TEMPORA MUTANTUR

This is the first time I have come across Sacramento-based progressive metal collective Lunar, but apparently, they were formed all the way back in 2013 by drummer Alex Bosson (Helion Prime, Planeswalker) and Ryan Erwin who passed in 2018. This is their fourth album, following on from 2023's 'The Illusionist', which has seen a few line-up changes so on this recording the band was Chandler Mogel (clean vocals), Brian Lewis (growl vocals), Carlos Alvarez (rhythm guitar), Connor McCray (lead guitar), Ryan Price (bass), Alex Bosson (drums) and Anthony Stahl (keyboards). There are many guest guitarists providing solos, while I note cellist Raphael Weinroth-Browne (Leprous) is also on one number.

Lyrically, what we have here is a concept album dealing with the passing of time and the effects it has on us physically and mentally. Bosson said, "This album deals with something everyone can relate to, and no one can escape: the passing of time. We get older, our perspective changes, and we gain some things, and lose others? sometimes the things and ones we love. And we struggle and fight along the way. This album deals with some of the highs and lows we deal with along this journey we all share." Musically, there is a lot going on as here we have a band who can be prog metal, mathcore, pronk, often in the same song and sometimes at the same time. It means the listener can never really relax as they have no idea what is going to happen as the band progresses through the songs. In some ways I am somewhat surprised there are not more longer songs on this set, as only one is above 10 minutes, and only three more above six, as this is music designed to extend and stretch both the listeners and players. It will be no surprise to anyone that this will appeal to fans of Tool, Opeth, Caligula's Horse, Haken, and Porcupine Tree, and if you want music which can be highly melodic and almost laid back at one minute and insanely complex and heavy the next, then this is for you.

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