Search - Cult of Luna :: Salvation

No, your girlfriend won't like this.

pray_for_mojo | a van down by the river | 11/15/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Sigh... someone needs to step up and do this album justice. I came across Salvation right when it came out, and over a year later I have yet to grow tired of it. I keep putting it down and moving onto something else, but like a fat man at a buffet I just keep coming back for more. And the musical buffet known as "Salvation" has plenty to keep me satisfied.



This is technical, heavy, atmospheric metal at its best. The way that Cult of Luna layer and build their music gives it a largeness that you rarely find anywhere. This music is heavy and HUGE! The album starts off with "Echoes" which begins as a strange yet captivating spacey song and slowly rises into typical Cult of Luna bludgeoning. From there on Cult of Luna weave a complex array of sound, ranging from quieter interludes to crushing riffs. The album is really intended to be listened through, and it works the best that way, as the songs complement each other and build into each other.



Cult of Luna may not have invented the "wall of sound" concept to metal, but they sure have perfected it. I suppose that having seven band members helps in that regard. They mix their heaviness with an atmospheric undertone, so that even in the quieter moments you can still sense the crushing climax waiting around the corner. The songs themselves are masterfully constructed, retaining progression and unity without becoming too boring or too random. There is a certain amount of *apparent* repetition to this kind of music, but after a few listens you realize that it is really a progression and not repetition at all.



Comparisons of Cult of Luna to ISIS are unfair and lazy at best. The bands do share the same genre, but Cult of Luna bring a different style, and a greater anger and intensity. Just listen to "Adrift" and notice that incredible, sludgy, chugging bassline and try to tell me that sounds like ISIS. That being said, most ISIS fans should love Salvation. Personally, it's a toss up as to which band I like better.



No new music I found in 2005 came close to topping Salvation. The crushing intensity and emotion of Cult of Luna just cannot be matched by most bands. No fan of noisecore, or atmospheric metal, or just plain great music should live without Salvation."

Languid, heavy and hypnotic.

Lord Chimp | Monkey World | 12/10/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Cult of Luna's _Salvation_ is highly derivative of later Isis. Yet if you really like Isis and you want more music that like that, this is a great choice. It is an extended, slowly-developing mix of scintillating stardust and oceanic mass. The music moves at a glacial pace -- nearly every song is 10 minutes, and the rising-and-falling shape of the music contains only gradual slopes. The band seems to unleash incredible cosmic forces at its peaks! Its quieter moments are as lovely as Explosions in the Sky's. The production is mammoth, but definitely has a less polished side than Isis' recent _Panopticon_ (do you have that one?). One part brutish, and one part spiritually enriched, _Salvation_ will go nicely with your Isis cds."

You need this album!!!

D. Lee | Dublin , Ireland | 03/13/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Salvation is possibly one of the greatest album's i've ever heard,I have it a while now and I just can't stop listening to it!It surpasses they're self titled first album cult of luna and they're second the beyond(not that i don't rate they're first two album's)I think they just nailed the sound they were looking for right on the head with this release which leave's me itching for they're forth album which is tiltled Somewhere along the highway and to be released april 24th 2006!But Back to Salvation It's nearly 74 minute's and for 8 tracks might seem a bit long for some but trust me it's perfect,every minute of salvation is amazing it'll take you to dark place's then bring you back to the light and when the 74 minute's are up you'll want to start the madness all over! So if you don't already own it i urge you to buy it now!!!!!"