In The Shadow Of Your Shadow is another essential post metal piece from one of the genre’s defining bands Cult of Luna.
Release date: October 6, 2026 | Red Crk Recordings | Bandcamp | Instagram
There are very few artists I hold in such high regard as Cult of Luna. They were my gateway into post metal, which is now a pivotal part of my musical identity, and I find them to be one of the most consistently amazing bands out there. Each one of their releases is a behemoth of its own, carrying its own identity, but never forsaking Cult of Luna‘s unmistakable atmosphere of dread and pulsating energy. So it’s no surprise I had huge expectations for In The Shadow Of Your Shadow, and I’m still thoroughly impressed by how good it is. Scratch that – I’m blown away.
Rather than going with an uber aggressive entry, I find In The Shadow Of Your Shadow highlights Cult of Luna‘s more spacey and ethereal vibe a bit more than their recent releases. It’s heavy on the synth work and very dynamic, with a bit more post rock leaning stuff than you’d commonly expect from them. The album has just the right amount of polish that makes it lush without sacrificing the rawness their music calls upon, making it a very accessible entry point for new fans that want to know what the Swedish giants are all about. This more dynamic vibe is my preferred side of their music, so I can already see In The Shadow Of Your Shadow finding itself amongst my favorites in no time.
From the very first moments of the title track, I was already met with all the intricate, encompassing soundspaces I’ve grown to love the band for. It’s modern Cult of Luna at the top of their game and what I’d call an instant classic. Also, I’m not sure Johannes Persson had this caveman vibe with his growling for quite some time, and it immediately stands out – I felt that final note in my bones. “Breach” is another one of those barebones CoL tracks as well – an intro that could feel right at home at Somewhere Along the Highway that keeps gaining momentum as it evolves into a proper belter.
While you’ll find your meat-and-bones tracks from them here, there’s more than a few surprises lurking within this shadow. The thundering Sadness Will Reign has a guest spot from Gojira‘s Joe Duplantier, and I’d never have guessed Cult of Luna were big enough to reach out to such a huge name in the mainstream metal scene. Rather than going with his growls, Joe does some cleans that pair really well with Johannes’ vocals and make for some pretty killer melodies. I’m all for guest spots when they actually manage to enhance a song, and this is one of those cases for sure.
Another standout surprise was the groovy and fast “The Rift”. While it starts gloomy and slow, it pulls the rug on you and delivers a properly aggressive headbanger of a riff! It feels like an unholy child between themselves and Mastodon, and I’m all for it. I honestly can’t remember the last time the band did a proper, fast song, and they should, because this proves they’re great at doing those as well, and it adds a very welcome layer of diversity to their usual mid-tempo songwriting.
And of course, how could I not speak about the gargantuan “Burial”. I’ll just say that I think this is the closest Cult of Luna have got in achieving that Mariner vibe. I’ve always thought their synth work is one of the main elements that makes them stand out from their peers, and this song is a perfect example on how well they can utilize it to catapult their music to galactic highs. Might be my favorite song of the year, to be frank.
Earlier this year, when Neurosis surprisingly came back with An Undying Love For a Burning World, I remember thinking to myself ‘looks like someone may give Cult of Luna a run for their money as the best post metal band around’. And just a few months later, it’s pretty clear they’re not giving up on that crown so easily. But of course, this isn’t some competition, and we’re all very fortunate to have so much amazing post metal gracing our ears – and to have giants like Cult of Luna continue to push the envelope. In The Shadow Of Your Shadow is another essential piece of post metal from the band whose entire catalogue is essential post metal. Is anyone really surprised?
