Sonic Temple [Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered]

You had Love which was goth/rock/dance crossover, Electric was garage rock and Sonic Temple is American hard rock but if you think that sounds cheesey, boy do they do it well. Yes it's stadium rock but it still has those typical Cult moments to give each song a bit of class. The songs themselves are strong, Duffy's guitar work is sensational and Astbury is a phenomenal singer. Internal disputes and coming off the wagon meant things were never quite the same after this album but it stands the test of time as a great hard rock record. A lot of goth fans went off the band around the time of Electric and as this album is even rockier, they hated it. So ignore any negative reviews - if you like rock this album is a belter.

Sonic Temple is not just the Cult's finest achievement it is also one of the very best modern metal albums. Essi Berelian, the author of The Rough Guide To Heavy Metal calls it "sublime" - praise indeed.

Everyone remembers Fire Woman and Edie(Ciao Baby) but these are not the highlights on this disc. Some of the best tracks were not released as singles. Listeners will never forget the thumping, pulsating guitar riff in American Horse or the unique and sensual opening riff to Soul Asylum. And no one can forget the relentless funk-driven riff in Automatic Blues. The guitar solo in Sun King is one of the best memories of my youth and is one of those rare ecstatic musical moments.

Bob Rock's production and Ian Astbury's howling vocals resonate throughout the tracks. Get in your car, wind the windows down, turn the volume up to eleven and drive. Women will swoon and you will become a God. Recommended? Yes.

This was my third album of The Cult. And after the hard rocking Electric album that saw them have large record sales in America. The album, is full of explosives Native American style lyrics and there spirtual side showing just like in Love. 12 Tracks that are absolutely superb. The opening track 'Sun King' is absolutely fantastic, and i always imagine hearing this live from the band, how explosive it could be. Just the symbols at the start and then moving on to the bass line, and then as soon as you here 'HERE'S WHERE IT ALLL BEGINS!' From Astbury is just superb. The second song is also very rocking and yet another great theme for the album. 'Fire Woman'. The album has so many good songs that could have been released as singles. 'American Horse' 'Edio' the fourth track which has a beautiful acoustic side, and also the orchestra in the background sorting Astbury's voice.
'Sweet Soul Sister' is also a beautiful song, with a nice keyboard effect. And a great guitar riff as always from this band, and once again the spirtual sides. Duffy always captures the bands sound so well. The next song is 'New York City' Which is awesome, the best rocking song on the album, fast speedy riff and great drumming, and just after i came back from New York City this song rocked in my heart. 'Solider Blue' i believe to me the next song on the album, which is pretty awesome, and once again a passionate riff that i believe even a demon would weep at!!!
Moving closer towards the end of the album, and it contains some fantastic songs, (of course i like all 12) but the album has a song 'Automatic blues' more like a Zeppelin song, like 'Black Dog' from the IV album. 'Wake Up The Time For Freedom' is a song great to chat too! Astbury to me is superb. And finally 'Medicine Train' which starts like Yoko Kanno's 'Digging The Potato' well only because there is that soulful noise of the instrument Mouth Organ. Great song, and i really enjoy it.

Overall:

5

Overall at the end of the 80's and The Cult were one of the fine acts to end this era of big hair, and make up. But the album is still essential, a band who followed the roots throughout. And the album should be highly taken into account.