The EP kicks off with the atmospheric incantation of The Power, highlighting vocalist Jack Osborne’s belief that anything in life is possible if you apply belief, intention and dedication, before latest single Resurgence muscles in with a hard-rocking riff and a versatile vocal ranging from a semi-spoken vibe to a ballsy scream. From the outset, there is a clear My Ruin influence, yet they retain their own identity as goth rock influences drift through the arrangement in the second half of the song.

Now that The Power of Intention is out, there is clearly a strong connection between CTTV and My Ruin beyond musical influence, with Mick Murphy mastering the record, Tairrie B. Murphy making a guest appearance and contributing to the band’s aesthetic (drawing my own conclusions here!), and Osborne having recently featured on the classy True Allies from My Ruin‘s Declaration of Resistance. Nevertheless, the friendship with the Murphys is a positive addition and complements the talent and hard work on display here.

As the EP progresses, it is clear that there is much more going on with some seriously dark undercurrents and a strong nineties vibe in the background – they cite Placebo, Soft Play, and Type O Negative among their influences. Early single Uncontrollable in particular conjures more than a hint of a goth-rock vibe, delivering a measured mid-paced flurry that keeps the musical melting pot bubbling nicely before stand-out track Viper’s Venom steals the show. The Placebo influence is evident in the melodic intro but once the heavy riff kicks in a loud-quiet-loud vibe takes it elsewhere, providing a backdrop for Jack’s most accomplished vocal on the record. There is deep emotion to his voice and the song delivers a killer hook that really slays and, once the tempo change takes it up a notch, John McGlade’s guitar lines lead us towards the stark a’capella conclusion – masterful.

After the fairly disposable but distinctly likeable ode to getting high that is Blow, we get CTTV’s cover of the Edwyn Collins classic A Girl Like You, featuring a cameo from the marvellous Tairrie B., whose influence runs right through the number. It has to be said though, it is freaking awesome. They stay pretty true to the original, but the heavier arrangement and the understated rap from Mrs Murphy take it to another level that absolutely rocks, with Jack once again showing that he has the chops to sing anything.

The band’s name comes from the French term L’appel Du Vide, describing the inexplicable urge to jump when faced with a fearful height, which they encapsulate on the track of the same name. Again, Osborne’s vocals are sublime as he switches easily between styles as they track drives along on the unrelenting momentum of McGlade’s solid riffing interspersed with his signature meanderings. Once more, it is an effective combination, hard rocking, memorable and sure to work a crowd into a sweat in the live arena. The EP closes out with the atmospheric ballad Alive – the first half is bare to the bone with a soaring vocal and guitar accompaniment before the rest of the band kick in for a visceral finale – quality.

All in all, this is a fine debut from the Londoners. Osborne is a charismatic frontman with an impressive vocal range and musically speaking the band is pretty damn faultless. Despite the undercurrent of influences, they don’t actually sound like anyone else, they forge their own identity with some catchy songs and plenty to rock out to. At eight, well seven and a bit, tracks and weighing in at a hefty 32 minutes, the EP is good value and well worth checking out.

9/10

https://calltothevoid.bandcamp.com/album/the-power-of-intention