# Cloud Rat / Moloch Split Review
This 2017 vinyl split on Halo Of Flies pairs two formidable forces in experimental metal and grindcore, offering a dynamic contrast that rewards dedicated listeners. Cloud Rat, known for their chaotic yet controlled approach to grindcore, brings their signature blend of dissonant guitar work and crushing heaviness to the A side. Their contribution spans six tracks that showcase the Michigan band's ability to shift between frenetic bursts and moments of suffocating intensity, with standouts like "Baby Sling / Balloon Born" demonstrating their knack for structuring complexity within compact timeframes.
Moloch's half features just two sprawling compositions that embrace a different aesthetic entirely. The monstrous opening track "The Ninth Wave / Bloody North" consumes over twelve minutes, allowing the band's doom and hardcore influences to metastasize into an oppressive sonic landscape. Comparatively, "Lead" at six and a half minutes serves as a more measured but equally menacing closer, showcasing how Moloch weaponizes restraint alongside aggression.
The split format proves ideal here, as Cloud Rat's rapid-fire assault on side A perfectly complements Moloch's patient devastation on side B. Listeners who appreciate grindcore's visceral energy will gravitate toward Cloud Rat's contributions, while those drawn to doom's suffocating atmospherics will find Moloch's extended pieces more satisfying. This record represents a thoughtful pairing that respects each band's artistic identity while creating a cohesive listening experience that benefits from vinyl's inherent physicality and forced engagement.
