I used to be really into this band called Family Force 5. Okay, maybe “really into” is a vast understatement—I was a super fan. In the winter of 2009, Family Force 5 went on tour in support of the full-length Christmas album they had dropped back in October of that year. I was a senior in high school and absolutely obsessed with this band, so obviously when they announced that they were making a stop in Orlando, Florida, I had to be there. They had two opening acts, and though I can’t really remember what the first band sounded like, my memories of experiencing the second band are so vivid, it’s as if I just saw that concert yesterday. Little did I know in that moment that my life would be deeply impacted by the group I was watching. They would go on to not only provide the soundtrack to most of my senior year and last summer before college, but they would remain one of my absolute favorite artists of all time, and change my life emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.
To most, House of Heroes just seems like a no name emo/alternative rock band that I fell in love with in high school and never got over. But to me, House of Heroes embodies what it means to be a creative, innovative, unforgettable rock and roll band. Not only are they made up of some of the most passionate, talented instrumentalists and vocalists I’ve ever witnessed both in studio work and in live performance, but they also boast a very special, very unique musical quality that I’ve never found in any other band. They’re sound is unmatched, and their catalog is packed with songs that contain meaning and substance. Even though I’ve been familiar with most of their music for over a decade, they have the same potency now that they did 10 years ago. They’re lyrical masterminds, enveloping their songs with philosophical thought and emotive storytelling. They’re well-versed professionals at dropping small bits of deep-rooted, mind altering truth in the midst of their poetry, leaving a lasting mark on their listeners. They’re not afraid to take risks both sonically and stylistically. Whether it’s with the overwhelming harmonies done by lead singer Tim Skipper and drummer Colin Rigsby, or the strangely satisfying key signatures they choose while composing their tunes, they’ve cultivated a signature sound that is distinctively theirs. Though House of Heroes may not go down in history as the most legendary rock band of all time, those that know them will forever be devoted because of the passion, heart, and love they poured into us through their music.
House of Heroes was birthed at Hilliard Davidson High School in Columbus, Ohio. It was there that lead singer Tim Skipper and bassist AJ Babcock met and began playing together in a band called Plan B. After a member swap, bringing in new drummer Colin Rigsby, they changed their name to No Tag Backs, and released an independent album under that name called Ten Months. They later decided to shift their sound and rename themselves for a third time, settling on House of Heroes. In 2003, they produced their first studio album titled What You Want Is Now on Vanishing Point Records. After it’s release, they attracted the attention of popular faith-based label Gotee Records, and was eventually brought on to the company’s roster.
The band released their second studio project House of Heroes in April of 2005 under Gotee Records, combining some new music with reworkings of a few songs from What You Want Is Now. They also began touring with groups like Relient K and MxPx to promote their music. This same album was reissued a year later under the title Say No More, and included two bonus songs, “The Invisible Hook” and “You Are the Judas of the Cheerleading Squad.” In September of 2008, House of Heroes dropped their breakthrough, third album The End Is Not The End, which peaked at number 19 on the Billboard Christian Chart. This album, with heavy World War II-era themes, played heavily on college radios during its release year. During this time, there were CD distribution issues, and for a while, was only accessible on iTunes and at live shows. It was later available via retailer online stores, and on those copies, held two bonus songs: “New Moon” and “Ghost.” In the spring of 2009, they released a supplementary EP called The Acoustic End EP, featuring two new original songs and an acoustic cover of their track “If.” In the summer of that year, they dropped a second EP called House of Heroes Meets the Beatles!
In August of 2010, House of Heroes dropped their most commercially successful LP—an album called Suburba. The record, produced by long time Relient K collaborator Mark Lee Townsend, received wide critical acclaim, containing some of their most intense, sonically powerful tunes to date. A reviewer for the magazine Alternative Press wrote,
“With ‘Suburba’ House of Heroes has taken the whole sound to a new level. The ultimate attraction of this album is the seamless and natural way that House of Heroes has been able to combine different genres and specific elements of other artists into a workable, accessible and extremely cohesive album.”
Suburba reached number 48 on Billboard’s 200, and issued some of their strongest singles like “Constant,” “Elevator,” and “God Save The Foolish Kings.”
In the winter of 2011, the band entered into the studio with producer Paul Moak, who had previously worked with artists like Lovedrug and Mat Kearney, to begin recording their fifth record. It was released in July of 2012 with the title Cold Hard Want. Reaching number 73 on the Billboard 200, it was welcomed by critics and fans alike as the successor of Suburba. AllMusic’s Chrysta Cherrie wrote about Cold Hard Want, “Wrapping their messages in energized, empowering punk-pop and hard rock hooks, ‘Cold Hard Want’ is as much a reflection of House of Heroes’ overall sound and ethos as it is the natural next step in their evolution.” This album would be the last full-length studio project released in partnership with Gotee Records. 
To meet contractual obligations, the band released a compilation of b-sides, outtakes, and alternative takes called The Knock Down Drag Outs in 2013—it also contained three new original songs.
After promoting the project through a crowdfunding website, the band released Smoke EP in 2014. It was made up of six original songs including the single “Satisfied.” After the success of their fundraiser, they applied that same concept to the funding of their sixth studio album Colors, which was released in July of 2016. It was later picked up and distributed through the independent label BadChristian, owned by Toby Morrell and Matt Carter of the band Emery. Unlike their previous work, Colors was a concept album revolving around the lives of three main characters, the connections between them, and the rough life of living in a run down small town. House of Heroes has not issued any work since Colors, making it their final album as a group.
Though the band has not worked together in several years, there has never been an official departure announcement. In December of 2018, they put on a one-night-only show celebrating the release of The End Is Not The End in their hometown of Columbus, Ohio.
Though House of Heroes has not claimed any break up of sorts, it’s assumed by fans that there won’t be any more music coming from them in the future. With that in mind, the band has released a total of six studio albums, five EPs, and one compilation during their active years. Though I would love to cover everything in their discography, I’m going to touch on a handful of projects that either had a major impact on me or were commercially successful for the group. Again, the whole concept of this project is not only to explore my favorite artists further, but to also forge a pathway between them and those that maybe aren’t familiar with their art.
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Suburba, 2010
House of Heroes always manages to cultivate a singular sound for each of their records. Suburba exudes the bright, lush tones of summer, transporting listeners into a suburban neighborhood filled with hot concrete roads, old fashioned block parties, the smell of a fresh rain, and the freedom to simply be. The opener “Relentless” sets the scene with wailing guitars, sharp fills, and a sense of anticipation for what the upcoming time will bring. Though the band may claim that their third record The End Is Not The End is their crowning jewel, there are many that believe Suburba is House of Heroes’ best. I personally have a difficult time placing anything above The End Is Not The End, but to deny the quality of sound and production in this album would be outrageous. There’s a texture to Suburba that leaves a lasting impression, making listeners want to return to its comforting, tangible tone again and again. Some of my favorite tunes on the record are “Salt in the Sea,” “Elevator,” “God Save the Foolish Kings,” “Relentless,” and “Burn Me Down.”
Cold Hard Want, 2012
While Suburba was seeping with warm, summer vibes, House of Heroes’ follow up record Cold Hard Want took on a different sound. Though just as powerful, the tunes found on this album feel more spacious and brisk. Every House of Heroes album is jam packed with profound lyrics, but Cold Hard Want might possibly be their most thought-provoking and eloquently written project. Whether its the blistering “Remember the Empire,” the power ballad “Touch This Light,” or the slow burning album closer “I Am a Symbol,” there are words and ideas that not only reach to the band’s faith-based following, but to all that listen to their music. I’ve always felt that one of House of Heroes’ greatest qualities is their ability to write music that’s relatable and universal. Cold Hard Want is a perfect example of this, and is by far their most lyrically versatile record. My preferred tunes on the album are “Out My Way,” “Remember the Empire,” “Comfort Trap,” and “Angels of Night.”
The End Is Not The End, 2008
Lead singer Tim Skipper once said that he never thought anyone would listen to their album all about “history, time, and space.” And while that sounds like an odd combination of themes for a record, it truly defines the feeling of The End Is Not The End. Though Suburba brought a newer, brighter element of production into the music of House of Heroes, there’s a quality to this record that makes it durable, powerful, and timeless. Heavily laced with a World War II motif and rooted cosmic undertones, The End Is Not The End displays House of Heroes as not only a talented band, but a unique one willing to push the boundaries of their genre in instrumentation, message, and lyrics. The band doesn’t claim it to be a concept album, but with songs like “If,” “Baby’s a Red,” and “By Your Side,” it’s hard to not envision a path created for this unknown character and their journey through the uncertainties of life. The End Is Not The End will forever be the project people remember from House of Heroes. Did they mature in both sound and lyrics in the years after this? Sure they did. But there’s a special characteristic to this album that has never been matched in any of their other works. It’s fun, emotive, and unforgettable. My favorite tunes from The End Is Not The End are “In The Valley of the Dying Sun,” “Field of Daggers,” “Code Name: Raven,” and “Voices.”
Music videos make for unique supplementary content at the release of songs and albums. Though House of Heroes’ catalog isn’t quite extensive enough to host a variety of these, they have made some truly stand-out videos that add even more layers to their moving music.
“Serial Sleepers”
“Serial Sleepers” can be found on House of Heroes’ second studio album Say No More, and was their first major breakthrough single. While I’m uncertain of the exact meaning of the music video, and I’m not sure I’ll ever know why the creepy man replaced all of the normal items with blue versions, it plays a large part in the aesthetic of the band and kind of symbolism they would bring to the table throughout their career. Not to mention that it holds some of the BEST vocal performances they ever did as a band.
“God Save The Foolish Kings”
“God Save the Foolish Kings” is one of House of Heroes most notable songs. Using the imagery of rivaling gangs in the video, they take viewers through a visual journey addressing the idea of masking loneliness and emptiness with outward rebellion in our lives and, in turn, our relationships with God. Ps – the guest vocalist’s name is Stephanie Smith, who eventually married House of Heroes’ lead singer Tim Skipper. Pss – See the drummer? That happens to be Josh Dun from Twenty One Pilots. He played for House of Heroes for a short time while member Colin Rigsby took some time off to be with his family. It’s crazy to think that now Josh Dun is such a huge star!
“In The Valley of The Dying Sun”
As I mentioned before, The End Is Not The End is full of World War II themes, and the video for “In The Valley of the Dying Sun” plays into that in a fantastic way. The video tells the story of two soldiers in combat with each other, and the realization they both come to that human life is more important than hatred. The band sings, “I’m thinking of you. I’m thinking of you when I kill a good man to keep myself from being killed by him.” That theme is strong through the entire song and video—they’re being trained to kill each other when in reality they both deserve life. This is my favorite video from House of Heroes, and it’s one that I think leaves a lasting impact on its viewers.
After the release of their album Colors in 2016, not much was heard from House of Heroes for a long time, and it was assumed by most fans that the band had quietly decided to part ways. Though we were all horrifically sad at the thought, we continued to immerse ourselves in their music. We never forgot them, and hoped for a future filled with more House of Heroes. Then, in the fall of 2018—the year marking the 10th anniversary of their jewel The End Is Not The End—the band announced a reunion show in their hometown of Columbus, Ohio. They were to play The End Is Not The End from start to finish as a celebration of their iconic album. The tickets were cheap, and though we’d have to travel, I told my husband that I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to see a band that has made such an impact on me play one more time. After selling out TWO different venues in Columbus, they settled on a third option to host the amount of people eager to experience this show and desperate to be in the presence of House of Heroes again. That December, we packed our bags, and headed to Ohio to witness the incredible reunion. The show was unbelievable, and though I was plagued with a horrible cold, I sang every song at the very top of my lungs (and I didn’t have a voice all the next day because of it). I laughed, I cried, I cheered, and I felt that same amazing, indescribable feeling that House of Heroes and their music always provides for me. At one point during the show, the lead singer Tim Skipper cautiously approached the microphone as he held back tears in a very obvious, overwhelming sense of awe and said something to the extent of, “There was a time when I thought that House of Heroes had run its course. I stopped believing that people cared about our music, and didn’t think it was worth continuing. But tonight has proved to us that that is simply not the case, and that our music is continuing to resonate with our fans.” My heart broke for these guys up on that stage because they had been so unaware of their worth. It took this reunion show for them to see that their music was impacting people, and they were making a difference. And that is the thought that burns in my brain as I continue to listen to and advocate for this band today.
It’s a beautifully rare thing when a band pursues music not just for fame and fortune, but for passion and community. House of Heroes is a band that could rival any other—they’re intense, polished, smart musicians with a strong knack for songwriting and arrangement. Their voices are powerful and resounding, and their chemistry is obvious both in the studio and at live shows. Their talent is limitless, and they deserve the attention that their fans give to them because they are one of the greatest musical acts to ever exist. House of Heroes holds a very special piece of my heart. Whether there’s new material on the horizon, or their catalog is complete, their music will forever inspire, motivate, encourage, and move me.
My top five House of Heroes albums (in order):
– The End Is Not The End
– Cold Hard Want
– Suburba
– Colors
– Say No More
My top 10 House of Heroes songs (in order):
– “Relentless”
– “In The Valley of the Dying Sun”
– “Field of Daggers”
– “Remember The Empire”
– “God”
– “Out My Way”
– “Satisfied”
– “Serial Sleepers”
– “Matador”
– “Metaphor In Parentheses”
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