Second-album syndrome cost Surrey five-piece Hundred Reasons their last recording contract. The MTV2 favourites parted company with Columbia following the release of 2004’s Shatterproof is Not a Challenge. Indeed, their Carling Weekend shows that year saw them perform on the main stage to a backdrop of “For Sale, Hundred Reasons.”

Singer Colin Doran, guitarists/vocalists Larry Hibbitt and Paul Townsend, Andy Gilmour on bass, and drummer Andy Bews broke through with Ideas Above Our Station in 2002. Reaching number six in the album chart, it spawned a number of Top 40 hits. By way of contrast, SINAC limped in at number 20.

Doran admits he wasn’t happy with some of songs that made it on to the second album whilst Hibbitt points to an overly rushed recording process. But now the boys are back, back, back after signing with V2 in September last year. And Kill Your Own is very much their comeback album.

Their third long-player doesn’t show much of a revolution in sound. It largely replicates the post-grunge alternative metal of their previous two releases. However, they make a decent stab at screamo on ‘Live Fast, Die Ugly’. Less impressive is ‘A Better Way?’, a shameless rip-off of the superior At The Drive-In’s trademark racket.

Because of their switch from major label to independent, Hundred Reasons can’t afford the services of the legendary Dave Sardy as a producer any more. Mainly due to budgetary concerns, Hibbitt carried out the production duties on Kill Your Own. Yet Doran and co have reasons enough to be cheerful as they’ve bounced back with a jaunty spring in their step.

(3½/5)

Release Date: 20 March 2006

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