Kepler Ten return with their third album Random Number Generator Episode 1, after a five year gap since A New Kind of Sideways. Interestingly, they present this new album as the first part of a series of shorter digital only releases, all based on the sci-fi themed Random Number Generator musical narrative, alongside their ‘regular’ albums which will still be released in physical format. Kepler Ten have their origins as a Rush tribute band called R2, so perhaps this is a timely release considering recent news.
Drummer Steve Hales created this sci-fi concept which they describe as a ‘sinister story of escapism and addiction.’ Whilst the Rush influences are evident, this is no pale pastiche of that famous trio and Kepler Ten have forged their own identity. They open cinematically with a city soundscape of the near future over which gentle guitars and synths shimmer in the night sky which suddenly erupts with a forceful fanfare. The tempo and volume settle down with James Durand’s confident vocals over chopped guitar riffs. What is also clear is that this is a band which hones their harmony vocals to great effect. A rippling guitar impels the song onwards before it dissolves in whistles and other strange noises. Kepler Ten have created an immersive aural landscape as we hear video games and presumably the sound of a metro train, which transports us into the rocking and catchy Fracture. This piece is impelled along like a train by Hales’ excellent drumming, and is another showcase for Durand’s powerful but yearning vocals. The synth wave rolls on futuristically, echoing Kraftwerk strangely at times, and from those waves emerges a twisting guitar motif which embellishes the song without overwhelming it.
Guitarist Alistair Bell contributed significantly to the writing and recording of this album, but has since left the band to be replaced by Kepler Ten’s original guitarist, Richie Cahill. Kepler Ten decided to retain Bell’s guitar parts to acknowledge his time with the band, although it is unclear which guitar parts belong to Bell or Cahill (if any?) Guitars are very much to the fore in The Truth and the Lie with a rippling opening and the pace hardly let up for over 6 minutes. Hang on to your hats as Durand bellows above the percussive storm, with Hales pounding out a furious beat. Durand’s excellent bass takes a rhythmic lead before the piece opens out briefly before we return to the more relentless main theme. The last couple of minutes introduces more subtlety with more restrained percussion and guitars spray their artistry upon the synth backwash.
So what is it all about?
The band explain: ‘Set in the near future,… RNG introduces the central character Alex, casting him between the two contrasting worlds as he escapes into a neon-lit, digital arena where the choices he makes affect the very real people that he cares most about’
Steve Hales goes on to share: ‘RNG explores the dual lives we live, our real and online personas. It follows the story of a regular guy as he is drawn behind the digital veil and into something far more sinister than he ever imagined…’
Does it work as an album?
This collection of songs does successfully evoke a distinctive dystopian landscape, akin to a graphic novel… and there are hints of the iconic sci-fi films ‘Blade Runner’ and ‘Matrix’. The romantic My Compass Rose is a clever song which combines metallic riffs and impassioned vocals with much mellower passages, and keyboards which almost conjure up almost French or Spanish melodies. However, we are never far away from rippling Dream Theater style fretwork… which can feel a little repetitive and overwhelming at times. However, this is a minor quibble and My Compass Rose dissolves into the sunset and we are then soothed by the acoustic guitar, controlled voice and cello sounds of the gentle Sobriquet… sometimes less is more.
The impressive finale SuperVoid plunges us into a Tangerine Dream-like synth opening which develops into an expansive rock song full of pulsing menace. The power and metallic edge gradually increases and by half-way through Kepler Ten are stridently riding their crunching heavy musical tank through a bleak soundscape on to the fading distant sirens of a cityscape and a woman beseeching us to ‘wake up’. Clearly at this point we can imagine ‘to be continued…’ coming up on our screens. As a shorter album one does feel like there should be more, but the intention appears to be shorter but more often as digital releases – after all, the old adage goes ‘leave them wanting more’.
If you like your progressive rock with a distinctly heavy edge, but tempered with some thoughtful subtlety, then Random Number Generator Episode 1 may be worth investigating. It will certainly be interesting to see where Kepler Ten go next with this story and future full albums.
TRACK LISTING
01. Lost in the Binary (4:55)
02. Fracture (5:34)
03. The Truth And The Lie (6:43)
04. My Compass Rose (5:19)
05. Sobriquet (3:51)
06. SuperVoid (7:23)
Total Time – 33:43
MUSICIANS
James Durand – Vocals, Bass, Keys
Steve Hales – Drums, Piano, Backing Vocals
Richie Cahill – Guitar, Backing Vocals
~ With:
Alistair Bell – Guitars (recorded guitar parts for album – left band in 2024)
ADDITIONAL INFO
Record Label: White Star Records
Country of Origin: UK
Date of Release: 26th September 2025
DISCOGRAPHY
– Delta V (2017)
– A New Kind Of Sideways (2020)
– Random Number Generator Episode 1 (2025)
LINKS
Kepler Ten – Website | Facebook | YouTube | X | Instagram
