Album Review: Children Collide - 'Time Itself'

This is the fourth album from the Melbourne indie band who gained a dedicated following in the early 2000s blending post-grunge and New Wave, but have been relatively quiet since their last album in 2012. Time Itself is a lesson in fuzz and understatement, stripping back years of relative obscurity with a well-rounded rock album.

The twelve songs have a different dynamic when compared to previous albums - less hooks but more longevity and longer solos. In some ways the band's latest is more satisfying than their promising debut way back when; the tracks having more backbone that comes with a wealth of experience and time playing. What hasn’t changed is the band continue to sound like a lot more people than the three-piece they actually are, with Johnny Mackay’s guitar effects and playing ability still a second and sometimes third rhythm guitar.

Opening song Man Of The People quickly sets the foundation steering through a wall of reverb and delay coalescing into what sounds like aversion to those in power. Other noteworthy songs include Funeral For A Ghost, Mind Spider (especially it’s epic outro), Myriad Ways and the title track which closes out the album.

Having lost original bass player Heath Crawley but welcoming new member (and established solo artist in her own right) Chelsea Wheatley on bass, the band seem reinvigorated and ready to tour in all their understated glory.

Find out more about Children Collide here.