Record Exchange Boise

Reviews:

Derivative is the first word that comes to mind when considering Cult of Luna.The second is Swedish. Presented with those facts alone, one could easily mistakeCult of Luna for a Scandinavian garage rock group or an overtly melodic deathmetal outfit. Hailing from Umeå—the same town that birthed hardcoreprogressives Refused as well as the garage rocking Sahara Hotnights and The(International) Noise Conspiracy—the Cult share few sonic similaritieswith any of the aforementioned artists. Truth is, COL are actually a very American-soundingprogressive noise act forged from a fine record collection likely consistingof Through Silver In Blood-era Neurosis, Will Haven and, most clearly, Bostonnoise gods Isis.

Produced by Pelle Henricsson (Meshuggah, Hell Is for Heroes, Refused and, um,the Hives!) the band's Earache debut The Beyond expands on the utterlyclaustrophobic soundscapes presented on their self-tilted 2001 debut for theU.K.-based Rage of Achilles and two-track 7-inch for Hydra Head Records. Influencesfrom the criminally underrated Breach and the quickly emergent Knut also pushthrough the record's dense veil, but it's Isis, however, who remainCOL's primary musical inspiration—demonstrated on the especially "Ice-ish"tracks "Receiver" and "Arrival" highlighting The Beyond'slumbering, epic eight-minute compositions. Despite such obvious sonic debts,the band still musters enough flashes of originality to be judged on their ownmerits. The muted, piano-led "Clones" and the doom metal-y closer"Further," in particular, show promise for growth beyond their obviousmuses. So cut them slack—after all, Isis did sound a lot like Neurosisjust a few years ago.