House Olympics

Written by Patrick McNamara

You want to know how this House Olympics profile you’re about to enjoy came about? I’d be happy to tell you. I love going Behind the Music Blob. If your guess is that I got a press release and regurgitated whatever it said, you'd be wrong, but I don’t blame you for thinking that. You’ve been around many blobs and know the sad score. But I don’t do that shit, my brother. I’m able to find out about good bands on my own and then write my own shit. Wow! Rare! Mint!

Here’s how I found out about House Olympics. I saw a tweet from Boston band Aviator (I really like them and wrote about them too - give them a blast - but wait till we’re done with this please) and that fine band said they were playing a show with Bloomington, Indiana’s House Olympics. And I was like, “House in the Who Now?” Now, being the curious fellow that I am, and also a man not scared to admit that I don’t already know every good band in existence, I decided to do some investigative research. I scoured the World Wide Intrasphere and managed to unlock the key to House Olympics' bandcamp page and the results were shocking. This band SHREDS.

Here’s what I heard as a reward for being curious about the unknown. I heard super solid hardcore emo punk with a whole lot of pretty melodies floating above the shouts and SHREDS and swirling noise. Yes, it's the goodness. The lovely racket is made by three dudes (Adam + Brice + T.J + Nick) and I have already listened to their four song EP “...And My Mind is Restless” a bunch of times. Because once you start SHREDDING it’s extremely hard to stop.

You can go ahead and listen to House Olympics now and form your own opinions. I hope you enjoyed this profile and it inspires you to take more chances on bands you don't know. Because they're out there, man.... the good bands are out there. Fuck press releases and long live the SHREDS.

Amen. - Oh My Rockness

Putting the big questions into their lyrics, House Olympics are not afraid of revealing their true selves. The record opens with a clash of drums and guitars before harsh, gut wrenching vocals cut through the melody with a biting opening, "Are you depressed, or do you just want to be? So we can finally have something to share. Am I sick, or just perceived to be? Because I haven't felt normal since spring." The urgency and desperation in the lines are powered by raw emotion and an even more raw delivery. This is just a preview of what the record will unveil, and that's just the opener, "Laugh Track" (cleverly titled).

Possessing a stunning audible similarity to Touche Amore, Nothing Feels Better Than Feeling Better skyrockets to a genre lying between screamo and post-hardcore. House Olympics hail from Bloomington, Indiana and are another great fuel to the midwest emo. The entire EP features their proficiency in blistering progressions, utilizing distorted guitars and wretched sounding screams backed by intricate drum work. This is not the only sound the band knows how to hone their skills through, possessing incredible post-rock daze a few times through the audible chaos as well. Check the ending of "When You Stop Doing Things, You're Dead," for example. The guitar leads swell behind the bold dynamics, enhancing the climax and collapse of the song. The beginning of the song is a visceral outpour of guttural screams and rampant instrumentals.

"Running With Blade Arms" ends in a diluted breakdown that detonates after a soft instrumental section. The vocal delivery is gigantic, soaring above with vigor and a dire need to get the words out. In just a few short minutes, Nothing Feels Better Than Feeling Better left me emotionally charged and amped. House Olympics need to be heard and they showcase that in their newest EP, out now, with vinyl coming soon via Paperweight Records and Bad Break Records later this spring.

Score: 8/10 - The Alternative

House Olympics recently released their new EP ‘Nothing Feels Better…’ which is a triumph of raw and passionate emo / screamo. Right off the bat it sounds somewhat familiar, in that it’s reminiscent of many other releases that came to make up ‘The Wave’ in America. Despite the familiarity it’s definitely a breath of fresh air, or a promise of new life for the movement.

EP opener ‘Laugh Track’ is gentle to start with, a slow build up of ambience before racing into an emotive and passionate soundscape filled with layered guitars, drum rolls and vocals brimming with desperation. The second track ‘When You Stop Doing Things, You’re Dead’ is far more instantaneous as it springs into action. Although slightly less atmospheric to start with and following more of a typical ‘Melodic Hardcore’ format, it stops and starts as it works its way into what becomes a gigantic wall of sound and crescendo before a final sudden stop.

‘Running With Blade Arms’ has more of a slightly “summery” vibe to it. The fiddly guitar parts similar to those often used by the likes of This Town Needs Guns or Goodtime Boys. The latter half of the song plays host to a clanging breakdown that breaks in short bursts through the frantic vocals that continue even after the music has ended.

‘Nothing Feels Better…’ deals with a lot of inward facing emotions and proves to be a poetic release for those feelings of depression, anger and uncertainty. Although it’s all too easy to compare this release to the likes of Touche Amore or La Dispute, House Olympics are clearly bringing something of their own to the table and showing a lot of promise as they find their feet.

JAMES DAVENPORT - Punktastic