Description
Product Description
Contents: Sweden's leading post-metal/hardcore band, Cult of Luna, releases their latest album, "Mariner," their first since the "Vertical" I/II series! This is a collaboration album with Julie Christmas, a NY-based singer and member of Battle of Mice and Made Out of Babies! It's a masterpiece that explores new possibilities and an ambitious work that will likely be a turning point for them! [Japan-only jacket/Japan-only bonus track/lyrics translation included/Japanese liner notes included] Cult of Luna was formed in 1998 in Ume?, a major city in northern Sweden. As can be seen from the fact that they secured a deal with the prestigious British label Earache at the time of their debut album release, they are one of the most successful bands in the EU, alongside The Ocean Collective, in the field of alternative metal/hardcore, especially in their music linked to atmospheric sludge since Isis. Like Isis, which emerged from the diffusion and deepening of 90s post-hardcore bands such as Quicksand and Cast Iron Hike, new school hardcore bands like Unbroken and Chokehold, and the passionate hardcore exemplified by Evolution Records, Cult of Luna, born in Ume?, the home of Refused, also contains a great deal of feedback from the diversity that 90s hardcore possessed. The fact that they initially featured members of Separation, a legendary Ume?-style hardcore band, and that their first release was a split with Switchblade, an avant-garde sludge band from Stockholm that has released on Jacob Bannon's (Converge) Deathwish Inc., shows the depth of their roots. However, Cult of Luna is by no means a second-rate imitation of Isis. This is evidenced by the fact that Aaron Turner (Isis), who has an extremely high standard for releases on his own label, released Cult of Luna singles early on through Hydra Head. The albums they have released to date, such as "Cult of Luna" (2001), "The Beyond" (2003), "Salvation" (2004), "Somewhere Along the Highway" (2006), and "Eternal Kingdom" (2008) (all released on Earache), and especially the masterpiece "Vertical," which can be called the culmination of their work, are the best proof of this. One of the factors that sets them apart from mere Isis followers is the individual activities and backgrounds of each member. Andreas Johansson (b) is a former member of The Vicious, a high-class punk band known for releases on Ny Vogue, run by Dennis Ricksezen (Refused). Magnus Lindberg (drums) is a versatile individual who, in addition to his skills as a sound engineer, has collaborated with a wide range of artists from Poison the Well to Fear Falls Burning. Eric Olofsson is also active as a graphic designer (naturally, he has created the cover art for Cult of Luna's works), and Thomas Hedlund (percussion) has served as the support drummer for Phoenix, the French indie pop giants, for many years. All of this is reflected in the profound sound of Cult of Luna's productions. On the other hand, Julie Christmas, a collaborator on this album, is the brilliant front girl of Battle of Mice and Made Out of Babies, who stand out in the Neurosis-run Newlot Recordings catalog with her sound that fuses pop melodies with post-sludge. It is easy to imagine that this encounter with Cult of Luna will yield wonderful results. This stunning album, venturing into even more uncharted territory, is a must-listen for both new and old fans. [Members] Johannes Persson (guitar/vocals) Magnus Lindberg (drums/studio engineering) Andreas Johansson (bass) Fredrik Kielberg (guitar/vocals) Christian Karlsson (keyboards/vocals) Thomas Hedlund (drums/percussion) Julie Christmas (vocals) [Track Listing] 1. A Greater Call 2. Chevron 3. The Wreck of S.S. Needle 4. Approaching Transition 5. Cygnus 6. Beyond the Redshift *Japan-only bonus track Media reviews and more Swedish post-metal/hardcore giants Cult of Luna release 'Mariner', their first album since the 'Vertical' I/II series! This collaborative album features Julie Christmas, a NY-based singer and member of Battle of Mice and Made Out of Babies! A masterpiece exploring new possibilities and a promising turning point for them! (C)RS