Review Summary: A very good start
As the band’s first effort, Luneth’s self-titled EP absolutely shines. This Slovakian act reveals a sound which might be described as blackgaze, but only in the broadest sense possible, with periodic guitar distortion mostly just hinting at the idea of metal. It’s perhaps fairer to say that these four songs all fall somewhere in the transition zone between shoegaze's ambient side and moody dark folk. With that last sentence in mind, it’s probably redundant to note that this is delicate music, mostly quiet and hushed, beautiful in the kind of gossamer way which feels like all could melt away at any moment. Opener “When Leaves Whisper” unveils the dominant formula, its washed-out folk instrumentation and hushed clean singing shimmering along at an ambling pace. “Haze” initially pursues a similar trajectory, but ultimately swells to a more dramatic climax which brings to mind Emma Ruth Rundle. Meanwhile, the somber plucking of “Song of Lethe”’s intro eventually fuses into the EP’s most overtly metallic backdrop. Closer “Remember Me” is a slight but fitting conclusion, all sparse and brooding melancholy, the kind of tune which doesn’t require any words to impart profound emotion in the listener. All told, Luneth’s opening gambit doesn’t reveal too many new tricks, partly due to its diminutive nature as a short EP and partly because the band’s chosen style isn’t exactly untrodden territory, but it’s an absolutely lovely listen nonetheless.
Luneth is a mood piece par excellence, its gentle nature and naturalistic vibe (emphasized by the chirping birds prominently featured in “Song of Lethe”) best suited for pulling the listener in a fifteen-plus minute state of blissful reverie.
