Quietly self-released back in August, this second album from the plucky Brit progsters has recently been picked up for re-release by legendary French label Listenable.
Opener “Merceds Footsteps” showcases a melting pot of progressive metal influences in barely over two minutes. Starting gently with wistful melodic lamentations ala latter day Cynic, before descending into cod-aggressive, classic prog rock musings similar to Opeth, it’s an intriguing opening statement.
Scattered throughout this complex blend of progressive death metal are nods to other prog greats, notably the epic “Solar Immolation” has a plethora of Ihsahn-esque finger twisting riff wizardry that gives way to reflective Dream Theater style passages, before a bizarre quiet section at the half way point that reminds me of the famous “Close Encounters Of The Third Kind”. You’ll know it when you hear it.
There’s clearly a wealth of talent in this band, and they’ve produced an album that’s bristling with a variety of great ideas. Unfortunately, it’s all a little too unfocused and self-indulgent for my tastes, Luna’s Call having thrown in the metaphorical kitchen sink. “In Bile They Bathe” for example, is an absolute cricket bat over the head in contrast to everything around it… imagine if Danny Elfman did a Morbid Angel cover, and you get the picture.
If any single track could stand out, it would be closer “Fly Further Cosmonaut”. It takes us on a nine-minute journey that touches almost every corner of the tech-prog scape. It starts with a jazzy death metal soundscape, sailing through an atmosphere of layered guitars and mixture of vocal styles that brings to mind contemporary eastern European acts such as Serdce and Irreversible Mechanism. This segues halfway through into a movement that dips its toes into the theatrical flair of Devin Townsend whilst maintaining an organic feel, then dives back into the Opeth-isms before closing with bombastic blasting.
To summarise then, “Void” shows that Luna’s Call have incredible imagination and great musicianship, they just need to reign it in a bit and deliver songs that are more focussed. Absolutely worth a few listens to get your head round though.
(7/10 Doogz)
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