Kill Your Preview

Today a guest article from "Ze Pop'n'Fresh":

Emo My Arse…

Thankfully Wikipedia is normally right, because when it suggested that Hundred Reasons were in fact Emo, I actually wanted to go to America, and introduce some Wikipedia servers to my good friend thermite.

But anyway now as the FBI are currently winging there way over to arrest me on terrorism offences, I had better make this Quick. The phantasmagorical POST HARDCORE band otherwise known as Hundred Reasons have some rather spiffing demo songs, from their upcoming album Kill Your Own available from their website (www.hundredreasons.com ). Listen now, read later, as my article cannot do justice to the fantastic smorgasbord of musical glory that Hundred Reasons have come up with.

No Pretending

From the rapture of perfection that is the distortion at the opening, to driving Soundgarden inspired riffs, and from Colin Doran’s explosion of punk rock inspired vocals in the chorus, to the slow building to crescendo at the end off the bridge, this song is a cataclysmic landslide on the ears. Very much a new stylistic direction for HR, much more inspired by their punk rock heritage and driving rock riffs of the past, than the post-hardcore Brit rock style they have helped to define.

Kill Your Own

Wow, what an opening, once again homage to classic punk, with major rock overtones. The guitar riffs used are so chunky; you could wrap them in chocolate, and make a mint selling it to Cadburys! The vocal line while slightly more restrained than No Pretending, still rings of the energy and passion that only HR can put into a 3 minute long track. And just as you're ringing from the assault of the beginning half, the bridge and guitar solo kick you in the goolies with even more energy. I have heard some criticism that the song starts, and stops with no building of energy in the middle, but I am sure it will make a lot more sense in the context of the full album.

Tim - It's better than he makes out. And he makes it sound awesome.

This Mess

Would seem to be the obligatory quiet track needed these days… but the immortal words “my arse” spring to mind as soon as the song gets going. Very much Brit rock anthem inspired, with definite Coldplay (for want of a better band) overtones. This song rings of the energy and passion HR put into all of there songs, but also shows restraint and kickass song writing skills, combined with a musical talent so lacking in the British music scene today.

Overall V2 are looking like they made a good purchase when signing Hundred Reasons. They're back to form, (that I never really thought they lost, but the sales of sophomore effort Shatterproof is Not a Challenge show others don't agree) and overall it’s looking like a promising year for the band.

Kill Your Own is released on the March 20^th 2006, and a full tour schedule accompanies it.

Tim - 1st of April. Rock City all-nighter. Hundred Reasons headlining. I have my tickets, why don't you?