Beyond Good and Evil - The Cult

Beyond Good and Evil,the first from the Cult since 1994, is very hard, like Electric with the song structure of Sonic Temple. The hardness is even more apparent due to the stripped down lyrics. Of course, some purists who are still stuck in 1985 will object. What are they now, Zepplin? Hello, this is a rock band - ya got a problem with that? The Cult committed the unpardonable sin of forsaking their arty beginnings and metamorphosing into a hard rock band. This move alienated them from a certain segment of rock's intelligentsia, (fans and critics alike) who seem to take the decision as a personal slight.

Shape the Sky takes the concept behind Berlin's "Sex" changes it to a guy singing to his girlfriend and used guitar instead of synthesizer, Nico, another tribute to a deceased Warhol icon grows on you, but is not as fully formed as its predecessor Ciao Baby.

On certain cuts, the processor on Ian Astbury's vocals is a bit much - he doesn't need it. Per the first single Rise - shouldn't we be hearing this song on the radio - a lot? one part Pantera followed by the opening to Sanctuary gussied up by Bob Rock's production. The words here are quite beautiful, though on other tracks they can be hit or miss. If you didn't hear the acoustic version the band performed on L.A's KROQ radio, hopefully, it will surface nationally in some form. It demonstrates how beautiful the song really is, minus the intense façade. We need a positive messages like this from a rock bands. Haven't we had enough of such gems as "I did it all for the nookie" and "Smack My Bitch Up" isn't it time for something life-affirming (and that doesn't necessarily mean wimpy).

American Gothichas a heavy wall of sound intro reminescent of Broken era NIN. It's readily evident that Billy Duffy is guitar god. Matt Sorum's solid, no-nonsene drumming lays the foundation splendidly.

Speed of Light (originally titled "Black California") captures a sexy foreboding ("My reputation's unkind/but you knew that anyway") The relentless drive of My Bridges Burn is a fitting closer.

Not only is the band currently on tour, they have embarked on a full-fledged media blitz. A special show at the Whiskey, an in-store appearance at Tower Records, signed guitar giveaways, Rockline, the Tonite Show. At this rate, your grandma's gonna know who they are. Boy, it sure looks like Atlantic wants their money's worth - and it sounds like they got it.

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