Tom Chaplin may not have the star power or recognition of Radiohead’s Thom Yorke or Coldplay’s Chris Martin, but after the release of his band’s debut album, Keane’s 2004 “Hopes and Fears,” he is surely deserving of it.

The album, which attained gold status in the United States a week ago, is full of epic, soaring melodies that make heavy use of Chaplin’s striking and far-reaching vocals.

Chaplin is accompanied by Tim Rice Oxley’s noticeably vibrant piano playing, while Richard Hughes provides strong, rhythmic drumming.

Despite lacking a guitar, Keane was immediately compared to fellow British acts Radiohead and Coldplay. “Hopes and Fears,” however, carries a unique majestic sound, and stands convincingly on its own, despite being the trio’s first studio work.

Keane is already a success story in Britain, with “Hopes and Fears” being surpassed in sales by only the Scissor Sisters’ self-titled debut album for 2004.

They brought their act to the States numerous times in ’04, including Boston’s Avalon in November. On Friday, they return with an appearance at The Orpheum.

“Somewhere Only We Know,” the band’s first hit single, has a very recognizable melody accentuated by Oxley’s piano. It’s the first track, and does its part to start the album off on the right note.

However, the song is just a glimpse of what is to come, as Keane piles it on heavy with a number of memorable and grand choruses — largely due in part to the unabashed poise of Chaplin’s vocals.

The next two tracks, “This is the Last Time” and “Bend and Break,” are equally, if not more satisfying, than the single, as they display the band’s ability to start on one note and then steadily reach a ringing chorus.

The album simply does not let up, as the other tracks, including the band’s second single “Everybody Changing,” as well as “Can’t Stop Now,” achieve beats that most rock and pop bands strive for, but rarely reach all together on just one album.

“Everybody’s Changing,” in particular, adds to this band’s ability to create a fresh, ear-pleasing sound. Once again, Chaplin’s tenor is extremely confident and inspiring, while reaching highs and lows with ease. Coupled with the heavy use of Oxley’s piano and a consistent beat by Hughes, the song is an immediate classic.

Keane has remarkable mel-odies all over this album, which won Q Magazine’s “Album of the Year” in October. With a sincere, deep sound that could pass as a veteran band’s crowning work, the band achieves something quite significant with this collection.

Chaplin has been quoted on the bands Web site, www.keanemusic.com, as saying, “People often say that they wish they’d been around in the ’60s. But we’re happy just where we are. We love rock’s back catalogue, and now we’ve got a chance to add to it. After all, tunes never go out of fashion.”

Keane may already be looking to the future, but second album or not, the grand achievement of “Hopes and Fears” already has their history written for them.

Keane performs a sold-out show at the Orpheum Theater Saturday at 7:30 p.m.