By Liz Belilovskaya

Cloud Nothing’s new album Attack On Memory is a collection of distorted mayhem, organized and filed somewhere between punk rock and indie heaven. Noisy, crashing, impassioned screaming and a general venting of frustration are only a few of the strokes on this rugged canvas. They are vocally and instrumentally loud yet remain non-threatening and unpolished.They kick off with “No Future No Past,” a soft piano quickly erupts into a dark, somber melody; heavy, distorted guitars pick up along the way. While the music channels a fraction of the raw energy associated with Radiohead, the singer’s voice recalls the Smashing Pumpkins, leveling between bubble gum and hardcore easily.

Up next is “Wasted Days,” lighter in tone but faster in tempo, with added aggression. It opens with a cool guitar that gives way to some speedy percussion while maintaining a dominant melody by the lead. The vocal work is pretty punk; as the track progresses, the voice escalates, so much so that towards the end of the track the singer is screaming and spitting galore. The appeal lies in the melodic guitar that chimes soundly through it all.

Following is “Fall In,” which flaunts stripped-down ska(ish) undertones. If you love Green Day then chances are you will like this track, either for the fair resemblance in music or the very specific similarity in the singers voices specific to this song. The unexpected female back up vocals lend a soft echo to the edgy tune.

The gloominess is dispersed with “Stay Useless,” the most upbeat and easygoing track so far. It’s quick and uplifting with relatable subject matter. “I need time to stop moving, I need time to stay useless,” it leads. If The Strokes and The Bravery spawned, this would be the offspring’s twice-removed cousin. “Separation” is a gem with no words. It’s fast and happy, featuring some kick ass musical fanciness without any burdensome screaming. The percussion is amazing, as smashing effects over concrete bass create a crazy awesome ambiance.

“No Sentiment” brings back the darker vibe of the album with harder beats and husky, high speed guitars throughout the track, creating a definitive, declarative effect. Their presence is amplified as the singer belts out long vowels and exaggerated screaming.

Overall, Attack on Memory is a good record. The band is musically and conceptually sound but their work lacks a certain luster; it does not offer anything unique to the listener and the tracks don’t stick with you long enough to be missed. The lyrics are unclear because of the vocalists’ incomprehensible screaming. That kind of sucks but ultimately boils down to preference. The Cloud Nothings definitely know how to rock, and once they fine tune great things can be expected.

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