Cult Of Luna – Eternal Kingdom
1. Owlwood
2. Eternal Kingdom
3. Ghost Trail
4. The Lure (Interlude)
5. Mire Deep
6. The Great Migration
7. Osterbotton
8. Curse
9. Ugin
10. Following Betulas
Having spent some time ploughing their trade in Europe’s dark underbelly of metal, gloomy Swedes Cult Of Luna arguably achieved their current lauded status with 2006’s ‘Somewhere Along The Highway’, which eschewed their often politicised lyrics in favour of more introvert issues. Taking a step further into such realms, ‘Eternal Kingdom’ features a lyrical concept that revolves around the writings of one Holger Nilsson, a committed mental patient who was kept in the very asylum in which Cult Of Luna rehearse much of their material.
The asylum is, of course, long-since closed, but the band have done a stirling job of bringing some of Nilsson’s thoughts and ideas to life. Musically, ‘Eternal Kingdom’ depicts a picture of beauty and horror, of hope and despair and of dark and light. Such startling opposites form a backbone that is steeped in musical contradictions, few of which hit home so deeply as ‘Ghost Trail’. A slow, lumbering, doomy number that builds into a climax that is as close to thrash as it is to sludge metal, it manages to contrast with instrumental follow-on track ‘The Lure’ while seemingly fitting into the same story with effortless ease. This is, like the rest of the album, where Cult Of Luna excel. Haunting, soulful and irresistible, it serves as one of the most unique listening experiences this year.
Reviewed by Merlin Alderslade
‘Eternal Kingdom’ is out now on Earache
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