Album Review: Charles The Osprey - Consider

Math rock and noodly guitar in all it's great forms is something I personally love. Complex time signatures sliced with intricate guitar parts is something I can never say no to. Ranging from Instrumental bands like the great Don Caballero to more 'Indie' versions in the form of This Town Needs Guns, it manages to cross fans with ease. Charles The Osprey have released this corker of an album, which if you like intricate riffs and simple drums keeping it all in place, give this a spin.

It opens up with a beautifully harmonic looping riff, mesmerising you until the drums build and build into a 5 and a half beaut. Twisty and turning throughout, it sticks by its original routes in the background whilst more is embellished on top. 'Lipstick With Bull Tendencies' is a bit heavier, and as bars drop out and are added almost at random, metal-esq chords work perfectly to confuse and amuse you. Delving into the realms of the late Fall Of Troy almost at points, it's dynamic range is awesome, flowing between soft melodic parts to pounding riffs and chugs.

Choosing a title for instrumental tracks must be tricky, and in this case, they seem to be random phrases as far as I can see. Many acts as interludes, before it all comes slamming back in an instant. 'The Indrian-Culture War' shifts and darts around dramatically, with some really imaginative riffs, mixing between playing styles and note emphasis. Things slow down with 'Alia Pompeii', a stunning move from the heavy to bring imaginative riffs and melodic structure.

You might think it's all starting to sound quite 'samey' by this point. Well, not really. Each track has a charm, whether it's a great riff that's repeated so much it rings around your head, or it's just so complex you can't get round it. Track 9 has a classical theme to things, with some very melodic riff action going on. Following this is 'Lovecraft! Smile!' with some jagged riffs and atonal qualities for you to enjoy.

Overall, I think this album has some blinding tracks, and the way the interludes flow between tracks makes it something you need to listen to all at once if you can. Quality playing, intricate riffs and ingenious time signatures are what make this genre work, and they've gone and hit the nail on the head.

5/5

'Consdier' by Charles The Osprey is available now through Friction.

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Mark Allen