THE CULT – Hidden City (2016)
When Rolling Stone Magazine hailed THE CULT as the Messianic moment of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in 2014, few knew that their next release would be unveiled on February 5, 2016 in the form of “Hidden City“, their tenth studio album.
The follow-up to 2012’s Choice Of Weapon was written by singer Ian Astbury & guitarist Billy Duffy and was produced by legendary Bob Rock, who has previously worked with Metallica (Black Album), Motley Crue, Bon Jovi and dozens more.
The final installment in a trilogy of recordings, completing 2007’s ‘Born Into This’ (‘The Fall’) and 2012’s ‘Choice Of Weapon’ (‘Dark Night of the Soul’), “Hidden City” is a tightly woven series of experience and visions with underlying themes of redemption and rebirth threaded through The Cult’s visceral music.
Astbury’s signature baritone and blood-soaked lyrics paired with Duffy’s smouldering, textured guitar tones, create a musical environment that is fearless and peerless.
From the sonic assault of the opening track ‘Dark Energy’, the new CD launches quickly into the dark underbelly of its subject matter. Stemming from the Spanish phrase “La Ciudad Oculta” or “Hidden City,” the album reflects an awakening of consciousness through its tone and complexity.
“Hidden City” is a modern, varied hard rock album, but not the same styles that The Cult has become renown for so carefully cultivating since 1984, although if you listen closely to the choruses and trademark guitar riffs, this is pure The Cult.
The group scrapes together some of the gothic hard rock of their origins on ‘Deeply Ordered Chaos’ and ‘Lillies’, both shining moments on the album.
They weaves some mysticism into ‘Sound & Fury’, a gentle intergalactic number, and ‘In Blood’, a track filled with beat poetry-like lyricism, proving The Cult has still got it.
For their more ‘Americanized’ hard rock sound, just check ‘No Love Lost’ (Sonic Temple era), ‘Dance The Night’ (Electric), ‘Heathens’, or semi-ballad ‘Birds Of Paradise’.
In my opinion, “Hidden City” is the best and more complete The Cult album from the last twenty years.
It’s varied, including something of their early classic sound blended with modern hard rocking riffs, vocally Ian Astbury is in top form, and without a doubt, it’s one of their best produced records of their career. Bob Rock has done a remarkable job behind the desk capturing The Cult’s essence.
HIGHLY Recommended.
01. Dark Energy
02. No Love Lost
03. Dance The Night
04. In Blood
05. Birds Of Paradise
06. Hinterland
07. G O A T
08. Deeply Ordered Chaos
09. Avalanche Of Light
10. Lilies
11. Heathens
12. Sound and Fury
Ian Astbury – lead vocals, guitar
Billy Duffy – guitar
Grant Fitzpatrick – bass (did not play on the album, only live)
John Tempesta – drums
Damon Fox – keyboards, guitars and backing vocals
Chris Chaney [Jane’s Addiction] – played bass on album
Bob Rock – guitars, keyboards
BUY IT !
thecult.tmstor.es/
.
