There has been rather a lot of discussion about the current state and future of Indie-rock. Many critics too, have been quick to proclaim it’s death, as has the slew of half-arsed middle of the road bands claiming they are destined to save this undoubtedly ailing genre.

Of course, talk is cheap. Rather than chase cheap headlines Ohio’s Cloud Nothings have gone about things the right way, making an album which will go along way to breathe life into the moribund genre. Teaming up with producer Steve Albini (Nirvana, Manic Street Preachers and PJ Harvey), Attack On Memory is heavyweight and rather muscular record which does just that.

It is a short, sharp shock to the system, the proverbial kick in the bollocks if you like, taking in post-rock, indie, post-punk and pure unadulterated noise. Interspersed with bursts of scuzzy powerful indie we are exposed to a barreling barrage of loud, pounding drums, raw guitars and a Dylan Baldi sounding like a young Jake Burns. The high points are many; the sensational instrumental thrash number ‘Separation’ or the raspy ‘Fall In’ and ‘Our Plans’ for instance. ‘Wasted Days’ is, however, undoubtedly the highpoint, a nine-minute masterpiece filled with pure adrenalin fueled energy and riffs.

Attack On Memory may not be purely an indie-rock record but it is an absolute revelation, a terrific album and one of the first must-listen to records of 2012.

Download: Cloud Nothings – No Sentiment

Cloud Nothings – Wasted Days via tiaogocristovao

Download: Cloud Nothings – No Future / No Past