Cult of Luna, Emma Ruth Rundle, Intronaut

Opening for Japanese post-rock phenomenon Mono last year at Barracuda, Kentucky-dwelling Californian Emma Ruth Rundle reiterated a known fact: her literate, post-indie guitar rock can fill a room. Now factor in two decades of Swedish progressive hardcore and ambient sludge from headliners Cult of Luna. September’s seventh LP A Dawn to Fear, the Scandinavians’ first in six years, landed the tortured sextet’s most acclaimed face-peeler. – Raoul Hernandez