For almost three decades, Sweden’s Cult Of Luna have forged a sound that has grown incomparable to that of others. Ambitious, epic, visceral, and drenched in emotion, they frequently craft songs that clock in at over eight minutes but make every single moment count.
Since their beginnings in 1998 – Cult Of Luna has released nine albums, been awarded the top rock/ metal award at the Swedish National Radio Awards and cemented their status as one of the true progressors of the metal genre, beknownst to most metal aficionados.
In 2013, the Swedes teamed up with Indie Recordings for the release of perhaps their most successful work to date in the shape of Vertikal I and Vertikal II. With a concept loosely based upon Fritz Lang’s dystopian science fiction film Metropolis, these cohesive pieces of work received worldwide appraisal and only pillared Cult Of Luna to even greater heights.
For their seventh effort, the post-metal pioneers join forces with the talented Julie Christmas from Brooklyn, whom bring an even larger depth to Cult Of Luna’s sound. Her haunting voice has fronted vital bands such as Made Out of Babies and Battle of Mice, and is one of significance in the underground sludge and post-metal scene. Her prowess as a vocalist is powerfully on display on Mariner. The collaboration blends sludgy, epic soundscapes with intense, emotional vocals, creating a unique, celestial journey that is often cited as a career high for both parties.
Each Cult of Luna record has managed to sound sufficiently different from each other, yet they can still be recognised as unmistakably being their own. Since the very beginning, the band has been characterised by their album lengths as well as lengthy songs. Over the years, they carved out a niche for themselves in what was to become known as atmospheric sludge and post-metal.
“Everything we have done the last twenty years has been more than we could ever dreamt of. A goal as good as any is just to continue doing what we are doing on our terms for another year.”
Johannes Persson: Guitar / Vocals
Andreas Johansson: Bass
Thomas Hedlund: Drums & Percussion
Fredrik Kihlberg: Guitar / Vocals
Kristian Karlsson: Keyboards / Vocals
Magnus Lindberg: Production