7/10

Following on from their 2014 studio album 'Here And Nowhere Else', Ohio-natives Cloud Nothings return to deliver their fourth full-length 'Life Without Sound'. And while the band have been previously known for their more melancholic work on previous releases, this new material sees the band crank up the volume and return with far more gusto than we were expecting.

While their teaser singles like 'Internal World' gave us an indication of where we thought this new album would take them, the band seem adamant at making this new album stand out far more than before. With an energetic pace, wonderfully displayed on tracks like 'Darkened Rings', 'Life Without Sound' seems to ride that very thin edge between surf rock and punk that have previously been seen by the band as an inspiration rather than a direction.

It's hard to say what has pushed the band to give us a far more raucous release, but it easily shows that they have had this sound in them for a while. Cloud Nothings have returned with nothing but strength and confidence on this record, and I wouldn't be surprised if we don't get some more new material from them before the end of the year.