order of one - reason to wake

Order Of One

Reason To Wake
self-released; 2014

3.6 out of 5

By Ted Rogen

Order of One is a band from the UK that formed this year but already has found time to write, record and release their first EP entitled Reason To Wake. The band may still be in the embryonic stage but the EP is a solid initial release that should turn some heads and have some people take notice.  They are a three-piece band comprised of Mike Bell (vocals, guitar), Greg Chapman (drums) and Charlie Morgan (bass). 

They play off kilter rock that can draw comparisons to Avenged Sevenfold, Muse and to a lesser extent Radiohead. The music can get pretty heavy, as well as soft and serene. Suffice it to say the band is dynamic. Take for example the track “Ruin.” About halfway through the band hits one of the sweetest moments, which revolves around overlapping vocal harmonies and a clean guitar that sounds similar to Thom Yorke singing “I Will” before exploding into a heavy part that Radiohead never dreamed of. When the rest of the band enters the drumming is frantic and the bass hits a surplus of notes while the guitars washes it away with distortion.

The opener “Breathe” displayed the dynamic nature of the band. It jumps out of the gates with the band rocking out but once the verse enters the band removes the distortion and the drums soften up. What happens next is the part that impressed me most. A lesser band would have simply gone into the heavier part again but instead the drums and guitar drop out and a lone piano makes itself known to accompany the vocals. Orchestral strings are added and produce a tender moment that doesn't last. A gritty bass line enters into the picture and they go into math rock type part that contains a barrage of notes. It’s an ambitious song if somewhat scattered.

The second track “Bitter” is a highlight as the song is divided into two distinct parts. It starts with vocals, atmospheric elements and keys.  It was becoming clear that the band’s strongest moments were also some of the quietest and subdued. I strongly favored Bell’s vocals during the first part of the song. His delivery here is more aesthetically pleasing than the later half of the song. I especially enjoyed his vocals when he sings falsetto. The second half of the song rocks and isn’t bad at all but didn’t necessarily feel that connected to the first part.

They close with “Jack’s Wasted Life,” which revolves around an acoustic guitar and Bell’s vocals. A solid closer.It is obvious that the band is still figuring the direction they want to go in and what their sound is. That being said I heard a lot of good things on this EP, which points to a band with a lot of promise. Keep your eyes on them.

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