Boston is not exactly worldwide known for its coldwave or synth pop
artists. Most of us know the Capital of Massachusetts because of its
hardcore legacy that still continues today. And yet, just like flowers
in a rugged land, here comes House Of Harm, a post-punk trio whose new
approach to the genre was showcased on their two tape EPs, earning them a
cult international following as well as an imposing line up of
supporting gigs opening for Editors, She Past Away, Lust For Youth, and
The Cure’s Reeves Gabrels. Due on September 4 is their debut full-length
Vicious Pastimes out on vinyl LP and digital format. Nine songs where
timeless melodies of Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me-era Cure perfectly match
French coldwave moodiness, enhanced by Cocteau Twins ethereal airiness
and Creation Records seminal shoegaze sounds. Just enough light reaches
House Of Harm's base layer, giving life to infectious hooks and
unforgettable mantras. The gritted core of every song makes expansive
moments of release cathartic, always tethered by commanding drums. Check
out the very first single they wrote Isolator and its melancholic synth
pop refrain, or Against The Night whose darkwave is as claustrophobic
as One Hundred Years. Catch sounds almost like a Sarah Records hit,
while the title-track hurls us back into the bleak realms of the
Sisterhood. Different influences but everything is just in its place
simply because House Of Harm are the rare band where you can feel every
individual member's devotion to each song's world.
Released 2021 by Avant! Records.
English