Hands

Shane Ochsner, Josh Silbernagel, and Chris Schwartz collectively are Hands, a band that combines circling atmospheric guitars punctuated with hard hitting progressions and a thundering rhythm section. They are a band in which rock and roll meets ambient hardcore and warm silvery singing rivals hardcore screams. Their songs are carefully crafted and layered with hope and strength, their evocative lyrics and emotional vocals leave Hands open-hearted to listeners. Ochsner's voice carries seamlessly from throaty growl to melodic yell and settles beautifully into sweet harmony as the songs progress. Hands diverse musical pallet is exemplified in their ability to unfurl hugely anthemic post-rock ballads bearing the influence of Isis or Cult of Luna while at the same time laying out both solidly progressive hardcore tracks inspired by bands such as Life In Your Way and Misery Signals and even experimental alternative rock reflecting their love of bands like Jimmy Eat World, Hum and The Violet Burning. Since forming in Fargo, North Dakota in 2007 Hands have desired to present a passionate and intense live show. Though they have pulled back from touring full time, those who are lucky enough to witness the band in a live setting experience a performance that is characterized by what dummer Josh Silbernagel calls "beautiful chaos." After independantly releasing their debut e.p. entitled "The Everlasting" and writing their epic concept album "The Sounds Of Earth" for the now defunct Lobster/Oort Records, Hands brought their progressive hardcore and post-rock stylings to Facedown Records for their critically acclaimed 2009 sophmore full-length entitled "Creator". After much touring in support of that record and a brief hiatus to catch their breath the band began work on their second Facedown Records release "Give Me Rest". This project finds the band at their most innovative and bringing forth their heaviest, most melodic and possibly their most creative work to date. "Give Me Rest" is due out July 5th 2011.