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| Colin Doran is perhaps most known as the vocalist in Hundred Reasons (as in this picture). Now he joins forces with the drummer of Pitchshifter and Bullet For My Valentine, as they form the new band They Fell From the Sky. |
Update note: I originally posted this article on onlytheJo on April 1, 2021. As I decided it suited better on Rock Today, I transferred it here. This is also a slightly updated version with new videos, including a new interview with Colin Doran at the end.
One of the leading bands of the British post-hardcore movement of the early 2000s was definitely Hundred Reasons, which set the bar high with their excellent 2002 debut Ideas Above Our Station. During their somewhat short albeit productive career, they made four albums in total, the last of which was Quick the Word, Sharp the Action of 2007. The band has occasionally regrouped for rare live shows (including some more recent acoustic performances by singer Colin Doran and Andy Gilmour under the humorous, self-deprecating name Undead Raisins). Other than that, the band has been very silent in terms of new music. This is to be expected though, as they've officially disbanded. While we're still not getting new music from Hundred Reasons per se, fans of the band will be pleased to finally get to hear Doran's instantly recognisable vocals again, as he takes on a new project together with some new (and old) bandmates.
Earlier Side Projects
This is not the first detour Colin Doran has taken from Hundred Reasons, however. Right at the height of the band's career, Doran also found the time to join another band, called The Lucky Nine, which was musically somewhat similar to Hundred Reasons, but with a stronger emphasis on the hardcore roots. The band made one album, released in 2005. The same year, Doran also made his first guest appearance in a band called This Is Menace, which was more of a metalcore type of thing, featuring two members of industrial rock/metal outfit Pitchshifter; bassist Mark Clayden and drummer Jason Bowld. The tracks he appears on are called Deadman and Oversight, for the unaware. Both The Lucky Seven and This is Menace only existed rather briefly, however.
Colin Doran's Unexpected Announcement
Then, since the end of the '00s, Hundred Reasons got off the radar, more or less. Until now, as their lead vocalist dropped a major bomb on the band's Facebook page, announcing he has started working with a new rock project called They Fell From the Sky. Along with the announcement was also a brand new song called Dry. As you can see in the post below, a full album is also in the making.
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| Colin Doran's pleasant surprise on Facebook a few days ago. |
Another Collaboration With the Pitchshifter Drummer
With this new "studio rock project" as it's being referred to, Colin Doran and Pitchshifter drummer Jason Bowld (who currently plays with Bullet for My Valentine), once again cross their paths. Judging by the new track Dry, the band is a departure from what Hundred Reasons sounded like last time we heard them in 2007, with its softer, more melodic sound. Instead, They Fell From the Sky sees a return to the slightly more aggressive hardcore sound, reminiscent of what Doran's side project The Lucky Nine offered.
First single releases
It's a real treat to hear Colin sing again, still sounds great. Really been missing this bloke, even though his epic hairdo has slightly diminished over the years.
The new material is definitely still in the post-hardcore subgenre. It has a very loud and powerful sound to it. Perhaps also with a harder edge than we generally got from Hundred Reasons. Especially in the second song, Crush This World. Check out Dry and Crush This World below and see what you think!
Caution: The videos below contain flickering visuals. If you are sensitive to this, please be advised!
Dry
Crush This World
Update: Album Out Now
The new album came out in the spring of 2021. It's produced by the band’s guitarist Dave Draper, who’s best known for his work with The Wildhearts, The Professionals and Kerbdog. Sounds promising indeed! Also part of the band is Lee Erinmez (Snuff) as well as Oly Edkins.
Recommended Music
Below are some older albums by the band member's related projects. Why not take the time to re-discover some old gems. Maybe you've missed a few?
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Hundred Reasons
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| Ideas Above Our Station (US | CA | UK | DE/EU) |
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| Shatterproof Is Not a Chall... (US | CA | UK | DE/EU) |
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| Kill Your Own (US | CA | UK | DE/EU) |
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| Quick the Word... (US | CA | UK | DE/EU) |
Pitchshifter
Side Projects
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| The Lucky Nine - True Crown... (US | CA | UK | DE/EU) |
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| This is Menace - No End in... (US | CA | UK | DE/EU) |
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| This Is Menace - Scene Is Dead (US | CA | UK | DE/EU) |
Interview with Colin Doran
Colin talks about the new music in TFFTS, and whether they plan to do any live shows. Also a few words about his relationship with his old band mates in Hundred Reasons. They also get into the subject of retro video games, favourite albums and more.
Band Photos
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| Colin Doran performing with Hundred Reasons, 2005. Photo: rokfoto, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons |
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| Jason Bowld performing with Bullet for My Valentine in 2018. Photo: Stefan Brending, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link |
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