CLOUD RAT- MOKSHA
I’ve had the Cloud Rat self titled in my iTunes library ever since my first discovery of Grindcore Karaoke a few years ago, but I’d never really been motivated to check out any of their new material until one of my friends discovered that he physically couldn’t keep quiet about them.
Of all genre’s Grindcore seems to be doing pretty damn well with gender equality, and this Michigan based grindcore trio are no exception -piercing vocals are provided by Madison Marshall, strangely one of the only vocalists of this genre who renders the inclusion if a lyric sheet completely unnecessary.
Since then…. I’ve obtained their S/T, the XTRA-Vomit split and listened to both quite heavily. It’s fair to say that with every release Cloud Rat graciously displays their growth and this is particularly true in the case of their latest release Moksha - demonstrating unparalleled levels of defiant experimentation.
There’s a massive part of me that gets incredibly nervous upon the discovery of a band with any sort of purposeful dedication to melodic emotion, likewise there are a few genre’s which I religiously avoid…. the ability to combine melody with completely aggression and produce a sound that doesn’t want to make me run in the opposite direction is pretty unique. In the case of Cloud Rat- it’s subtle enough to add to, rather than distract from the overall relentless fury… with the exemption of the track ‘Infinity Chasm’, whilst the harmonious, layered vocals definitely expands their approach I’m unconvinced if the track actually works and even less convinced that I like it… that said; there are some melodic plus points, like the seven minute piano driven closer.
The second I heard the opening riff on the track ‘Inkblot’ there was no doubt in my mind that this is a band I’d grow to love. Guitarist Rorik’s, provides plenty of groove with a district ability to write the most infectious and visceral of riffs- above all else, this is what drew me- listen to the track Daunting Daughters if you do nothing else today.
In a bizarre and completely unpredictable move, there’s a cover of Neil Young’s - ‘The Needle and The Damage Done’ on the B-Side.
Definitely check them out. If you’re in Europe, React With Protest stocks most of their LP’s/ EP’s and Moksha comes with an absolutely gorgeous screen printed cover.
