The Writing is on the Wall in Boston Post-Punk Outfit House of Harm’s Video for “Madhouse”

Looking back on the ways that I could never show
You painted me in a dream
And we passed the time speaking of rain that’s forever in my sight
But you would never hear my screams

Following the success of May’s “Taste the Light,” Boston’s House of Harm has unveiled “Madhouse,” the second single and video of the series. “Madhouse” is a gorgeous tune. Possessing a production that appears to be crafted from the same aesthetic fabric as Dave Allen’s work with The Cure and Chameleons, fused with echoes of early 4AD, Madhouse’s poetic lyrics describe an individual grappling with feelings of unspoken longing and unresolved emotions. An intimate internal dialogue unfolds, where an unseen presence pervades the speaker’s thoughts – felt in whispers and reflected in their gaze, yet maintaining an inscrutable distance.

Madhouse’s themes of escapism and concealment come to the fore as the speaker imagines sinking into the recesses of the other’s mind, yearning for understanding yet thwarted by a sense of their own invisibility. A wrestling with self ensues, feeding internal conflicts, while the ceaseless cycle of inner battles keeps the speaker rooted to their solitary sphere.

The signature artistic impression of an art-house film that House of Harm skillfully conveys lends an unearthly vitality to “Madhouse.” Immersing us once more in their inimitable style, House of Harm illustrates this inner conflict with a monochromatic vision that is simultaneously entrancing, eerie, and lightly sprinkled with humour. Their latest oeuvre is complemented by a visual piece of wit and brilliance – playing a perfect foil to the earnestness of the song.

Employing Expressionist components with intentional deliberation, the creators have crafted a profound and deeply moving metaphorical exploration into the convoluted intricacies of the human psyche. The frenetic, hastily scratched words that consume the screen, primarily obscuring the actors, carry an eerie resonance; they’re akin to fervent communiqués sent from within the shrouded depths of a spectral sanctuary.

“It’s easy to lose track of your own mind when you spend so much time alone. The voices in your head start to sound like they belong to someone else, and the conversations they’re having reveal more than you could have known,” says singer Mike Rocheford. 

“We wanted a companion video to ‘Taste the Light,‘ as we consider ‘Madhouse‘ to be the sister-song,” says Tyler Kershaw. “While Taste’s video explored remembering a scenario incorrectly, the video for ‘Madhouse‘ leers into the NOW you were trying to avoid by lying to yourself. This time around, we tried to take filming a little less seriously. The mood we created while filming ‘Taste the Light‘ felt sort of oppressive, so we thought winking at the camera, so to speak, would be a welcome lift. We half-deliberately left in a few weird mistakes here and there. I wonder if the audience can catch them all?”

Watch the video for “Madhouse” below:

Existing as an enigmatic entity in the subterranean universe of music, House of Harm audaciously eludes labels as they soar beyond the frontiers of post-punk.

Since the emergence of their demo EPs in 2019, House of Harm has magnetized a fiercely dedicated audience on a global scale. The band has held court alongside illustrious acts such as Editors, She Past Away, Lust For Youth, Soft Kill, and Reeves Gabrels (The Cure, David Bowie), firmly embedding themselves within a unique alcove of the indie music domain.

The year 2020 saw House of Harm discharging their first LP, “Vicious Pastimes,” under the banner of Avant! Records. Met with thunderous applause from both critics and connoisseurs, the album fortified the band’s standing as leading orchestrators of a burgeoning scene within the US and across broader international horizons.

Riding the wave of an immensely triumphant co-headline tour with Lunacy in the Northeast, House of Harm sets sail towards their eagerly awaited debut tour of the West Coast this coming August. Steel yourself for a memory-making spectacle as House of Harm entrances audiences with their incandescent performances and unwavering fervor for their artistry. The band’s itinerary includes a journey across Washington, Oregon, California, and Arizona.

Upon the arrival of September, they’ll be retracing their steps back to the Northeastern US, presenting two new dates in NYC and Boston.

Tickets can be purchased here.

• 08/4: Substation – Seattle, WA
• 08/05: Coffin Club – Portland, OR
• 08/06: The Knockout – San Francisco, CA
• 08/07: El Cid – Los Angeles, CA
• 08/08: Rebel Lounge – Phoenix, AZ
• 9/14: The Middle East – Boston, MA
  9/15: Heaven Can Wait – New York, NY

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