I vaguely remember hearing some early stuff from these guys back in the early 2000’s. Then they disappeared off everyone’s radar, now fifteen years after their last release they are back with “Glorious Sunset”, glorious it is, and hopefully it’s not the last you’ll be hearing from them.
There is a freshness about their sound like they are enjoying playing together again and it transpires in each of the tracks with an almost carefree feel to the music. The title track “Glorious Sunset” gets the album underway; great melodies and tone from the guitars set the standard for things to come, there is a nice riff that runs in the background that coupled with Doran’s smooth vocals and kicking drum beat gets the album off to a flyer.
“New Glasses” takes the baton and runs, a more radio rock feel to this but it’s killer nonetheless, there is a real groove to the song that will get you tapping your toe to it, it is a major earworm. “It Suits You” kicks it up a few notches; a monster rocker that ebbs and flows from refrained verses to a chorus that are all about crashing drums and crunching riffs, this is one hell of a track. Piano and string lead “Replicate” slows things down in the shape of a ballad, Doran’s velvety vocals coupled with the band’s restrained sound really make the track.
“Done” is a brilliant track; from its softly strung opening with Doran’s raspy vocals to the crushing ending and all in between this is up there for a track of the album, there is a funky keyboard line that runs n the background through the verses but it is at the chorus where the track comes to life, a wall of sound in the shape of thunderous drums, sharp riffs and Doran’s killer vocals push this one over the top. “Right There With You” opens with a heavy bass line that gives way to some amazingly crisp riffs and Doran’s brilliant vocals, that alternate between near spoken in the verse to frantic when the chorus hits, aided by a thumping drum beat that underpins the whole song.
The dulcet tones of “Insultiment” bring you on a journey that flows nicely, a buzzing bass and clean riffs are the driving force behind the track as Doran serenades you with his silky vocals, this is a grower and one of the best tracks on the album. “So So Soon” comes to life with a killer guitar and bass riff as Bews beats the daylights out of the drums, Gilmour’s cool bass breakdown midway through is a real highlight, another brilliant track. “The Old School Way” as the title suggest is an old-school throwback to the heady days of the early noughties, an alt-rock lovers dream that rises and falls with crashing drums, bristling riffs and a rumbling bass as Doran puts in a blistering vocal performance, a killer tune. The album comes to a close with “Wave Form” which for my money is the best track on the album, a true alt-rock classic that builds slowly before bursting into life with a rousing chorus and a blistering finish, you can ask for more.
For a band that has been away for fifteen years it certainly doesn’t sound like it, this is a fantastic album and well worth a listen for old and new fans alike
Review: Conor
Hundred Reasons First album in 15 years
Glorious Sunset is to be released on 24th February 2023 via SO Recordings
Pre-order the album now here
Hundred Reasons – Glorious Sunset album tracklisting
Buy HERE
1. Glorious Sunset
2. New Glasses
3. It Suits You
4. Replicate
5. Done
6. Right There With You
7. Insultiment
8. So So Soon
9. The Old School Way
10. Wave Form
Hundred Reasons begin UK tour dates with special guests Hell Is For Heroes and My Vitriol in Feb 2023 performing on all dates aside from the Hertford warm-up show.
Tickets are available here.
Hundred Reasons UK headline tour dates & festival dates
Feb 22 – Hertford Corn Exchange, Hertford
Feb 23 – O2 Academy, Leeds
Feb 24 – Barrowland, Glasgow
Feb 25 – Academy, Manchester
Mar 02 – O2 Academy, Bristol – SOLD OUT
Mar 03 – O2 Institute, Birmingham
Mar 04 – Eventim Apollo Hammersmith, London
July 08 – 2000 Trees Festival
Hundred Reasons are:
Colin Doran (vocals)
Larry Hibbitt (guitar, vocals)
Andy Gilmour (bass, vocals)
Andy Bews (drums)