Indie Recordings – Out Now.

Fifteen years is a long time for any band to make its impact felt and Cult Of Luna are among those outfits which have managed to cause much interested among fans and media since their inception back in 1998.

Even though the Progressive/Sludge/Post Metal style that these seven lads have espoused is what I can easily say is my cup of tea, I somehow hadn’t come across them before “Vertikal” - the band’s sixth studio effort and the first with Norwegian Indie Recordings. So, what is it that I have been missing out on all these years?

Well, it seems there is quite a lot, actually. The press release states that “Vertikal” is a concept album and describes the band’s unique musical skills and capabilities, but words are not enough to convey the essence of this band’s here offering. With an average duration hovering around the ten minute mark, the nine compositions aim to gradually lure you in and once you’re hooked on the solid riffs and beautiful harmonies (which you will be), all resistance will be futile!

The duet Persson/Olofsson have done an amazing job on their six strings, and rather than being content with a classic supportive role, bassist Andreas Johansson and Thomas Hedlund often steal the show with their amazing skills, while Fredrik Kihlberg will surprise you with the variety of his performances, including both intense screams and moody clean harmonies.

The electronic soundscapes of “The One” offer a fitting and short introduction to the album, paving the way for the magnificent “I: The Weapon” which is a ten minute piece whose harmonies are reminiscent of late 90s Anathema, while its standout bass tones are heavy and groovy in equal parts.

How do you follow such an impressive song? With a nineteen and a half (!) musical orgy entitled “Vicarious Redemption”. Here the rhythm guitar reigns supreme up to the eleventh minute when, following a groovy bass tune and electronic key samples, you are exposed to a sensational lead melody that will stop you in your tracks!

Both “The Sweep” and “Synchronicity” fail to make a similar impact but keep the standards quite high, while the band’s varied musical character comes out all guns blazing in “Mute Departure”. Forty seconds may deem “Disharmonia” unnecessary to some but it will provide you with enough breathing space and help you to cope with the pounding riffs and solid bass lines of “In Awe Of”.

No song could provide a more fitting ending to this album than “Passing Through” – one of the few compositions to find Kihlberg using his clean vocals to great effect, making this six minute composition feel more like a church service than a Rock song.

I know that an album like “Vertikal” is more of an acquired taste, but that cannot and will not stop me from expressing my admiration towards this great piece of music, which has been carefully and gracefully created by this Umea-based septet.

I know that the time when people used to sit down and listen to albums in their entirety is long gone, however, I do believe that if you choose to treat “Vertikal” as a conventional Rock album rather than a classic concept release then you will miss out on a great experience. If you like your riffs to be heavy and your melodies simple but penetrating, then look no further as atmospheric/heavy music doesn’t get much better than this.

John Stefanis

Rating: ****1/2 (4.5/5.0)

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

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Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)