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One of the finest British rock acts to have enjoyed worldwide success over the last few decades, The Cult has wrapped up recording Choice of Weapon (COOKCD548), the group s first studio album in five years. Released on 21st May 2012 on their new UK label Cooking Vinyl, its 10 tracks reveal the band at its rawest and most visceral, encapsulating cinematic visions and themes of love, revolt, and redemption. Fans can get an early taster of the album from 2pm on Tuesday 31st January when the track Lucifer will be available as a free download through the band s website www.thecult.us. Details are being confirmed for a worldwide tour and will be announced soon. Choice of Weapon is the follow up to the critically-acclaimed 2007 release Born Into This that the UK s Mojo magazine called a wholehearted, utopian and irrefutably exciting record." Long-time Cult collaborator and producer Bob Rock (Metallica, Bush) - who produced one of The Cult s most successful albums, the platinum-certified Sonic Temple - put the finishing touches on the foundations that were laid by co-producer Chris Goss (Queens of the Stone Age, U.N.K.L.E., Masters of Reality). The record was written by Ian Astbury and Billy Duffy, recorded in New York City, Los Angeles, the California high desert, and the band s Witch Mountain studios in the Hollywood Hills between July and December 2011. The new release features founding members Astbury on vocals and Duffy on guitars, with drummer John Tempesta and bassist Chris Wyse. "We have had the opportunity to work with two of the most influential and talented producers in the world today, said Astbury. They pushed us beyond our comfort zone, and helped us craft Choice of Weapon. The album is aimed at the heart of The Cult's loyal following. It reflects the current discontent and destruction of our eco systems, the search for individual meaning against a tide of rampant materialism, narcissism and disconnected lives. We went deeper . . . we worked a bit harder on this record. We have great fans and they deserve our best, added Duffy, and I feel this is as strong as any album we have ever released.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
It has been said that the new Cult album is aimed at their long-standing fans. As a fan of some 30 years (SDC/Death Cult), I can say that I find it a real return to form after the disappointment of the previous album 'Born Into This'.
Ian said in an interview that it to his mind it's a return to 'Sonic Temple', but to my ears it's more sonically similar to 'Beyond Good and Evil'. (Personally my favourite Cult album and criminally underrated). There's a good mix of fast and slow tracks, with Ian's voice at it's majestic best throughout. Billy Duffy does his best Steve Jones impression on the majority of the tracks, and overall it sounds as if they are really enjoying themselves.
I recommend the Bonus CD version of the album, as the four 'Capsule' tracks are all strong and definitely add to the package.
Made to be played loud!!
Ian said in an interview that it to his mind it's a return to 'Sonic Temple', but to my ears it's more sonically similar to 'Beyond Good and Evil'. (Personally my favourite Cult album and criminally underrated). There's a good mix of fast and slow tracks, with Ian's voice at it's majestic best throughout. Billy Duffy does his best Steve Jones impression on the majority of the tracks, and overall it sounds as if they are really enjoying themselves.
I recommend the Bonus CD version of the album, as the four 'Capsule' tracks are all strong and definitely add to the package.
Made to be played loud!!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
A welcome return after a five year studio absence from Ian Astbury and Billy Duffy. I wouldn't say it's an album that harks back to their earliest raw days at all, but it's certainly got a lot going for it. Arguably it also shows off some of Duffy's best guitar work for quite some time. Soundwise it's not too far away from the "Sonic Temple" and "Ceremony" era of the late 80's and early 90's but without sounding too dated, not that those albums sound dated but a quite a few of the tracks wouldn't sound out of place on either of those albums. "Life>Death" and "For The Animals" are particular stand out tracks for me on first listen. It also features some top notch work from former White Zombie drummer John Tempesta and one time Ozzy bassist Chris Wyse.
Production wise it's very soild, but that isn't surprising when you have the huge talents of "Sonic Temple" and former Metallica (amongst many others) producer Bob Rock and former Masters of Reality mainman and Kyuss, Queens Of The Stone Age and UNKLE producer Chris Goss working together on it. All in all it's never going to be as classic an album as "Love", "Electric" or "Sonic Temple", but it's certainly very good in it's own right. And for a band that have been knocking out some of the finest British rock tunes of the last few decades, it's a lot better than what many bands half their age are churning out.
2012 seems to be a good year for older bands and artists to be releasing new material that is their best work for a long time such as the new albums from Killing Joke and Orbital to name just a couple. And that my friends can only be seen as a good thing!
Production wise it's very soild, but that isn't surprising when you have the huge talents of "Sonic Temple" and former Metallica (amongst many others) producer Bob Rock and former Masters of Reality mainman and Kyuss, Queens Of The Stone Age and UNKLE producer Chris Goss working together on it. All in all it's never going to be as classic an album as "Love", "Electric" or "Sonic Temple", but it's certainly very good in it's own right. And for a band that have been knocking out some of the finest British rock tunes of the last few decades, it's a lot better than what many bands half their age are churning out.
2012 seems to be a good year for older bands and artists to be releasing new material that is their best work for a long time such as the new albums from Killing Joke and Orbital to name just a couple. And that my friends can only be seen as a good thing!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I like. Really like it. There are going to be loads of reviews in various places dissecting it and full of minute detail. So I'm going to keep it as simple as possible.
On it's own merits The Cult have made an album that can stand tall in the squalid sea of rock dross that we are all drowning in. It doesn't need the kudos of association with a long established band to garner critical acclaim. If they don't get a tonne of radio play and new fans from this album then there really is no justice left in the world of music.
For the long term fans/ those with a bit of Cult blood in their veins already, don't buy the 'Cult at their rawest' statements because that isn't true at all. It strikes a nice balance between the raw edge fury of Electric and the bloated slightly over produced US sheen of Sonic Temple. Which is good place to be in my books.
What I really like is that you've got The Cult back sounding totally like The Cult and firing on all cylinders. As they've been threatening to do since the slightly unfulfilled promise of 'Born into This'. This is good hard rock taking itself just seriously enough to put a bit of pomp, preening and weight behind it all to get the drama flowing(as hard rock should be), but not so much you feel so preached at you start smirking and switch off the whole thing. As Ian Astbury was guilty of in the past at times.
Any down points? Yeah of course. The Cult just SHOULD NOT do slow numbers/ ballads. They're rubbish at them. Hard rock is where they should stick because they sneer, posture and most importantly, play it with the best of them.
Buy this. You won't regret it. Big thumbs up too for the effort put into the CD gatefold. In fact seriously big thumbs up when you consider the rubbish two sides of paper inserts you get these days from even the biggest bands and The Cult on their own label, and far from the richest band in the world, put out something akin to a small hardback book.
On it's own merits The Cult have made an album that can stand tall in the squalid sea of rock dross that we are all drowning in. It doesn't need the kudos of association with a long established band to garner critical acclaim. If they don't get a tonne of radio play and new fans from this album then there really is no justice left in the world of music.
For the long term fans/ those with a bit of Cult blood in their veins already, don't buy the 'Cult at their rawest' statements because that isn't true at all. It strikes a nice balance between the raw edge fury of Electric and the bloated slightly over produced US sheen of Sonic Temple. Which is good place to be in my books.
What I really like is that you've got The Cult back sounding totally like The Cult and firing on all cylinders. As they've been threatening to do since the slightly unfulfilled promise of 'Born into This'. This is good hard rock taking itself just seriously enough to put a bit of pomp, preening and weight behind it all to get the drama flowing(as hard rock should be), but not so much you feel so preached at you start smirking and switch off the whole thing. As Ian Astbury was guilty of in the past at times.
Any down points? Yeah of course. The Cult just SHOULD NOT do slow numbers/ ballads. They're rubbish at them. Hard rock is where they should stick because they sneer, posture and most importantly, play it with the best of them.
Buy this. You won't regret it. Big thumbs up too for the effort put into the CD gatefold. In fact seriously big thumbs up when you consider the rubbish two sides of paper inserts you get these days from even the biggest bands and The Cult on their own label, and far from the richest band in the world, put out something akin to a small hardback book.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Baby, Baby, Baby, Baby, this Album fell from the Sky! (actually, I...
You know there was a time, (back in the eighties) when Asbury & the Cult theatrical over the top alter egos, really struck a cord with public. Read more
Published 1 day ago by Jimi jac
Very Good... at least what i have received!
Pre-ordered this product and received it today, packaging looks superb and the internal artwork is a very nice touch. Read more
Published 1 day ago by Moorejam
Killer!
The Cult are back,and back with a blast.The Cult always seem to be in many places at once,hard rock,goth,psyche,something else of their own,always interesting often brilliant.
Published 1 day ago by D. L. Wilkinson
Choice of Weapon...choice of the month
I didn't realise how long I'd been a fan of the Cult until I read a recent article in Mojo...suffice to say I've lived in five properties, been in at least three jobs, lost one... Read more
Published 2 days ago by Vince Weldon
THANKYOU FOR SAVING ME FROM KERRANG BOREDOM
Jesus H Christ this album ROCKS!! wether your a seasoned fan or only ever heard a couple of Cult songs this baby is a must have disc!! Read more
Published 2 days ago by DIZZBUGUK
The "Cultest" Cult album.
Well, it's always party time for me when a new The Cult album shows up, and this ain't different this time! Read more
Published 4 days ago by Nicole Emery
This is a lot better than their last effort, that's for sure.
It's good. It's a lot better than their last effort. It might even be one of their best albums. If you like The Cult, you'll definitely enjoy this.
Published 6 days ago by Donald Robertson
Almost magickal album
People throw around the names of The Cult's three iconic records (Love, Electric & Sonic Temple) when reviewing Choice of Weapon. Read more
Published 6 days ago by R. D. Horton
Where will it end
Got home tonight, ripped open the package and put it straight on. As I expected, better than the last which was better the the one before that etc etc. Read more
Published 6 days ago by andyb
4.5 stars rounds up to 5
I'll just say that thrive with each new album of one of my favorite bands of all times - The CULT. Choice of Weapon is no disappointment. I am loving it more and more. Read more
Published 6 days ago by Nuno Benavente
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