Vertikal (2020 Edition)

On Vertikal, the sixth album from Cult of Luna, the Swedish band returns after a five-year gap with an album of rigidly structured and massively heavy post-metal. Punctuated by electronic interludes, the album shows off Cult of Luna's patience for a good, slow build as they carefully assemble layers and connect passages, stopping only when the monstrous songs they've built are fully operational and ready to rampage by way of a destructively heavy riff. Confident in their craft, the bandmembers are careful never to rush things, allowing the songs on Vertikal to play out the way they're supposed to, as is the case with the 18-and-a-half-minute epic "Vicarious Redemption," which seems to grow exponentially as it slowly plods toward its conclusion. While Cult of Luna have always been an impressive band, the solid construction and merciless execution of Vertikal makes for an incredible listening experience. ~ Gregory Heaney