Album Review: Final Light – Final Light (Red Creek)

Final Light, a one-time only project featuring Perturbator and Cult of Luna’s Johannes Persson, release their self-titled album on June 24th, 2022 via Red Creek.

A match made in heaven or a match made in hell? The synthwave legend that is Perturbator with the post-metal juggernaut that is Cult of Luna. That’s not something anyone would have expected to see to in 2022, yet, here we are.

The question is… who does this appeal too? Is the heaviness and intensity of Cult of Luna going to put off Perturbator fans or will the infusion of electric, eccentric and erratic synthwave put off fans of the post-metal maestros?

To be honest, Cult of Luna fans shouldn’t be too surprised to see this sort of collaboration. After all, they’ve had some unexpected and highly impressive releases working with the likes of Julie Christmas and Colin Stetson. Likewise, Perturbator fans shouldn’t be too surprised to hear such heavy music coming from within as this is not the first foray into metal.

What might surprise both sets of fans is just how interesting and unique the collaboration has turned out to be.

Kicking off with Nothing Will Bear Your Name, Final Light immediately providing an ominous and cinematic soundscape that begins to chip away at the senses. It seems to be all this track has to offer but then around the middle, it drifts away and then erupts with the guttural fury of Johannes Persson vocals and a more intense level of synth. This is how you announce yourself to the world.

In the Void… an apt title, as the haunting sound that introduces it is akin to floating in nothingness. Hold on though, as a breeze block of industrial heaviness is about to be attached to the ankle. Something that has you plummeting into the darkness below, your screams are soundless and your fall, endless.

With It Came with The Water and the title track, Final Light continue to prove just how fruitful this collaboration has been. The former; a mix of sci-fi sound effects, reverberating gloominess and harsh thumps. Whereas the latter is a thing of industrial metal beauty, the vocals of Johannes Persson hitting guttural lows and Perturbator’s enigmatic sounds creating a sonic lashing that few will recover from.

A touch of light in the darkness, the flicker grows in strength on The Fall of a Giant. However, as the echo of a guitar rings out, the sense of foreboding grows. Things turn eerie, the tempo shifts but the heaviness is a bit understated as the track takes on a deliciously twisted gothic tone. As things develop further, it all gets louder and more intense. Resulting in a penultimate track that can rightfully be called ‘epic’. One of the more unique and infinitely fascinating tracks on the album.

Being only 6 tracks long, you might wonder if you’re going to feel short-changed. Rest assured, that is not the case. This is an album that is filled with all manner of twists and turns, tracks that start one way than transform into an entirely different beast. Case in point? The finale of Ruin to Decay. Where the last vestiges of light are snuffed out completely in methodical and measured fashion. The combined brilliance of Perturbator and Cult of Luna’s Johannes Persson making the darkness feel so damn welcoming.

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Final Light – Final Light Full Track Listing:

1. Nothing Will Bear Your Name
2. In The Void
3. It Came with The Water
4. Final Light
5. The Fall of a Giant
6. Ruin To Decay

Links

Cult of Luna | Perturbator | Bandcamp | Red Creek