Swedish metal band Cult Of Luna has, after five years of anticipation, released their sixth full-length album ‘Vertikal’. From a band that has prior released a book and audio book based on their 2008 concept album ‘Eternal Kingdom’, fans won’t be surprised that ‘Vertikal’ is based on the imagery of the sci-fi film ‘Metropolis’, according to the band’s press release. This is not an album of instant gratification, and while the band is undoubtedly talented at what they’re trying to accomplish, the feint of heart and the impatient need not apply to this monstrous undertaking of music.
It’s difficult to review a non-traditional album in a traditional way. Cult Of Luna doesn’t ascribe to the “verse-chorus-verse” way of writing. In fact, there really are no verses or choruses. With three songs reaching past the nine-minute mark, and one almost twenty minutes long, most of this album is rich with instrumentals, with only a smattering of vocals to keep things interesting.
‘Vicarious Redemption’, the epic eighteen minute song, could easily encapsulate this album’s entire sound. The beginning half is full of ominous tones and percussion, an anxious mix of minimalist sound that slowly adds another instrument or tone until halfway through. The anxiety-inducing anticipation is a running thread that holds this album together, and can be found in ‘The One’ and ‘Mute Departure’. The band is truly expert at cultivating emotion and setting simply through the orchestration of the instruments. It almost sounds as if a film is playing and we just aren’t able to see it. It easily conjures up images and possible storylines.
The middle of ‘Vicarious Redemption’ breaks into heavy screaming and slightly frenzied guitars, with fast-paced drums that shows off the band’s metal chops. The band’s metal roots also shine in ‘In Awe Of’ and ‘The Sweep’.
There are moments of electronic, almost dub-step like moments in several of the songs, along with other genres peppered throughout. But just as it will take you almost twelve minutes to even get to this in ‘Vicarious Redemption’, each song holds a few gems partway through, something you must have the patience and stamina to get to. It’s almost like the band is challenging you, testing how much you actually want to listen.
By the end of ‘Vicarious Redemption’, only the third track on the hour long album, it feels like you’ve already listened to an entire album. It’s exhausting, but kind of brings a sense of accomplishment, that is, if you don’t skip to the next song halfway through. There is tons of repetition in each song, and it’s hard to toil through minutes upon minutes of the same exact thing.
This is exactly why ‘Vertikal’ is an album for fans. Cult Of Luna isn’t a typical, traditional metal band. The scope of the band’s creativity and musical talent is undeniably great but it will take an atypical, nontraditional person to truly enjoy this band’s style.
3.5/5
‘Vertikal’ by Cult Of Luna is out now on Indie Recordings.
Cult Of Luna links: Website|Facebook
Words by Jenny Gagas
