OSPREY HEIGHTS - EXPECTATIONS E.P.

I've seen this band in concert a couple of times now - the first time, I didn't think a great deal of it, but second time around it made more sense - the problem being that their brew of rock is still being forged. Right now they play well and have a unique sound but quite what it is, no-one, including the band, is that sure. Either way, there's definite potential in there as some of their more urgent numbers indicate. In the meantime, they've unloaded a2-track demo on us and the lead song is one of their best. Here the drums sound a bit tinny but it is a demo, and that's a shame coz their drummer is red hot, while the overall feel for me is a cross between Pearl Jam and Leather Zoo - a sort of pop-punk with metal leanings. In fact, at the risk of being completely obscure for anyone who's not heard them, I could imagine Sheffield's Leather Zoo doing a fine version of the lead track, 'Just Not With Me''. There's a great buzz-saw guitar riff going on at the back while the male singer, somewhat remarkably, sings in a similar style to Mel of that band, only obviously male! Anyway, the song itself has got a real lingering quality to it, so that while it's more metal-punk than pop, it's got that insistent vein running through it that makes you want to hear it again as it hangs around your head the more you play it. Well played and sung, it's a seriously good song that, once you get to know it, should become a live favourite. The other song, 'Expectations', has a similar feel to it, with swirling guitar leads and solid rhythm section, if a tad unidirectional, while the vocalist delivers another song with passion and strength, and while the song is both immediate and enjoyable, it's not got quite the catchy quality of the previous one, although still well written and arranged. I'm not sure if this band wants to be commercial rock or pop-punk - or both - but they've got the potential for both - and once they find their direction in life, things could get very interesting.

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