Few bands live up to their original greatness after 40 years. Hell, few bands last 40 years. One of these rare exceptions is The Cult, who’s been redefining alt rock since 1983… well, technically 1984 (if you want to split hairs), going under the moniker ‘Death Cult’ for the first year. Either way you want to count it, the band’s 40-plus-year legacy of merging heavy metal with darkwave has paved the way for modern goth rock as we know it.
You’re welcome, world.
Since their debut album Dreamtime catapulted The Cult to the top of the rock world in 1984, the group has remained a genre namesake over the decades with 11 studio albums, two live albums, six compilation albums, seven video albums, five box sets, 20 EPs, and 38 singles. Pretty impressive, to say the least — just ask Wikipedia.
After a slight recording hiatus come the Millennium and to ‘officially’ push the band into the 21st Century, The Cult released a trilogy of albums — the first being 2007’s Born Into This. The subsequent Choice of Weapon (2012) gained instant accolades, deemed the band’s “best album in years” by Record Collector with lead single “For The Animals” launching The Cult back onto worldwide charts. The final piece, Hidden City, stood as much more than just an album; despite coming from across the pond, its February release coincided with a major turning point in US history. It was a contentious election year, extending beyond the realm of politics Americans had ever seen before, adding a landslide of confusion to an already volatile time. Whether or not the English band members intended it to be political commentary, Hidden City definitely hit different for American fans.
And little did we know what was to come next…
In hindsight, Hidden City — with lyrics of looming cataclysms and human aggression — accurately forecasts the COVID-19 pandemic and the sharp rise in terrorism, gun violence, and hate crimes worldwide. The album cover — a white lily splattered with blood — symbolizes the duality of innocence and violence, beauty and atrocity. Although the first album not to feature bassist Chris Wyse (instead having producer Bob Rock and Chris Chaney of Jane’s Addiction filling in), Hidden City still highlights bits of every Cult era — the signature wailing guitars, commanding beats, Ian Astbury’s howling plangency. In reality, it’s a resurgence of the band’s roots.
Following the 40th Anniversary of Dreamtime last year, Cooking Vinyl is proud to present Cult fans with special edition re-releases of Choice of Weapon and Hidden City — on vinyl and available for purchase now! The Choice of Weapon double-LP has a beautiful color-on-color effect, with vinyl one red-and-black and vinyl two purple-and-black. Similarly, Hidden City — newly remastered by Justin Shturtz at Sterling Sound — comes as a two-LP set on red and white vinyls.
Considering the band announced an indefinite live performance pause following the wrap of their North American tour on October 30th, these special edition reissues stand to commemorate a band who’s brought over four decades of unequivocal and influential rock-and-roll to the world. For more information or to get your copies today, visit the links below.
Stream ‘Choice of Weapon’ album:
Stream ‘Hidden City’ album:
Cover photography by Peter Anderson
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Disclaimer: All views presented in this album review are those of the reviewer and not necessarily those of Top Shelf Music.
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