Dissonants

Though Hands Like Houses started out wearing their progressive chops proudly on their sleeves, the quintet largely downplay them on their third album, focusing instead on a lean hybrid of post-hardcore and hard rock that emphasizes urgency over intricacy. Pivoting deftly between loud and soft dynamics, “Glasshouse” and “I Am” showcase the way Trenton Woodley’s yearning vocals sail across Matt Cooper and Alexander Pearson’s blazing fretwork. On “Degrees of Separation,” when they add atmospheric keys and an aggressive post-punk beat to the mix, the group’s sound gets even more awesome.