House Of Heroes – The End Is Not The End – Review

Release Date: March 3rd, 2009
Record Label: Mono vs. Stereo Records
Genre: Rock

Have you ever heard the phrase “some things are better left unsaid”? Well, some forms of rock and roll are better left unplayed. This has never been more evident than when listening to House of Heroes’ new album The End is Not the End. First, what does that title even mean? If the end is not the end, what is it? That’s not a play on words, it’s just foolish. Second, how far are they going to allow this hodge podge sound go before they rein it in like the unruly dog that it is?

What confuses me the most about their sound is that they don’t really go for any specific sound; there is nothing memorable about the tracks on The End is Not the End. Sure, there are hooks and gleaming choruses, but they don’t sink in. After several listens through the record, there wasn’t a song one that could stick. Moments that stick out are “In The Valley of the Dying Sun”, though in a bad writing move, they could have done without the vocal harmonies. One track later, “Code Name: Raven” tells you everything that’s wrong with the band, what exactly does the ominous low vocals add to the song? Serious.

So you’re asking yourselves at this point, “well, we know you don’t care for them, what do they really sound like”? The band attempts to do their best at merging big guitar sounding rock with overwhelming (in a bad way) vocal harmonies, playing around with ska and indie rock rhythms. When not goofing around, the singer has an intense voice that begs you to listen to him. “By Your Side” is a simple song and maybe one of the best on the record. Don’t try to be something you’re not or something you shouldn’t be.

House of Heroes has potential to do great things, you can hear it in their music, but they’re not pushing themselves in the direction they should go. Goofy vocals (“Code Name: Raven”) and having a wide spanning style will not get you as far as you can go. Hone your talents, focus on one style and master it. This is a mash up of everything and isn’t helping you at all. ~Staff

Score: 2/5

Track Listing:
1. Intro (Instrumental)
2. If
3. Lose Control
4. Leave You Now
5. Dangerous
6. In The Valley Of The Dying Sun
7. Code Name: Raven
8. By Your Side
9. Journey Into Space (Part One)
10. Sooner Or Later
11. Baby’s A Red
12. Drown
13. Faces
14. Voices
15. Field Of Daggers
16. New Moon
17. Ghost