Say No More

Columbus, OH-based House of Heroes are a Christian rock band to join the ranks of Relient K and the roster at Tooth and Nail to serve as the soundtrack to many a church youth group overnight. While this kind of association might scare off potential listeners on principle alone, these people would be doing themselves a disservice because, well, House of Heroes make damn good music. Engaging enough for secular and non-secular fans alike, Say No More — technically just a repackaged, retitled, and reissued version of the band's 2005 self-titled effort with two extra tracks — is a solid record of catchy and confident indie pop that owes a huge amount of influence to Weezer. Lead vocalist Tim Skipper (all members of the trio share vocal duties) even sounds remarkably similar to Rivers Cuomo on much of this energetic album. Lyrically, the band's religious stance overtly appears on only a few tracks, as in the somber "Serial Sleepers" — most of the time, the band prefers instead to address social inequities and relationship issues. Presumably, it's their faith that merely acts as the basis for which their opinions are formed. "Fast Enough" runs on a bassline straight off a Midtown record, followed by the charmingly simple "Friday Night" — a melodic power pop gem about weekend loneliness with an instantly catchy hook. "Suicide Baby" benefits from some fun Third Eye Blind-esque background vocals, while "Make a Face Like You Mean It (Vampires)" layers vocals for a confrontation about music industry practices. House of Heroes write deceptively catchy songs, given the darker themes explored between the lines. "Buckets for Bullet Wounds" asserts "All the poorest work the hardest for the smallest…there are no handshakes only handguns" among bouncy riffs and handclaps; "The Invisible Hook" confronts world apathy ("You want a genocide?/We can avert our eyes tonight/You keep us entertained/We'll overlook your bloodstained hands") with cowbell and dance-worthy guitars. With Say No More — an invigorating and diverse album that actually has something to say — House of Heroes worthily prove themselves a band to keep an eye on.