Sophomore albums, especially after following successful debuts, can be a little bit tricky to write. There are expectations from fans and critics, but you also have your own desires on what you, as an artist, want to do to continue pushing yourself forward. You can either choose to stick with what you have created or re-define who you are as a band to move forward. There is nothing inherently wrong with either choice but Minneapolis trio Household chose the former.

“This is a pretty defining record for us,” begins bassist and vocalist Joshua Gilbert, “We’ve been a hardcore band for a while and this is our first transition into more of this rock/emo that we’re doing. Writing a record like this felt more true to who I am as an individual but also who our band is.”

This shift in sound can be, partially, attributed to the members getting older (and of course wiser), as well as the shift in their own musical taste. Throughout the record you can hear the emo influences that are now overshadowing perhaps their younger punk-driven days. It’s a change that, as Gilbert explains it, “feels like a more accurate expression of where our band is at now….we’re definitely growing into a more mature and somber outlook on life in general, and the album represents that.”

If you are looking for a more introspective and honest album from Household, then Everything a River Should Be is going to be right up your alley. Gilbert pulled inspiration from within and got more personal on this record than previous releases for the group. You can hear at times on the record where Gilbert is drawing from a deep, personal, and incredibly vulnerable place. This can be a daunting task as an artist, but a cathartic one to experience as a listener. There will be multiple cathartic experiences for you, as a listener, going through this album – but it’s all for the better.

I could talk to you about Household’s new album all day; the gloomy and tone-setter opener “Awake” to the heavy-hitting “Dark Matter,” and then brooding, sinister finale of “Bloom.” Despite some of the heavy lyrical content, Gilbert believes this is an album that would not exist without going through some of these hardships. “The idealistic part of me does wish we didn’t have to go through this, but now looking at what the record has become, I’m pretty happy,” he mentions.

We are so pleased to be premiering Everything a River Should Be for you today, and there’s little doubt that you won’t get some enjoyment out of this record.  “After 2 years of writing, we’re finally able to share these songs with everyone! It means the world, having a label like Equal Vision to release this album on. The songs reflect the spectrum of human emotion and the cost of relationships. I hope these tracks meet people where they’re at. All we can offer is our experiences and Everything a River Should Be is our representation of this messy but worthwhile life, “ Gilbert mentions with this album being out.

You can find our exclusive stream of Household’s album below. If you like what you hear, we also have their upcoming tour dates with Senses Fail, Reggie and the Full Effect, and Have Mercy listed. Everything a River Should Be will be out this Friday, February 23 via Equal Vision Records and can be pre-ordered here.

2/27 – Santa Ana, CA @ The Observatory

2/28 – Mesa, AZ @ Nile Theater

3/2 – Dallas, TX @ Gas Monkey Bar & Grill

3/3 – Austin, TX @ Barracuda

3/5 – Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade

3/6 – Tampa, FL @ The Orpheum

3/7 – Orlando, FL @ House Of Blues

3/9 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle

3/10 – Baltimore, MD @ Baltimore Soundstage

3/11 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg

3/12 – Hartford, CT @ Webster Underground **

3/13 – Millvale, PA @ Mr. Smalls Theatre

3/14 – Detroit, MI @ St. Andrew’s Hall

3/16 – Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club

3/17 – Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom

3/18 – Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre Of The Living Arts

3/20 – Cleveland, OH @ Agora Ballroom

3/21 – Chicago, IL @ House of Blues

3/22 – Lawrence, KS @ Granada Theatre

3/23 – Denver, CO @ Summit Music Hall

3/24 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Complex

3/26 – Seattle, WA @ Neumos

3/27 – Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theatre

3/29 – San Francisco, CA @ Slim’s

3/30 – San Diego, CA @ The Observatory North Park

3/31 – Las Vegas, NV @ Brooklyn Bowl

4/3 – St. Louis, MO @ Fubar **

4/4 – Indianapolis, IN @ Hoosier Dome **

**Denotes show w/ Have Mercy ONLY