Cult of Luna is a Swedish metal band from Umeå founded in 1998. They often perform post-metal music similar to the contemporary bands Neurosis and Isis. The band signed to Earache Records in the early 2000s and released five albums, including the commercially successful albums Salvation (2004) and Somewhere Along the Highway (2006). After an extended period of inactivity, Cult of Luna returned with its Indie Recordings debut Vertikal (2013) and companion EP Vertikal II (2013), both drawing heavy inspiration from Fritz Lang's industrious and political 1927 film, Metropolis. The band has released its space-themed seventh album, Mariner (2016), featuring American vocalist Julie Christmas.