UMUR "Cult of Luna" is the debut full-length studio album by Swedish sludge/post metal act Cult of Luna. The album was released through Rage of Achilles Records in August 2001. Earache Records re-released the album on CD in 2003 and on double vinyl in 2010.

The music on the album is sludge/post metal with roots in post hardcore (the Swedish post harcore pioneers in Breach are definitely not unknown to these guys). The tracks are mostly slow-to mid paced featuring some really raw and heavy sludgy riffing and some pretty extreme shouting vocals. The music is for the most part rather abrasive and probably purposedly designed to make your ears bleed but there are some more atmospheric post metal parts in the music too. They are very few though and this is first and foremost a brick heavy and fiercely aggressive album. The general lack of dynamics in the tracks, can make the 8 track, 61:06 minutes long album a bit of a trial to get through but if you like them as harsh, uninviting and raw as they come this album certainly applies.

The sound production is equally raw and gritty and it´s hard not to at least partially enjoy the sensation of being hit on the head by a brick heavy dose of sludge/post metal when it is delivered with the fierce conviction and professionalism as it is here. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.

Phonebook Eater 5/10

Mediocre Beginnings.

Swedish act Cult Of Luna already had their roots planted in their debut album of the same name. Like many debut albums, however, “Cult Of Luna” has nothing but a skeleton, a basic sound, and no original skin to cover it, to make it appealing. Casually produced, this album shows an interesting and somewhat promising blend of Post-Hardcore, Sludge Metal, and Metalcore and together assemble a few interesting tracks such as the closing “The Sacrifice”, definitely the most multi-faceted and well structured out of the entire LP, or “Circle”, which proudly earns the compliment of heaviest song here. Looking at the album as a whole, it’s easy to see the talent, but the casual production dooms the LP down to very average levels. Only for the fans.