Album Review: One Gone Thus - 'Impermanence'

Sometimes, all it takes is just two people to write good music. Greg Eagle and Ryan Sabouhi of L.A.'s One Gone Thus know that all too well with their debut EP, ‘Impermanence’.

Sabouhi, who also mixed and mastered ‘Impermanence’, shares the vocal duties as well as playing guitar and programming all synth, whereas Eagle (seriously, badass last name, dude) holds down a lot of the guitars and the vocals. Much like All Human, there are other musicians featured on this EP that help to bring it to life. Drummer Ben Corona, bassist Danny Hernandez, and singer Jazzy Gutierrez feature respectively. Now, I have absolutely no fucking clue who those people are but hey if there's any chance that ‘Impermanence’ would be worse off without them, then I am glad they're helped this duo out.

Now, you know that gif of Robert Downey Jr. doing that massive eye-roll? Well, that was me when I heard heavily edited intro to the EP’s first song, ‘Self & Soul’ came on. “Oh, great”, I thought to myself, “another breakdown heavy post-hardcore band”. But the very next second the song basically turns into a more recent Dance Gavin Dance track with complex guitar work, groovy drumming, harsh yells and soaring vocals. Okay, you got me, One Gone Thus – I judged a book by its cover. Don’t hate me for it! This is a great first track and it more or less shows that the band has more depth than other post-hardcore acts.

‘A Girl Who Turned To Stone’ has gotten “lead single” written all bloody over it, with plenty of catchy choruses and strong melodies to it. But while the choruses are solid, it’s the verses where this track really shines. Sporadic drumming and driving guitars are my bread and butter, so this song gets my tick of approval. Another track that could be an easy taker for radio is ‘Porcelain’, for basically the same reasons as ‘A Girl Who Turned To Stone’, but it isn't corny or cheesy, which could have very well been the case. Also, any and all songs are made better by the use of vocoders. Take note, other bands!

My favourite track of the five songs was ‘I Disappear’, which shows off the band's heavier tendencies with  growled screams, tribal drum fills, and an overall darker timbre. Despite their heavier moments, OGT also loves their melodic moments, and whether they’re lead by vocals, the synths, or a combination of the two, it's nearly always done well. As ‘I Disappear’ proves. I think this is also a grand example of the band’s songwriting, as the track builds and flows perfectly. Which is something they sadly lose on the EP's final song, ‘Watch Me Change’.

See, ‘Watch Me Change’ is a faster, more upbeat and swagger-filled track at first and it gave me massive old-school Emarosa vibes. I quite liked it at first, but I found that the song goes on for too long and has a few too many different sections for my liking. For instance, I could have done without that ever-building bridge section and that brief piano respite in the middle, and just gotten right to that kickass solo section and final chorus. But that song is really my only gripe with what is, ultimately, a great debut.

Short and sweet, but deep and complex, ‘Impermanence’ is a fucking solid EP. Sure, it's not the most amazing release of the year for me, but I would recommend it. One Gone Thus blends minor elements of other heavy sub-genres into the typical post-hardcore sound to allow for everything feel familiar, but also phresh (the 'ph' is always necessary). One Gone Thus may be a pretty new band, but they've gotten off on a bloody strong start with 'Impermanence'. I can only that they push this sound in an even more heavier, more experimental directions in any future releases.

1. Self & Soul

2. A Girl Who Turned To Stone

3. I Disappear

4. Porcelain

5. Watch Me Change