Review THE LUNAR EFFECT “Fortune’s Always Hiding”

The Lunar Effect was formed in 2016 and released their debut album, “Calm Before the Storm”, in 2019 and the band’s latest effort, “Fortune’s Always Hiding”, is ready to delight the rock scene. It is their third album and the first to be released via Svart Records, allowing them to reach a wider group of rock fans.

One of the two lead singles from the album is “Settle Down”, which reveals one of The Lunar Effect’s sources of inspiration. There is a strong Seattle grunge vibe to “Settle Down”, reminiscent of bands like Soundgarden and The Screaming Trees. It is a stunning rock song, with The Lunar Effect drawing inspiration from the melancholic sound of the time while adding enough of their own vigour to make it unmistakably theirs.

Moving on to the middle of the tracklist, the following song, “I Disappear”, is almost a sonic counterpart to the blasting “Settle Down”. It is a sombre piano ballad with a touching feel. It reflects the underlying theme of an album addressing loss, memory, and the passage of time. In this sense, the title “Fortune’s Always Hiding” could not be more fitting, as it hints at the journey through these ten songs.

Photo: James Bennett

Having said all that, it doesn’t mean that we’re drowning in eternal sadness here. The heavily pounding “Feed the Hand” and the straightforward “Five and Two” are full of energetic power. The latter is a masterful metal track that combines the heaviness of Black Sabbath with the energy of rock, making “Five and Two” an electric moment on the album.

“My Blue Veins” adds another dimension to the album, as it is a blues-infused song with a lot of feeling. The weight of the world is palpable when listening to this song.

The great thing about this album is that, despite featuring so many influences, it still feels like one monolithic rock masterpiece. All the pieces fit together perfectly, giving “Fortune’s Always Hiding” a great flow. I guess fortune wasn’t hiding when the band came up with the ideas for the songs on this album, because the end result sounds so impressive.

There isn’t a weak track on the album, and the final two songs are also convincing rock songs too. “Scotoma” is another lively rocker, while the emotive, blues-soaked closer showcases the album’s versatility once more.

The Lunar Effect delivers an emotional journey through the world of rock. From emotional peaks to roaring rockers, this album connects the dots. With “Fortune’s Always Hiding”, The Lunar Effect deliver their best album to date, becoming a shining light in the rock universe.