12th House Rock

Houston, TX's Narrow Head are excited to announce their new album "12th House Rock" to be released on Run For Cover Records and Holy Roar Records (U.K.) August 28th, 2020. The new LP is available for pre-order now. Check out their new singles “Night Tryst” and "Stuttering Stanley" streaming now. 

“Nobody has riffs anymore,” says founding member/vocalist/guitarist Jacob Duarte when asked about his approach on 12th House Rock, Narrow Head’s highly anticipated LP for Run for Cover due on August 28. “That’s the kind of band we are and to me, that’s just how you write songs. Drums, bass, guitar, vocals. Nothing else. There are no other instruments on the record.”

The Houston-based band’s latest entry is the distillation of the greatest moments in 90’s alternative and hard rock with a fresh set of ears, thirteen tracks of their signature brand of bludgeoning lullabies bursting at the seams with creative ideas, new directions and yes, massive, monolithic riffs. In between the sparkle and smash, open-hearted and emotionally naked songwriting showcases a core piece of the band’s identity– showcasing 12th House Rock as one of the best releases of 2020. “It’s the definitive work of Narrow Head,” proudly explains bassist Ryan Chavez. “Recorded in a studio over a month’s span, the way they used to do it. Not just for the sake of making it that way, but because it was the right way for us.”

 Delving into deep-seated themes of self loathing, desolation, self-medication, the loss of loved ones and hopeful redemption,12th House Rock is, as the title suggests, a rock-focused LP themed on transition– exploring the vast abyss of darkness just before the sun cracks upon the horizon. “A lot of the record was made in the late hours and early morning,” recalls Duarte. ”Those quiet moments alone when utter silence and my self-medication made it impossible to escape from my own thoughts. It was also from a specific time when I didn’t take care of myself and made bad decisions in all aspects of my life."

Using distorted guitars as their primary vehicle, Narrow Head’s wall of riffs add stark contrast to their best quality– deceptively sweet pop melodies that channel the lessons of My Bloody Valentine, Cocteau Twins, Helmet, Deftones and Guided by Voices all at once. “Distortion provides a harmonic sound that feels like static texture,” details Duarte. “It feels smooth while being loud and noisy at the same time. But some of our favorite bands don’t use distortion– all music inspires us. Loud rock is only the first part of our formula– this record is our take on music we like from the last 20 years.”

Reviews of 12th House Rock on Release Wave

Second single "Stuttering Stanley" showcases the better parts of 90s alt rock......

The second single "Stuttering Stanley" has been released by Narrow Head and furthers my excitement for the new LP "12th House Rock" set to release next month. This song has a nice groove to it, with loud distorted guitars, and a more passive vocal delivery, while sticking close to their melodic shoegaze meets 90s alt rock vibes. The latest single is remiscient of Gish or Siamese Dream era Smashing Pumpkins and You'd Prefer an Astronaut era Hum. Spacey and noisey, passive yet aggressive, and always melodic, Narrow Head continue to stay true to their influences while keeping their sound raw and fresh.  

Jason Gordon on Monday, July 20, 2020

Narrow Head bring the distortion, riffs, and heavy melodic rock of the 90s with 2nd LP!

I'm definitely excited to see Narrow Head finally emerging with a new LP this summer, after already being a huge fan of their debut LP "Satisfaction". These Houston, TX rockers continue to combine all of the sounds I loved in my college years during the early / mid 90s and continue to love today. I wish more bands would just stick to the basics like these guys with crushing loud guitars, big riffs, thundering bass grooves, and driving / soaring melodies, while still managing to incorporate hooks that make you want to hit repeat. If you're a fan of 90s influenced guitar driven rock, and enjoy bands like Hum, early Smashing Pumpkins, older Helmet and anything melodic shoegaze, you're definitely going to love what you hear from Narrow Head. I highly recommend checking out their debut LP "Satisfaction" to hold you over, and certainly check out their new single "Night Tryst" taken from the forthcoming LP, 12th House Rock. This shit rocks!

Jason Gordon on Monday, June 22, 2020