Up next is another Rewind Review and back on the Chopping Block is The Cult. Now it’s been a good amount of time since I first reviewed them so let’s take a look…….
The Southern Death Cult- OK so technically this isn’t a Cult album but it is what would come before the first album. This was the band that Ian Astbury was in before The Cult and while they never actually put out any albums, they are important to acknowledge. So you’ll hear the sound carryover into the Dreamtime album and much like that one, it has a postpunk/goth rock sound. I would say if you really want to check this band out and this album out go right ahead but if you’re not really eaten too that sort of music then I’d say skip it, but it is a very interesting album nonetheless. You can most definitely tell that they were influenced/inspired by bands like Joy Division and The Cure. I’ll give this album 7/10.
Standouts: Fatman, All Glory, False Faces
Dreamtime- I feel like listening to this album this time around it’s sort of has almost a Cure like tone. Like I’m not really sure how to describe it but it definitely feels like it’s got some goth elements. It is in some sort of way a bit atmospheric, but it just caught my ear more this time around. I actually enjoyed this more than I did when I first heard it. It’s definitely not what I would call a hard rock album but a good start nonetheless.
Previous Score: 6/10
New Score: 7.5/10
Standouts: A Flower in the Desert, Spiritwalker, Dreamtime
Love- so I feel like this one sort of picks up where the last album left off. It still got that goth feel to it. To me it just kinda tends to drag a bit but overall it’s not bad. Probably not an album I would revisit anytime soon.
Previous Score: 8/10
New Score: 7/10
Standouts- Phoenix, Love, Hollow Man
Electric- OK so here’s where we now start to get into the hard rock side of things. This one’s definitely a step up from the last two albums, and they definitely have moved away from their previous sound. There are elements of the last couple albums but they’re far and few.
Previous Score: 9/10
New Score: 9/10
Standouts: Lil’ Devil, King Contrary Man, Outlaw
Sonic Temple- I mean come on what can I say that hasn’t been said about this album? This is the quintessential Cult album and for good reason. I feel like this was a lot of people’s introduction to this man and this is absolutely one of those perfect hard rock albums.
Previous Score: 10/10
New Score: 10/10
Standouts: Sun King, Sweet Soul Sister, New York City
Ceremony- I guess this band has a thing about Native American culture because I feel like this is a subject that they’ve already touched upon. Regardless though it’s OK. Like I don’t know there just seems like there’s something off about this record. It’s just not as cohesive as their other albums. I don’t know. I guess it’s hard to follow up a really good record like Sonic Temple. Is it a bad record? No but it’s one of those where it’s good not great.
Previous Score: 7/10
New Score: 6.5/10
Standouts: Wild Hearted Son, Earth Mofo, Full Tilt
The Cult- so I feel like with this one there are sort of a few different styles going on. I mean, you’ve got alternative a little bit of noise, rock and of course hard rock. I actually found myself sort of enjoying this one more so this time then when I first heard it, and I do think it is a slight step up from the previous record. Definitely an interesting album from the span especially for the 90s.
Previous Score: 6/10
New Score: 7/10
Standouts: Coming Down (Drug Tongue), Gone, Universal You
Beyond Good And Evil- I guess this is their first album after being on hiatus and I gotta say it’s definitely one of those comeback records. I did forget that the guitar work on this is pretty heavy and the riffs are pretty damn good. Definitely one of those overlooked records I feel and it’s definitely worth a listen.
Previous Score: 10/10
New Score: 10/10
Standouts: Take The Power, War (the process), American Gothic
Born Into This- supposedly this was going to be their last record, but clearly that didn’t happen. I would say this is not quite as good as the previous record but it’s most definitely a fantastic follow up. They do stick to kind of the same formula that they did on the previous record, but there are some electronic elements sprinkled throughout. Overall, another great hard rock record
Previous Score: 8/10
New Score: 7.5/10
Standouts: Diamonds, Dirty Little Rock Star, Savages
Choice Of Weapon- I feel like with this one they were really influenced by bands like Led Zeppelin and The Stooges because you definitely hear it on this one. Again, another one of those records that you forget how good it is until you listen to it. This one definitely feels like their most cohesive record in a long time and it’s sort of seems like everybody had input.
Previous Score: 9/10
New Score: 9/10
Standouts: The Wolf, Honey From a Knife, Lucifer
Hidden City- I feel like this is one of those where there’s a little something for everyone. It does feel like an overall encompassing record and while it’s nothing special, it’s a very good straightforward rock record. Fun fact, producer Bob Rock filled in for bass which as far as I know his second album to do so.
Previous Score: 8.5/10
New Score: 8/10
Standouts: G O A T, Avalanche of Light, Heathens
Under The Midnight Sun- so apparently when I did the original review for this band, I guess shortly after that this album was released. Had I known better I would’ve just waited, but the good thing is I get to go back and listen to all these records again. Now with this album, it’s sort of has like an atmospheric vibe which makes for a very interesting record. I do like it when bands kinda try different things and it works out especially a band that’s been around as long as these guys have. Well, I do have to give them profit for trying something different. This is probably not an album that I would go back and revisit anytime soon. Definitely a very interesting record and a little unexpected but again I have to give them props for trying something new. I’m gonna go ahead and give this 8/10.
Standouts: Vendetta X, Impermanence, Mirror
I do have to say when it comes to this band, there are definitely some high points and definitely some low points. If you are looking for a band that has some great straight up hard rock records, then absolutely this is the band for you. At the same time, however they have a lot of weird and unique records. I don’t know sometimes it feels almost as if they have an inconsistent discography, but not in a bad sort of way. It will be interesting to see what their next album is because I feel like I could go one of two ways.
Final Score: C+/B-
Previous Album Rankings:
- Sonic Temple
- Beyond Good And Evil
- Electric
- Choice of Weapon
- Love
- Born Into This
- Hidden City
- The Cult
- Ceremony
- Dreamtime
New Album Rankings:
- Sonic Temple
- Beyond Good And Evil
- Choice Of Weapon
- Electric
- Hidden City
- Born Into This
- Under The Midnight Sun
- Dreamtime
- Love
- The Cult
- Ceremony
- The Southern Death Cult
Sinister Reviews 