If the band Holy White Hounds are any indication, alt-rock is experiencing a new heyday. From the mid-western plains of Iowa, the quartet is unleashing a pummeling brand of vigorous rock that practically demands to be played at a loud volume. The guitars provide a jolt of energy in every track, balanced with the right amount of thrash and croon. Their debut album Sparkle Sparkle hit shelves in May and the group has been on the road doing both headline shows and supporting the Cult since. We spoke with lead singer and guitarist Brenton Dean about the band's history, hometown and what's ahead.

Homebase: Des Moines, IA 

How did you all initially meet and come together as a band?

Ambrose and I met in high school. We have been in bands here and there since then. When we decided to start HWH we wanted to take this project much more seriously than any we had previously. We went through several lineup changes. Our current guitar player, James, even played drums for a while. We met Seth playing another show for another band and fell in love with his good looks. That was when the lineup became solid.

What's the story behind your band name?

When we decided to add James Manson (guitar) to the band, we had him over to a practice. He took a look at my dog and asked if it was okay to pet her. I told him it was probably not a good idea because she bites. That was when he proceeded to bite my dog in the neck. He gave her an infection and she is no longer with us. We named the band in her honor.

What drives you to create the music that you do? 

A lot of times, when we write a song, we try to make something that we think is "cool." We all love catchy songs. Our favorite songs are often songs with great hooks. But in the case of a song like "Switchblade," we wanted it to be a song that we felt our balls expand as we played it.

What does rock offer as a genre that is missing in others? 

I would probably cite the mass subcultures of rock. Under the rock genre you have pop, rap, hip-hop, punk, country, etc. As far as I know, other genres don't have quite the diversity rock does.

What do you want listeners to take away from your latest album Sparkle Sparkle?

We had so much fun making Sparkle Sparkle. I hope that fun is contagious. Some of the subject matter in the songs can be a bit heavy. Writing the songs can really put me in my head for a while, but performing the songs came so easily. 

What bands did you grow up listening to? How did you discover new music and get exposed to those bands?

There was a local music store called Zzz Records that we would go to to find music. There was also a guitar store called Dirks Guitars that I would hang out at a lot. And I would always go there in high school on my open periods, or even skip school, just to be there. The guy who own the shop, Dirk, is still a dear friend of the band and shows us new music from time to time.

What's the music scene like in Des Moines?

It's good. In fact, there are people here that are doing GREAT things. The 8035 Festival has been really great for Des Moines. There is a venue in Des Moines called Wooly's that brings in a ton of really great bands. There are also cool places to play, like Gaslamp and Vaudeville Mews, at when coming through the area. And of course, in any direction, you're not far from Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City, and Omaha. It's a fun place to be and it's not too crowded or crazy so you can still relax.

What would you like to accomplish as a band?

We just want to be able to keep making records. That is, often times, a sign of a healthy band.