Album Review – House Vs Hurricane : Crooked Teeth (2012)

Aussie Hardcore mob House Vs Hurricane return to the fold with a new vocalist and a follow up to 2009’s ‘Perspectives’ that doesn’t mess about when it comes to laying down the ground rules of exactly what the band intend to do in 2012, and that is quite simply to blow some minds. ‘Crooked Teeth’ is a stripped back (no more synth!) affair and channels raw aggression while focusing intently on some absolutely fantastic clean hooks, making the band more accessible than ever with the fact that they can write an absolutely belting song much more apparent.

The album opens with ’40 Deep’, a perfect hard-hitting start which includes some chaotic yet reliably sturdy drumming and some sublimely executed shouted vocals. It’s a constant, arm-swinging heavy track where tight breakdowns and carefully placed clean vocals stand out amongst the distortion. ‘Blood Knuckles’ starts calmly but that soon evaporates with a yell of ‘rise and shine!’ from vocalist Dan Casey. The singer adds a Keith Buckley-esque (Every Time I Die) swagger to the lyrics, the angst putting them at great heights. The song is delivered at an epic scale, with lines such as ‘the strength of the wolf is the pack, and the strength of the pack is the wolf’ resonating vividly.

‘Big Trouble’ begins in the same vein, with riffs chugging with venom and screams tearing along. It has machine-gun drums, swift changes in pace and soaring clean vocals. The rhythms are intelligent and the song has enough variation to keep it thoroughly exciting. ‘Lost World’ is a bellowing hardcore track with bouncing beats and a punk edge that is intensified with roaring vocals. An additional picked guitar run gives parts of the song depth, making this a ‘no holds barred’ song that still has much feeling and substance.

‘Moonshine’ slows the pace with a delicate intro, the thoughtful instrumentals paired with softly sung vocals that soon explode into screams and then swoon back again. The track is diverse, and although it is a ballad of sorts, it builds steadily – swaying and growing – making it a great addition to the arsenal of ‘Crooked Teeth’. Next track ‘Head Cold’ is mature and delivers the thunder is abundance, with relentless guitars and another belter of a chorus (‘As far as I can see, there’s nothing here for me’). ‘All We Need’ is a dirty, grinding chunk of hardcore with a severe groove running through it. The distinct melody of House Vs Hurricane is clear, and makes this another rip-roaring track.

‘Dead Lizzard’ is a short, brutal skull-crusher with fiendish guitars and fast spat vocals. It’s a bite-size chunk of what the band have to offer but delivers in abundance. ‘Get Wrecked’ has great rhythms, snappy snares and the snarls of ‘get wrecked!’ evoke passion and energy. ‘Haters Gonna Hate’ maintains the momentum with guile and final track ‘Bare Bones’ delivers a soothing end to an intense experience. Electro beats and chords provide a backdrop for softly sung vocals that feel heartfelt and honest, exposing the band as much more than a breakdown loving bunch.

‘Crooked Teeth’ is an incredibly strong album from a band with bags of know-how when it comes to writing heavy music. Almost every song is memorable and holds up well after repeat listens. House Vs Hurricane are back with a vengeance.