivoli Theatre (Brisbane)
Sat 16 Feb - Forum Melbourne
Fri 22 Feb - HQ Complex (Adelaide)
Sat 23 Feb - Astor Theatre (Perth)
