At the pinnacle of over twenty years in the industry, Swedish band Cult of Luna have long since proven themselves as stalwarts of the European post-metal and sludge scene—particularly within the “heavy but not limited to” industrial spectrum. They now continue their sonic exploration with confidence, seamlessly blending power and subtlety, while adding just the right touch of fan-service to stay within familiar, well-defined sound territories. Though Cult of Luna do not reinvent their sound, they consistently perfect a formula that remains nothing short of breathtaking.
Their approach strikes a balance between daring innovation and respect for the very codes they helped establish. This allows the Umeå natives to deliver ‘The Long Road North’, their eighth studio album (not counting Mariner, their collaborative project with Julie Christmas), released via Metal Blade Records and their own label, Red Creek Recordings. For this record, they enlisted composer/vocalist/percussionist Mariam Wallentin—known for co-writing and performing the theme for the TV series Raised by Wolves—as well as Colin Stetson, whose extensive résumé includes Arcade Fire, Bon Iver, Feist, Tom Waits, and TV On The Radio.
‘The Long Road North’ beautifully closes the cycle that began with A Dawn to Fear in 2019 and continued last year with ‘The Raging River’. The album combines colossal riffs, visceral screams, and ethereal melodies, while traversing contrasting sonic landscapes that blend post-anything-you-want, sludge, and introspective atmospheres. Consequently, it is best enjoyed as a full, uninterrupted experience.
