Legendary Demo (Hydra Head) is an adventure in hard rock. From ’70s blues-rock riffs to hardcore punk to macho stoner metal, Clouds is equally good at all of it.
Led by Cave In’s Adam McGrath on guitar and vocals, the record sounds like a tribute to the past thirty years of dirty rock music, undoubtedly inspired by the bands that provided the soundtracks to their childhoods. With that said, there is nothing new in either their approach or their songwriting. What is refreshing is the lo-fi energy and rawness that emanates from the record.
“New Amnesia” and “Pressure” are Southern rock with all the vigor and sweat of modern “classic rock” bands like The Cherry Valance or New York’s Bad Wizard. “Live It For Now” and “Magic Hater” are peel-the-paint-off-the-walls fast, scratchy punk rock. “Guardian’s Eyes” has the same combination of heaviness and smoothness of ‘90s stalwarts Kyuss or Soundgarden, ending with pristine dueling guitar solos that provide a few of the album’s greatest moments.
The record ends with “Quartulli Dub,” a near-twenty-minute, saxophone-led, psychedelic dub song that equals the entire length of the first seven songs combined. Only time will tell if this “demo” will become legendary, but in the short term, anyone who grew up listening to rock ’n’ roll will smile at the versatility, talent, and fun that bounces off this record.
– Jamie Ludwig
Clouds (Hydra Head)