Cloud Nothings – Life Without Sound review: ‘completes their evolution’

Cloud Nothings have often hinted at the presence of tunes beneath their skuzzy rock surface.

The Cleveland band’s evolution is complete on Life Without Sound, a more considered record on which Dylan Baldi anchors his howling vocals to raucous melodies that prove what many had suspected: he’s actually a talented and versatile songwriter.

Darkened Rings is a near-perfect garage rock anthem that barrels along towards its frenetic climax. There’s also the classic slow build and crashing chorus on Enter Entirely, the buzzing pop-punk of Internal World and the majestic indie of Up to the Surface.

Realize My Fate, the closing track, is their one concession to sludgy dissonance.

But where there was once the whiff of nihilism, Baldi’s cathartic songs are now all the better for letting some light in.

(Wichita)