Their most complete work untill now that settles them as one of the top bands of the genre.
Based on a great concept (a diary of a madman found in their recording studio that used to
be a mental hospital) CoL built a record that runs flowlessly from the beginnig to the end.
Their compositions are more mature than ever balancing darkness and heavyness creating a
dark and strifling atmosphere.
Hate to give this album such a low rating but this is a disappointment in comparison to their last three albums. Most of the heaviness from their last albums is gone and replaced by interlude after boring interlude. There are some excellent songs on here, Owlwood, Ghostrail, and Mire Deep but this is not up to par with what they are capable of doing.
This album is slightly heavier and darker than the previous few releases. The topsong this time is “Ghost Trail”, a typical Cult of Luna song that explodes around nine minutes at the time you expect it’s over. The screams of Klas Rydberg are kicking in as if he wanted to drown his wife. At almost the same time, the drums are getting faster and faster until the song collapses. Also outstanding is “Eternal Kingdom” (check the drumfill that comes back at certain times) and the last track "Following Betulas" that includes a trumpet at the end. These three songs are just examples of how Cult of Luna manages again to keep their repetitive music original with small details wether it’s electronical stuff, organic instruments, dissonant riffs or subtle drumbreaks. It makes ‘Eternal Kingdom’ just a new interesting chapter to the catalogue of the band.
