Cult Of Luna & Julie Christmas
Mariner
Released 08th April 2016
Post metal
Released via Indie Recordings
Well, ladies and gentlemen, what we have here is most certainly another Cult Of Luna album; the lonely soundscape of life crying out in the aftermath of some inconceivable apocalypse. Musically, they have never strayed far from their original sound, bleak and haunting in the most wonderful way. The addition of Julie Christmas on Mariner, however, makes this a stand-out release from their catalogue, and may well give rise to debate among long term fans.
On the one hand, it is strange and possibly uncomfortable for those less open-minded to hear the, dare I say, modern pop element that has been brought into play. Given the absolute roasting that Myrkur received in the not too distant past, it seems like there may be potential for some to start warming up their online flamethrowers on first contact. On the other hand, maybe that edge is now broken in metal, and the introduction of this alien instrument could be mostly welcomed for what it is; an extra floor in the crumbling tower of hopelessness that is COL.
I suppose there is a third set of characteristics at play here, though. Unlike Myrkur, COL are not black metal, part of the family tree which frequently displays cracks of intolerance and elitism. Nor is Christmas unfamiliar with the heavier end of the music pool. Whereas Amalie Bruun comes from what could be called a 90s pop-rock background, Christmas is more akin to someone rejected from Babes In Toyland for being ‘a bit too mental’.
It may feel like too much time has been spent here on discussing this one feature, but it really does make a significant difference to the COL sound, and I believe it’s a positive one. The end result is beautifully heavy music, which surpasses the band’s previous efforts in some ways, and true fans will no doubt grow to embrace it, even if they are initially unsure. Absolutely Cult Of Luna. Absolutely something new.
4/5
Paul Macmillan
Valkyrian Music 