Alistair Hennessey

Minneapolis rock sextet Alistair Hennessey have inked a deal with No Sleep Records to release a new album this fall, and today we have the pleasure of streaming the video for its intense lead single, “Hitchhikers.” The band’s debut full-length, titled The House We Grew Up In, will be released through No Sleep on November 18 (pre-orders are ongoing).

“Words tend to lose their meaning at the hand of hyperbole. We often throw them around to the detriment of their impact,” says vocalist/pianist Jesse Lynch. “This record is honest, hopeful, devastating, and raw. Let me be clear: When I say it’s ‘raw,’ I intend to say that this record is an open wound; to know it is to know our story. These songs, truly, are The House We Grew Up In. As is our mantra, we took a very different approach during the writing process.” Continuing about the band’s approach to creating, Lynch says, “After a few directional conversations, and B-squad attempts, the creative consensus eventually found its focus on organic and tangible themes, human-level and purposefully relatable lyrics. Less screaming. More “yelling notes.” Melody over thrash. Heavy on the heart, and less on the gain… not to say we don’t still love slamming shit real hard.”

“Raw” is right. “Hitchhikers” is a five-minute journey through emotional highs and lows that will certainly spark interest in fans of other No Sleep alum like La Dispute and Touché Amoré but also in those who enjoy the works of bands in the vein of Manchester Orchestra—anything loud and deeply impassioned really. Dig in below, let us know what you think about what’s likely to become your new favorite band, and stand by for information on their brand new album to come out this November. - Substream Magazine

We are extremely excited to premiere the newest music video from Alistair Hennessey. Their song “Wanderlust” can be viewed below. It’s a song riddled with introspective tones and gigantic vocal performances, using crescendos as a means to make the song hit even harder, like that of an earthquake in the middle of the night. The ending features the band detonating with visceral howls, pounding drums and a bellowing distortion before weeping into the final, bone chilling movement. “Wanderlust” is off of the band’s upcoming release, The House We Grew Up In, out via No Sleep Records on November 18th.

Alistair Hennessey had this to say about the track, “‘Wanderlust’ is one of the most emotive and dynamically complete songs from The House We Grew Up In. It’s a lone wolf anthem, of sorts, almost celebrating loneliness, or at least self-sustainability. It’s about not settling for simple love, making a journey out life, and understanding a wanderlust of the heart. Sonically, it travels from understated, vocally delicate and ambient verses to a massive, drawn-out chorus riff complete with washy cymbals that wraps the bellowed vocals up in its magnitude.”

The band is comprised of six composing members, many of whom are multi-instrumentalists with tastes ranging from folk to black metal and the result is a sound that is both enchanting and electrifying, and most certainly, unique. The House We Grew Up In builds a bridge between the energetic slamming of Underoath, Norma Jean, Thrice, and the enigmatically mellow vibes found in Manchester Orchestra, Brand New and As Cities Burn. - New Noise Magazine

"A blend of delicate, expressive moments with passion-charged aggression in a way that challenges what music lovers come to expect from heavy music." - Josh Schroeder, Producer; Metal Hammer Magazine Issue #266 - Metal Hammer