EP Ghost // ARTIST LUNE
Aussie metalcore continues to have a moment while evolving to captivating new heights as Melbourne heavies LUNE brawl and beatify the genre with their upcoming debut EP Ghost.
While only forming in 2019, LUNE are certainly by no means new kids on the block; with the group sparking to life by former I, Valiance guitarist Krys Smith and vocalist Nathaniel Smith, the quintet have swiftly gone on to forcibly turned heads and ears with their heaving tones and already infamous live shows. And while the Aussie metalcore ranks are currently bursting with bands clamouring to follow in the footsteps of other successful exports, it's with their debut upcoming EP release Ghost that LUNE truly stake their claim as "the next big thing" with an apoplectic landmark offering.
Taking no prisoners from the very start, title track Ghost glides in with haunting, crawling soundscapes and oscillating raw refrains as the team comprised of the Smith brothers, Tyler Hendley (bass), David Freeland (guitar) and Harrison Mills (drums) let loose in a polished display of turbulence and technical wizardry. Misery Dialogue follows next, offering a beautiful battering ram of high-octane angst, beautifully crafted melodic reprieves and tasty chuggs that lead into a criminally addictive groove to close out the track.
GHOST (LUNE)
If you had any face left to melt after the opening two tunes, Ghost's midway point Manipilator will disintegrate the leftovers and shred them to pieces as the LUNE lads offer up a flawless rager with utterly seething aggression that permeates the melodics and riotous, tight instrumentation. Smith's vocals ignite as Mills and his kicks take centre stage alongside a cavalcade of oozing riffs and bass, and it's highly likely this one will get spicy in the mosh when live shows are back on the menu.
Undoubtedly capable of flinging relentless savagery, LUNE continue in that vein but with a dulcet snarl as penultimate track Modern simultaneously capitalises on the brute strength of all involved while also presenting some deeper melodic moments without sacrificing signature ferocity. But just when you thought you'd copped every LUNE sonic flavour there is, it's on closing track Mirror Image that every LUNE element flourishes in smoldering fashion; grandiose soundscapes merge with divergent vocals, while chugs and crushing rhythmics wrap around the fray in an elegant yet vicious display.
MIRROR IMAGE (LUNE)
For those who like their tunes on the heavier side of the fence, LUNE's brand of metalcore/deathcore certainly leans hard to the ferocious edges. Even when churning out more melodic passages, LUNE still pack a whallop to everything they do, and this reality alone will garner them significant attention from fans and critics super into the heavier hues of Northlane, Polaris and so forth. But beyond the obvious, it's also the group's ability to maintain control of the sonic chaos at all times that readily makes this lot stand out against some of their other heavy compatriots; there's a measured distillation to LUNE's writing and technical conduct, and while undeniably the new current champions of the metal and/or deathcore worlds with this upcoming release, this is clearly just the beginning for a group looming to demand national attention beyond the underground.
LUNE'S BRAND NEW EP GHOST WILL DROP FRIDAY JUNE 12, WITH PRE-ORDERS AVAILABLE HERE.
FOR MORE LUNE INFO, HEAD HERE.
BY TIANA SPETER