Cult of Luna - The Raging River (2021)

Still suffering PTSD from remembering that our last in-person concert was exactly 11 months ago, watching Cult of Luna, Intronaut and Emma Ruth Rundle, today we have Cult of Luna and their latest EP “The Raging River”. As a great intermediate step between their 2019 opus “A Dawn to Fear” and what is next to come, this release showcases the band firing on all cylinders and delivering their highly refined atmospheric brand of Sludgy Post-Metal for over 38 minutes.

The band instantly set their captivating atmosphere with the crafty “Three Bridges”, a slow moving piece that quickly delivers massive layered guitars and lush percussions. The more signature-styled “What I leave Behind” features high-octane melodic passages alongside the cathartic moments we all know and love from Cult of Luna. The harsh vocals are something that we always enjoyed from this band as they perfectly juxtapose the band's aggression alongside their elegant arrangements.

On “Inside of a Dream”, there is a guest appearance by vocalist Mark Lanegan, which sparks some “Mariner”/Julie Christmas vibes, in this very mellow track. Our favorite track in this release has to be the enigmatic “I Remember” and its bleak atmosphere, sending chills down our spines as the aggressive onslaughts unfold.

Closing with the futuristic “Wave after Wave”, Cult of Luna manages to deliver nearly a full-length release worth of crushing music. The band’s sound is as tight as ever and on “The Raging River” they continue on a tear, laying waste to everything in their path with crushing guitars and intoxicating atmospheres. If you are a fan of the band or Post-Metal in general, this is one hell of a release to not miss out on.

Label: Red Creek Recordings

Release: February 5th, 2021

Genre: Atmospheric Post-Metal

Country: Sweden