They say all good things must eventually come to an end. After releasing three albums and touring the country numerous times over a six year timespan, it would have been very easy for Reason to Rebel to cash in their chips and throw in the towel. Even if the band had decided to just go easy on themselves and take a short break, noone would have held it against them. But throughout all the tough times and hard work, the group had come to a realization. Reason to Rebel wasn't just a band anymore. It was a family, and this brotherhood wanted nothing more than to keep making music together for as long as nature allowed. So in the summer of 2010, less than six months after releasing their hour-plus epic "Imaginary Foe," the guys went into the studio and began writing what would later become their fourth studio album. Back to being just a four-piece, they decided to take a new approach with regards to their songwriting. Gone were the abrupt tempo changes, long jam sessions, over-the-top vocals, and off-timing signatures. In their place were catchy, downtuned riffs mixed with nod-your-head beats that allow people to simultaneously rock out and dance at the same time. Armed with a new pop sensibility, the vocals soar with the kind of hooks that still carry a weighty message while managing to get permanently lodged in your brain. Within six months the band was recording music for the LP's 10 tracks with producer Alexander James Pappas. Not content with just releasing another CD, Reason to Rebel set their sights onto something greater: CREATING A MOVEMENT. As vocalist Luke Chandler describes it, "At times we forget the role musicians and artists have played in society for centuries: to provide social commentary, to speak up for those whose voices have been silenced, and to remind people of their own humanity. Not only is it our duty to shed light on these things, but its also a privilege to have a medium which brings joy, and provides an outlet for those who feel burdened by the pressures we all face. Our band was at a crossroads before creating this record. Having taken our sound as far as it could go in a certain direction with the last two albums, we challenged ourselves to do something we hadn't done before, and in so doing, rejuvenated our creativity and our determination." Reason to Rebel might have also just rejuvenated their careers with what is by far their best album to date. Aptly titled "Movement of Clarity," it is by no means a final chapter, but instead, a fresh, new start. It represents a leaner, sleeker, more precise and polished Reason to Rebel; a version 2.0, if you will. The songs promise to appeal not just to diehard fans, but to a broader audience who might not have quite understood what the old Reason to Rebel was doing. They brought back their good friend, Grammy award-winning Isaiah "Ikey" Owens of The Mars Volta, to lay down a menagerie of keys and synths on seven of the album's tracks. They also enlisted the help of Grammy-nominated Brent Hinds of Mastodon to deliver his signature style of vocals on the Wikileaks-inspired track "Freedom is Armed." Sadly, before the album was completed, tragedy struck the band when their longtime friend and collaborator George Gore died of an apparent accidental drug overdose. His artwork had graced the covers of all the band's previous three records, as well as numerous t-shirts and posters. His tattoos covered the skin of each band member, not to mention countless of their friends and fans. His passing left a void that was hard to swallow, but inspired a new conviction to do him proud. "Movement of Clarity" is dedicated to his memory, and the album's final track is an opus to the man who believed in and inspired the band more than imaginable. While other groups have disintegrated or fallen to the wayside before their eyes, Reason to Rebel has proven themselves a force to be reckoned with by their relentless tour schedule and succession of albums over the years. With each step, the band has gotten better, wiser, stronger, and with the release of "Movement of Clarity" they have made the ultimate progression: from bonafied crowd pleaser to legitimate rock contender. Now all that's left is to hold on tight and enjoy the ride. And what a ride it will be.
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