Cult of Luna and Julie Christmas – Mariner (2016)

Completely catching us by surprise, today we have a very interesting collaboration between Sweden’s Cult of Luna and USA’s Julie Christmas. If you ever wondered how Cult of Luna would sound with a layer of female vocals on top, this is the perfect time to discover such a combination. Featuring five tracks filled with the band’s traditional atmospheric oppression, this release is a force to be reckoned with.

Opening with the momentum building piece “A Greater Call”, the band wastes no time to introduce the listener to the dreamy combination of Julie’s sweet vocals and the harsh screams, both flanked by an intricate atmospheric backdrop. Leaving the listener no time to really adjust, the band pummels through “Chevron”, sparkling some pop-like influences along the way.

The tension continues to rise with the sexy and hypnotic rhythms of “The Wreck of S.S. Needle”. This track perfectly shows the strengths of the band’s collaboration as Julie’s vocals perfectly adorn the atmospheric momentum building sections of Cult of Luna’s music. The somber and mysterious “Approaching Transition” is our favorite track in this release thanks to its very mellow vibe and brilliant progression.

Closing with the 15-minute behemoth “Cygnus”, this collaboration goes out with a bang thanks to a very tense and emotional piece that is full of surprises. Cult of Luna’s atmospheric and musical abilities turn out to be perfectly suited for such an intense and lively collaboration with Julie Christmas and we have five brilliant tracks to show this. If you like the band’s intricate music and are ready for a unique and a bit different spin on it, then you will love this release.

Label: Indie Recordings

Release: April 8th, 2016

Genre: Experimental Atmospheric Sludge/Post-Metal

Country: Sweden / USA