Luna Kiss - Following Shadows (2018) [Hi-Res]

You can’t fight evolution. Luna Kiss have been revelling in a constant state of creative change for the last seven years. But it is only in 2017 that the Coventry quartet’s extraordinary, amorphous vision has truly come into sharp focus. Six years on from the release of their acclaimed debut album Echoes Of Sound, Luna Kiss are poised to return with a new collection of songs, Following Shadows. As hinted at on 2014’s Conjure & Sin EP and last year’s Gravity EP, the quintet have blossomed into something enthralling and unique, powered by inspiration and an unwavering lust for creativity. After doggedly honing their live performances while allowing their music to grow and mutate at its own perfect pace, Luna Kiss are now ready to begin an exhilarating new chapter.

“This really does feel like our first album,” says bassist Ross Morris. “Echoes Of Sound was six years ago and we were kids. It was our training ground but we’ve moved on, we’ve evolved and this new album is something that we’re genuinely all proud of and that we feel represents the way we sound right now.”

Exhibiting an admirably stoic refusal to be pinned down, the foursome – completed by singer/guitarist Wil Russell, guitarist Chris Butler and drummer James Pedley - have conjured their most succinct but subtly adventurous songs to date, wielding melody as a weapon of wonder, bolstered by razor-sharp dynamics and performed with laudable understatement. The result is that Following Shadows feels like the discovery of a new musical sweet spot, where simplicity and intricacy collide.

“Following Shadows is the culmination of those years of exploration,” states singer/guitarist Wil Russell. “We finally arrived at a sound that we all really feel passionate and excited about. Our tastes are very broad. We all grew up on alternative rock but there’s electronic, indie and pop music in there too. It’s a record with very contrasting dynamics and moods both musically and lyrically. At times it’s very bold and assertive, at others it’s delicate and vulnerable. There are moments of intimacy and moments of unity.”

Recorded with esteemed producer and prog legend John Mitchell (Enter Shikari/Architects) at the controls, the new Luna Kiss material pulls off the neat trick of being both highly distinctive and fresh and perfectly in tune with the ongoing resurgence of visionary rock music. From the elegant menace of Gravity and the bullish melodic oomph of You Are and Hold On to the metallic harmonies and stately grit of Not Afraid, every moment points to a band with a gleaming, limitless future. As the success of artful figures like Radiohead, Biffy Clyro and Muse increasingly confirms, there really is a big audience out there for rock music that dares to dream and refuses to be limited by expectation. The next step, as ever, is to take this music to the masses.

“Our live shows are very dramatic, energetic and creative, and that’s an extension of what you can hear on this album,” Wil concludes. “We’ve toured through Europe, playing everything from small venues in small towns to major festivals in amphitheatres, and it’s all really helped us to explore and challenge our sound. Following Shadows is the record we wanted to make and we’re all really proud of what we created. We’re looking forward to sharing it with everyone.”