Cold Hard Want
House of Heroes · 2012
46 min · 13 tracks · alternative rock
A dynamic blend of alternative rock energy and introspective lyrics that confront personal and societal struggles.
Top tracks — play these first
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Dance (Blow It All Away) — This track showcases the album's vibrant vocal delivery and anthemic chorus, encapsulating the struggle between escapism and reality.
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We Were Giants — With its poignant lyrics reflecting on lost potential, this song stands out for its emotional weight and memorable melody.
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I Am a Symbol — The closing track serves as a powerful culmination of the album’s themes, merging introspection with a stirring sense of hope.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends energetic rock with introspective themes but lacks standout tracks to elevate it further.
What we noticed
- The first three tracks feature driving guitar riffs and energetic drumming, establishing a high tempo that persists until the fourth track.
- Several songs incorporate layered vocal harmonies, particularly in the choruses, which enhance the emotional weight of the lyrics.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Little footprint beyond its audience. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- urgent anthems for sing-alongs
- introspective moments of reflection
- dynamic pacing with varied lengths
- cathartic energy release throughout
Maybe skip if you
- prefer instant gratification tracks
- seek purely mellow background music
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 2012, Cold Hard Want was House of Heroes' fourth studio album, following their critically acclaimed album, Suburba. By this point, the band had established a solid fanbase and was exploring deeper lyrical themes while refining their sound. The album marked a significant juncture as they embraced more personal storytelling within their music.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Anberlin· Switchfoot· The Classic Crime
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 A Man Who's Not Afraid 1:03
- 2 Out My Way 3:37
- 3 Dance (Blow It All Away) 3:34
- 4 Remember the Empire 4:28
- 5 We Were Giants 3:47
- 6 The Cop 3:07
- 7 Comfort Trap 4:20
- 8 Touch This Light 4:23
- 9 Angels of Night 5:08
- 10 Stay 3:58
- 11 Suspect 4:03
- 12 Curtains 0:40
- 13 I Am a Symbol 4:48
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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