Cult of Luna are a Swedish post-metal band and this is their tenth album, (including the flawless Mariner).
It feels like longer than 4 years since The Long Road North graced us with its presence, but the wait for a follow up is now over. In the Shadow of Your Shadow brings us another titanic 71 minutes of material from Grade A legendary multifaceted post-metal act Cult of Luna, and it’s a record that you absolutely should not miss.
Full disclosure; this is written by someone who has been a fan of Cult of Luna since their debut record that came out sooooooo long ago, so take this review with a pinch of salt if you will, but In the Shadow of Your Shadow is such a strong album it’s hard to credit.
There’s an ambiguity to In the Shadow of Your Shadow that brings out a different shade of black in the music. It’s simultaneously exactly what you want from Cult of Luna and is instantly familiar, but it also offers that which you didn’t even know you needed. An unclear statement to be sure, but there’s definitely something about this new record that’s hard to pin down – Cult of Luna have safeguarded their core, recognisable sound, while also tweaking it just enough for it to sound bleakly vital. It’s like the apocalypse has arrived and you simultaneously know it intimately and are excited for what it reveals. Or something. Or maybe something else. Who knows? Regardless, In the Shadow of Your Shadow has that undefinably special secret sauce, that’s for sure.
Okay. So, Cult of Luna, known for their ability to unleash crushing torrents of atmospheric power, (among other things), have really gone to town on In the Shadow of Your Shadow. This is an album that treads a lot of ground, from the destructive to the sublime. All of it is dark and moody, as is Cult of Luna’s wont, which imbues even the beautiful with a grim gravitas that’s undeniable. Cult of Luna have presence, and repeatedly ram it home across these nine tracks. Whether it’s with nuanced subtlety, punishing heaviness, or anything else, Cult of Luna drive their emotion-rich material with astounding force.
The lead singer’s vocals sound harsher than ever, in places in a really sludgy brutal way. He’s clearly giving it some extra oomph (a technical term) across this record. Guests appear too, actually adding something, rather than appearing for just the sake of it. Sadness Will Reign features backing vocal highlights from Joe Deplantier of Gojira fame, and these work wondrously as an emotive layer, beneath which the Cult of Luna singer rages and snarls. On One More Day we get David Eugene Edwards from Wovenhand, who brings out something very different in the song, with his effortlessly charismatic voice.
In the Shadow of Your Shadow is a brilliant record. Cult of Luna are one of the best bands ever, and this new album is a resounding success. Yes yes, bias and hyperbole, etc. from a self-confessed long time fan, but here we are. Do not miss out on this.
Essential listening.
