CULT OF LUNA
"Salvation"
Earache Records
8 Tracks 74 Mins
www.earache.com
1. Echoes
2. Vague Illusions
3. Leave me here
4. Waiting for you
5. Adrift
6. White cell
7. Crossing over
8. Into the beyond
Everytime I've seen Cult of Luna and every release I've heard so far has been absolutely inspiring. Seemingly they are always looked at in the shadow of Neurosis and Isis, but this Swedish septet are a monstrous creation in their own right.
'Echoes' eases you in nice and gently with delay and reverb drenched guitars and soft keyboards for a full three minutes and a similar theme is undertaken before another delicate direction change only temporarily distracts from the hypnosis. Dynamically this is perfect, lulling you in, before the inevitable pick up of pace at 270 seconds, and finally the scuzzy guitars and terrifying vocal assault begins to drain you.
And so 'Salvation' is under way, a twelve minute epic to begin, until 'Vague Illusions' lightens the mood slightly but still continues the bludgeoningly painful experience. This band know how to create immaculate tensions, stirring the inner senses, enthralling with the simple, drawn out but brilliant atmospheres they emit.
'Leave me here' is a massive piece. Imagine a droney, repetitious Mastodon, such is this beast for its most part. The pattern and construction within this track makes it one of my choice Cult of Luna songs not just for its heaviness, but its beautiful mid-section, and its climactic ending, before the road trip film soundtrack style intro of 'Waiting for you' which just oozes out suave. This track quite possibly has the warmest chord sounds I've ever heard, with delightful snare rolls and textbook attention to detail. This section lasts for three and a half minutes but I could so easily listen to this for longer. Fans of Mogwai, God Speed You Black Emperor and Radiohead need to hear this. Brilliant and minimal band work which spirals into a psychedelic masterpiece, climbinb so high you can almost see it gliding through the galaxies. Think Monster Magnet on something really strong! For ten minutes this track does not stop peaking.
Needless to say, this standard continues right through to the monumental closer 'Into the beyond'.
Cult of Luna may not quite have that still unmatched power that Neurosis had on 'Through Silver in Blood' but they are certainly closing in.
They may not get the critical acclaim of Isis 'Celestial' but they damn well deserve it.
This is masterful.
Paul Raw Nerve
"Salvation"
Earache Records
8 Tracks 74 Mins
www.earache.com
1. Echoes
2. Vague Illusions
3. Leave me here
4. Waiting for you
5. Adrift
6. White cell
7. Crossing over
8. Into the beyond
Everytime I've seen Cult of Luna and every release I've heard so far has been absolutely inspiring. Seemingly they are always looked at in the shadow of Neurosis and Isis, but this Swedish septet are a monstrous creation in their own right.
'Echoes' eases you in nice and gently with delay and reverb drenched guitars and soft keyboards for a full three minutes and a similar theme is undertaken before another delicate direction change only temporarily distracts from the hypnosis. Dynamically this is perfect, lulling you in, before the inevitable pick up of pace at 270 seconds, and finally the scuzzy guitars and terrifying vocal assault begins to drain you.
And so 'Salvation' is under way, a twelve minute epic to begin, until 'Vague Illusions' lightens the mood slightly but still continues the bludgeoningly painful experience. This band know how to create immaculate tensions, stirring the inner senses, enthralling with the simple, drawn out but brilliant atmospheres they emit.
'Leave me here' is a massive piece. Imagine a droney, repetitious Mastodon, such is this beast for its most part. The pattern and construction within this track makes it one of my choice Cult of Luna songs not just for its heaviness, but its beautiful mid-section, and its climactic ending, before the road trip film soundtrack style intro of 'Waiting for you' which just oozes out suave. This track quite possibly has the warmest chord sounds I've ever heard, with delightful snare rolls and textbook attention to detail. This section lasts for three and a half minutes but I could so easily listen to this for longer. Fans of Mogwai, God Speed You Black Emperor and Radiohead need to hear this. Brilliant and minimal band work which spirals into a psychedelic masterpiece, climbinb so high you can almost see it gliding through the galaxies. Think Monster Magnet on something really strong! For ten minutes this track does not stop peaking.
Needless to say, this standard continues right through to the monumental closer 'Into the beyond'.
Cult of Luna may not quite have that still unmatched power that Neurosis had on 'Through Silver in Blood' but they are certainly closing in.
They may not get the critical acclaim of Isis 'Celestial' but they damn well deserve it.
This is masterful.
Paul Raw Nerve
