By – Jason Hamric

Cloakroom’s latest album, *The Last Leg of the Human Table*, released on February 28, 2025, via Closed Casket Activities, continues their trajectory of crafting immersive, heavy-lidded rock that balances melody with crushing weight.

The opening track, “The Pilot,” immediately establishes the record’s tone, its cavernous riffing and spacey atmosphere pulling the listener in like a slow-motion nosedive into the abyss. The drumming keeps everything from slipping completely into the void, instead propelling the song forward with a loose but purposeful momentum. That energy carries over into “Ester Wind,” a song that feels like it was built for a long, cathartic drive—loud enough to rattle the dashboard, but still introspective enough to make you overanalyze every decision you’ve ever made.

“Unbelonging,” the first single, is a standout, offering some of the album’s most immediately gripping moments. It leans on bright, clear melodies and a more structured approach, making it feel almost like a radio single in an alternate universe where massive, droning guitars dominate the airwaves. “The Lights Are On” flips the switch the other way, delivering a slow, vaporous crawl that feels like sinking into a bath of warm distortion. It’s a reminder that Cloakroom doesn’t just write songs—they build sonic environments you can exist in for a while.

Touring guitarist Cam Smith, hailing from Birmingham, Alabama, has been attached to a ton of incredible bands over the years, and his presence on the road has added a new level of depth to Cloakroom’s live sound. While he isn’t a full-time member, his influence is undeniable when they hit the stage, further emphasizing the band’s ability to balance delicate textures with crushing walls of sound.

“Bad Larry” finds Cloakroom dipping into a more folkgaze-oriented sound, conjuring imagery of long-forgotten highways and abandoned diners. It’s a more organic moment on the record, but it still retains that sense of vastness that defines their best work. “Story of the Egg” kicks things back up with an urgent, pulsing energy, its driving post-punk undercurrent making it one of the album’s more immediate tracks.

The interludes scattered throughout serve as well-placed breathers, moments of drifting weightlessness before the next descent into density. “Clover Looper” is another highlight, a churning, hypnotic number that relies on start-stop rhythms and riffs that feel both intricate and primal. It’s the kind of track that gets stuck in your head, playing on a loop long after the album has ended.

Closing out the record, “Turbine Song” builds from an understated, cinematic bassline that feels vaguely reminiscent of a spaghetti western showdown. But instead of leading to some explosive climax, it stretches out into the distance, enveloping everything in warm, reverb-drenched finality. It’s the kind of ending that leaves you sitting in silence for a few seconds after, unwilling to break the spell too soon.

*The Last Leg of the Human Table* is a great addition to Cloakroom’s catalog, a record that feels deceptively comfortable, inviting listeners to lose themselves inside its carefully constructed world.