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Cult of Luna
Somewhere Along the Highway


5.0
classic

Review

by Jupro1 USER (4 Reviews)
July 5th, 2006 | 2374 replies


Release Date: 2006 | Tracklist


If this album doesn't establish Cult Of Luna as one of the best bands of their genre and present them to a wider audience then there is no justice in the world, which there isn't so it's unlikely that CoL will get the recognition they deserve.

"Somewhere Along The Highway" continues the progression that the band have gone through. Their first release "Cult Of Luna" was probably the most aggressive of all their albums. Thier second album "The Beyond", toned the dischordance and tempo down, their third album "Salvation" was their most serene album so far yet still had an unmistakable heaviness to it. "Somewhere Along the Highway" can be considered to be heavier than "Salvation" although not just heavy in the guitar/bass sense but in it's atmosphere.

On this record Cult Of Luna become an eight-piece:
Johannes Persson — Guitar and vocals (including lyrics)
Klas Rydberg — Vocals
Magnus Lindberg — Drums, recording and mixing
Erik Olofsson — Guitar
Andreas Johansson — Bass
Anders Teglund — Keyboards and electronics
Thomas Hedlund — Drums and percussion
Fredrik Kihlberg — Guitar and vocals

Their newest member being Fredrik Kihlberg whose vocals i think after hearing this album will be essential to all future CoL records. They provide a different extreme to Klas Rydberg's throat-tearing vocals and without them "And With Her Came The Birds" would not be the absolute stunner of a song it is.

The album begins with "Marching To The Hearbeats" which is a relativly quiet affair that utilises Fedrick's vocals, and on first listen this song may seem a tad underwheming but there is an undeniable feeling that a storm is on the way (of course it is, it's a Cult Of Luna record!) although on repeated listens it's turns out this track is perfect, it shows that CoL don't have to start a record with a bang and is not what you expect at all.

Then begins "Finland" and straight away the drums start pounding in a manner very unlike the drums on the track before it, Klas' vocals then join them to start the build-up of the song and then... it all stops and breaks into a lovely section of bass,drums and guitar that is actually very relaxing and catches you totally off-guard then at then the pace starts to pick up again and a weird sound can be heard in the background and then suddenly we're straight back into heavy territory. All in all this track seems reminiscent of the style used on "Salvation" but at the same time seems to be a darker version of the CoL that was heard on "Salvation".

"Back To Chapel Town" starts with beautiful guitar and slowly builds along with keyboards, then drums and bass and then later vocals and is good enough already but i cannot express how brilliant the song then becomes at around 3.35 before fading out in the style in which it came in, and although it still seems reminiscent of "Salvation" there are new aspects that greatly enhance the song and somehow exceed that albums quality.

The next song however is a totally different aspect of Col that we have never seen before, "And With Her Came The Birds" is excellent in every sense of the word, it's not heavy at all really sonically but it is increadibly heavy atmospherically, and even uses a banjo to good effect, the banjo is perfect, the guitar is perfect, the bass is perfect and the drums played with brushes add to the song greatly and CoL new vocalist Fredrik completes the song, i'm sorry to say that if Klas had sung on this it would probably not be as good as it is at all, I hope that in future CoL move in this direction, although I still want the heaviness that Klas' vocals bring.

"Thirtyfour" starts ominously and continues to build until a sound effect comes in at around 2 minutes, this then stops and the song starts to build again and sounds very sinister while doing so, and then everything comes in and sounds absolutly epic when another keyboard sound joins the other instruments at 4.50 minutes and then it all breaks down and becomes very calm and this is where their new sound starts to creep in again with "ahhhhhhh" vocals which compliment the music perfectly until Klas' vocals and the instruments storm in again.

The next song "Dim" takes while to build and goes through various changes and although it is similar to some parts of "Salvation" the keyboard sounds and the general atmosphere of this album seem to take the song into a totally different realm than the material on that album.

The album then finishes with "Dark City, Dead Man" which starts off with keyboard and guitar that sound very dark. Most of this track seems to be lighter than what has come before sounding almost like mogwai or explosions in the sky until near the end when it explodes with Klas' vocals and the odd guitar combining to create an excellent finish to an excellent album.

Some people seem to be of the opinion that this album does not touch "Salvation" and whilst still being good is nowhere how good that album was. I personally think that that album was excellent yet somehow to me this exceeds it as it builds upon its foundation and moves into uncharted territory for CoL. There is not much metal around that seems to hold my attention these days but Cult of Luna do catch my attention and i'm fully prepared to say that this is honestly one of the best albums of 2006 so far and in my opinon is a stone cold classic, not just for within the genre but in general.

P.S. I don't care how ass-kissing this review sounds, I really don't care.


user ratings (1292)
4.3
superb
other reviews of this album
Gmaj (4)
Sweden's post-metal stalwarts have put forth yet another droney, powerful effort. A little repetitiv...

BMDrummer (3.5)
Sometimes, style is substance....

Confessed2005 (5)
Timeless piece of post metal genius, rewarding in every way imaginable....

My Name Is Mud (5)
Cult of Luna's seminal masterpiece is a work of beauty and sheer agony....



Comments:Add a Comment 
AlienEater
July 8th 2006


716 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

This albums very good, as good as Salvation.

Wizard
August 28th 2006


20564 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Good review, and I agree with you, one of the best albums of 2006! Far better than Salvation. This album is what Salvation wanted to be!

Kage
August 28th 2006


1172 Comments


I didn't even know they had a new album out! Damn, I can't wait to hear this.

Activista anti-MTV
August 28th 2006


3154 Comments


This looks like a dandy. I might have to check it out.

omgwtfboogie
November 12th 2006


211 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

While this band is good, everytime I listen to them I am only reminded of what Isis rip-offs they are.



rmgebhardt
December 28th 2006


32 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

Album of the year. So far beyond simply Isis rip-offs. This album, at least.

djtrousse
January 7th 2007


36 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

These men are gods. (Isis too.)

TheMisterBungle
January 7th 2007


861 Comments


These guys interest me more than Isis.
I think the next CD I'll buy will be this.

RunAmokRampant
January 13th 2007


228 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Even if they were Isis ripoffs I'd still give em the thumbs up because creating such an atmosphere is no mean feat.

HotSalvation
March 29th 2007


258 Comments


I deffinitely think Isis/Luna is a mutual rip-off... they both sound the same at times, but honestly...does it matter?

I think rather than ripping each other off they may be inspiring each other to write better music...as long as they rip off each other to make good music I'm happy

HotSalvation
March 29th 2007


258 Comments


After just listening to Salvation and now Along the Highway, I'd agrree that this album is deeper than salvation... it pleases the ear more and it was produced better.

Two-Headed Boy
March 29th 2007


4527 Comments


Ugh I've seen this around and I need it.

Upsidedown_and_Sideways
December 5th 2007


289 Comments


I have listened to Isis for the past two years, and have recently started listening to Cult of Luna. When I see people calling these bands rip-offs I don't really get it. I mean, if you really enjoy the progression, experimentation, and atmosphere that this genre is bringing to music, then you must enjoy the fact that there is more of it to listen to with both of these bands being around.




Amp'd
December 13th 2007


33 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

You wrote two lines about dim. you could only muster 2 lines for my favourite CoL song. good album.

BattleOfSerenity
January 18th 2008


186 Comments


This album has a brilliant atmosphere.
I may write a review someday.

slack
June 7th 2008


249 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

such a good album





mentalmidget666
July 14th 2009


7 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

I bought Salvation first and didnt really get into it that much. It wasnt until I heard this album that I was blown away and had to give their other stuff another chance. One of my favorite albums of all time

ithinkimjesus
March 8th 2010


36 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

The combination of 'Marching to the Hearbeats' and 'Finland' is perfect. I love the more mellow, quieter sections of this record. Like 'And With Her Came The Birds', especially with that banjo melody line.

Relinquished
March 21st 2010


48982 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

Album rules so much it's not fair

JAV
April 8th 2010


3545 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

I almost forgot how good this was. Every song is incredible. Once Dim comes on I have to listen to the whole thing.



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