If you don't know them, Cloud Rat are a fantastic three-piece grindcore band based out of Michigan. My own band had the good fortune to open for them at a laundromat show a while back when they came through my hometown of Calgary, AB. After having met them, my respect for the band only increased. Despite writing some of the angriest and most emotionally charged grindcore songs I've heard, and touring so far from home with so many no-name local acts (mine included), they (along with thedowngoing) were one of the nicest touring bands I've played with. They seemed genuinely excited about the DIY spirit of the show, and they were very encouraging of everyone involved.
This is Cloud Rat's first LP, and it offers a lot in a solid 18 minutes. The first three songs on this thing showcase an angry and relentless grindcore assault. Madison's raging screams overtop of the chaotic, yet controlled, grind madness that comprises this album works very well together. But it's not until the third track, and one of my favourites on the album, Dwell, that we hear what makes Cloud Rat stand out amongst the abundance of modern grindcore acts. A touch of melody suddenly takes the listener by surprise, but in the best way possible. It doesn't sound out of place at all, but in fact gives the album an emotional edge that is lacking in so many grind albums. When your band is set on raging against all forms of oppression, as Cloud Rat proudly declares, it helps to have some genuine feeling in your music beyond "yeah, this is really heavy."
My favourite songs on this album are also the most melodic, songs like Dwell, Yama, and Faint Hearted provide the album with the personality that makes it unique. There is a killer riff near the mid point of Faint Hearted that reminds me a bit of acts like Discordance Axis, who infused grindcore with the emotion, melody and sense of artistry which the genre seemed to be missing.
This was one of my favourite releases of the year when I first discovered the band through grindcore karaoke, so check out the link and listen to it for yourself if you haven't already. I highly recommend it for any and all fans of the genre.
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