It is the attention to detail and the devotion to the pursuit of delivering the best art they can that once again makes anything they release an absolute joy to own. It is the first time I have sat and poured over their contents, able to appreciate that The Long Road North is a journey from the opening line of ‘Breathe into the harrowing wind’ to the climactic ‘What is left is an empty void’ of Blood Upon Stone. Provided in a beautiful heavy weight paper booklet (if you purchased the vinyl option anyway) and faithfully presented gives the listener the chance to study and get to the matter of what is truly being emoted.
The Silver Arc for example has small deft moments of melodies and inflections that augment the searching lyrics. This ability to pile detail on top of detail has long been a strength of the band, from the raw and visceral post-hardcore bludgeon on their eponymous 2001 debut and the hugely atmospheric follow up The Beyond (2003), Cult Of Luna have mastered the ability to create densely layered, complex songs that shift and challenge with each listen. Given the dedication to the scale and ambition of the band they’ve had a detached, cold side to them that has seemingly melted in recent releases, whereas on Mariner it was Julie Christmas who felt like the narrator tugging on the heartstrings, now the guest appearance of Mariam Wallentin (Wildbirds/Peacedrums) Swedish vocalist and multi-instrumentalist on Beyond I, simply brings additional layers of texture to the impassioned performance.
LONG ROAD TATTOO FULL
From the tough, muscular tension of Cold Burn, a weighty ebb and flow of typically commanding dynamics that sees the Swedes in full flow, Johannes Persson roaring and full-throated to the lush tenderness of Into The Night with its orchestral feel and emotive crooned vocals, whilst the drums clatter with rhythmic, military tattooing, punctuated by stabbing horns. Musically The Long Road North is Cult Of Luna’s most complex and richly textured release to date.
LONG ROAD TATTOO MOVIE
The visuals, produced by North Kingdom Greenhouse used to accompany the powerful ten-minute opening salvo Cold Burn are stark, impressive, and foreboding on an epic sci-fi movie scale. It seems like a typically grandiose and innovative idea that comes as no surprise. The Long Road North, a much-anticipated release sees the band pushing yet more boundaries and are releasing the nine tracks alongside an immersive gaming experience. After The Raging River EP, the sheer quality of which would be a disservice to call a stopgap, Cult Of Luna are on a ludicrously rich vein of form that is hard to top.
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