Choice of Weapon

This CD feels like the fully realized evolution of the band that started with "Born Into This" and continued with their Capsules 1 and 2 releases. For years, The Cult operated as a duo after Jamie Stewart left at the conclusion of the "Sonic Temple" touring schedule and long gaps between albums - 94 to 2001 to 2007 - left a trail of inspired but inconsistent work. With "Born Into This", we find The Cult attempting to operate as a fully functioning 4-piece unit with mixed results. Luckily, they carried the same drummer and bassist - Tempesta and Wyse - through the Capsule 1 & 2 sessions in 2010 as it allowed them to gel more fully as a band. The tightness and consistency definitely showed on Capsule releases which included collectively 4 new songs - "Every Man and Woman Is a Star", "Siberia", "Embers", and "Until The Light Takes Us" - and is highly recommended for any Cult fan. These Capsule releases are also included on the 2-CD Bonus Release of this album so, if you can get that version instead, I'd do it. Those four songs were produced with Chris Goss who also was the producer at the outset of the demos for this album. The demos for those songs were the basis for which Bob Rock would come in later and add his studio flourishes. The band's demos with Chris Goss were available as a limited time download titled "Weapon of Choice" and were an interesting window into the songs' embryonic stages.In terms of the songs, here were basic impressions:1) Honey From A Knife - A nice, solid kick-off as it introduced what the group was trying to convey in its 10 tracks. A great siren-like lick introduces the song and proceeds to build on its momentum to an explosive chorus. Great lyrics, vocals, and a garage rock feel despite its vocal overdubs.2) Elemental Light - Curious place for this song, as you expect them to build off the pace set by "Honey From A Knife", but this one starts out softer and climaxes to a nice payoff. The solo and chorus has the feel of something you would have found on "Sonic Temple" without being obvious in its reference if that was the intent. Good song and pure Ian in its vocals and themes.3) The Wolf - A quick, solid rocker from Billy with a very Cult-like riff that reviewers have compared to "Sanctuary" but I don't see that myself. The song is a nice set piece on drums for Tempesta with some solid fills and a tight, driving beat. It keeps the momentum going and distinguishes itself by being different from the others songs on the album.4) Live > Death - This song sounds like what "Holy Mountain" wanted be on "Born Into This" - a slow-building stroll that works nicely into a sprint towards the finish line. Where the former failed and didn't go anywhere, this one moved and teased until it pulled you along into a densely-layered conclusion. Interesting lyrics and vocals as well by Ian.5) For The Animals - Not only one of the best songs on the CD, but among their catalog, this one adds some new wrinkles to the Cults sound. Not only does this kick off with a solid combined intro from Wyse, Tempesta, and Duffy but the vocal back and forth of the verse adds a new element to the Cult's songs that hadn't been heard to this point. Another element I liked was the piano played throughout as it established a nice "high" range to Wyse's bottom. The middle breakdown takes the song, pulls it back like a arrow and slings it into orbit with a explosive solo from Duffy. Just a great song that has all the elements of a Cult classic.6) Amnesia - A quick one that keeps up the pace for the listener. Nice riff, solid hook, nice rhythm, and vocals that clocks in around 3 minutes. Great song.7) Wilderness Now - If there is a soft spot on the album its this song - not bad overall just not as good in comparison to the 9 around it. Its gentle and melodic but doesn't really go anywhere.8) Lucifer - An absolute beast and one of the group's best songs. Complex, layered, and epic this one has so much going on but all the parts between the soaring guitar, Ian's bluesy vocals, and almost gospel-like backing vocals work in unison to create something special. Its tough not to hit the "repeat" button on this one.9) A Pale Horse - Ragged and loose, this is another good example of the Cult taking chances and succeeding. The stop and start nature of it could have ended in a failed experiment but they worked it through to a satisfying conclusion. One of their more unusual tracks but it works and compliments the themes already present on the CD.10) This Night In the City Forever - Great conclusion to a classic CD. This one is dark, heavy and full of intrigue with Ian in full "Morrison"-mode.Make no mistake this is a great CD and a highlight in The Cult's discography. This one sounds like it was created by a "band" as opposed to two longtime members and its shows in the song quality and consistency. Credit due to Bob Rock to help them realize their vision - listening to the "Weapon of Choice", the final product definitively highlighted his contributions.

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I'm a casual The Cult fan. I like some older songs here and there, but was only inspired to buy a full length with 'Beyond Good and Evil' (which I think is 4 stars, too). My favorite song by them is 'Painted on My Heart' from the Gone in Sixty Seconds soundtrack. I didn't care for their last cd 'Born into This' -- just didn't care for the songwriting. Just a little background to frame my opinion, in case you are in the same boat as me (not a die-hard old school Cult fan).With all of that said, I found this CD to be right on par with 'Beyond Good and Evil' and I enjoy it. Solid slab of rock. The production is modern and thick, the vocals sound great and the songwriting is back on track.***The version that Amazon sent me was the "Deluxe Edition" even though the description/track listing didn't indicate that is what I would be sent. BONUS! Came with a bonus CD of 4 additional songs, which are just as good as the rest of the cd.

"Choice Of Weapon" is, in my opinion, The Cult's strongest release since their controversial self-titled album in 1994. And, with the band's lineup maintained since "Born Into This", there's a welcoming tight cohesiveness to their playing, a sureness that just wasn't there before. This may as well mark the beginning of a much-needed, promising new phase in their career.The songs, the production, the artwork... the whole package is of an extremely high quality. Songs such as "Lucifer", "Wilderness Now", "Elemental Light", "The Wolf", "Life > Death" are very, very interesting indeed. All the other songs - including the four capsules on the bonus disc - have great hooks though, proving that the Ian Astbury/Billy Duffy team is far from burnt out. This is great news."Choice Of Weapon", while not quite as brilliant as their classic output, manages to generate enough light to keep them very much alive in my book. If The Cult would only pick this spark up and ignite more fire, this could well be a renaissance for the group. Keep them albums coming, there are still too many of us and the eagerness for the experience is stronger than ever.

Being a fan of The Cult since 1985, it's almost hard to believe that after 27 years they can make music this good. All elements of The Cult have been blended together like never before. Shades of Dreamtime, Love, Electric, Sonic Temple & Black Sheep are heard throughout the record but in a completely updated, very present day Cult sound. The album starts with the hard rocking 'Honey From a Knife' and ends with the powerful, absolutely majestic 'This Night In The City Forever'. GET THIS ALBUM.CFFC

Always have liked his style of music since picking up my first album (cassette back in the mid to late 80's) the one with "fire woman" on it. I have not listened to this in it's entirety, but what I have so far...brings me back to those days and I have reminisced.

This is a mind blowing album. its high quality cult. I cant get enough of it and play it over and over. its got something for everyone from powerful ballads to good old cult rock. ians voice rocks. Dont ever doubt that this band gets better. Like they say you either get us or you dont. they are an addiction and they never let their fans down by playing medicore crap. Thanks guys

It was,in my opinion,like most music from the Cult.Quirky enough to not be Mainstream ROCK ,but too Heavy to be Alternative.And that is what I LOVE about the Cult. Here's a band that never sold out to the "Glam-Rockers"But kept the Faith, and played the Music they were known for. I know if I don't listen to them for 10 years,and buy their newest album,It will be The CULT .PERIOD. They are like Motorhead,& Black Oak Arkansas.You got 3 separate Genre's of music there,but in this,they are the same.They stick to their guns & they Keep that Faith,because they know what their fans wanta hear! And,It Just So Happens That's what they Wanta Play!!! THE CULT ROCK ON!!!

Often bands that have been around a while like The Cult have later era albums ignored by fans - well this is one of those times and it is can be a shame as this later era album is very good as it offers several great tracks that would be classics if they were released 20 years ago. Stand out tracks for me are: For The Animals, Honey From a Knife, Lucifer, Life > Death, A Pale Horse, Every Man & Woman Is A Star. Suggest buying this version (Definitive Version) with the nice book like hard cover that offers some great artwork and additional tracks. Added tracks include the original capsule recordings and artwork (capsule recordings were singles of songs the band released digitally prior to this albums coming out) these extra tracks fill out the last 4 songs on the album - do not seem to list them on the back cover - capsule tracks are: Every Man and Woman Is A Star, Embers, Until The Light Takes Us, Siberia).

Super soddisfatto

It's incredibly hard to write reviews about such a musically complex band. Either you're a 'true fan' — meaning that what you enjoy most is the exploratory trait of The Cult, as they seek different styles while still keeping a basic 'Cultness' which is always immediately recognisable — or you're, say, a fan of _some_ albums (or tracks) but hate others. _Choice of Weapon_ is perhaps one of the more recent albums (meaning: those produced in the 21st century!) which will appeal to a broader audience, in the sense that it is by no means as heavy as _Beyond Good and Evil_, but also not so experimentalist delving in electronica as _Hidden City_. The experimentation — because, yes, _all_ The Cult albums are always experimental in some way! — moves around the use of supporting vocals (to a higher extent than on other albums), switching around the rhythm set usually by the drums (and bass) to a piano, and focus on smooth transitions between music styles in the same track (which is one of the many trademarks of the band!), i.e. from blues to hard rock to a stretch of heavy metal and back to blues. As it is so frequent with The Cult, instruments and vocals are always switching roles; on at least one song, Ian Ashbury's voice, while omnipresent, is totally secondary to the melody of the track, which is set by Billy Duffy, doing his incredible guitar variations on a theme, essentially doing what Ian usually does on vocals. Both are virtuosos in their instruments (Ian on the voice, Billy on the guitar) and, in a manner not much different from 18th-century voice and instrument virtuosos, instant improvisation is what they always do best, well beyond what most bands dare to do. As usual, breaking the 'rules' of typically using 4 chords to set the harmony, by choosing non-congruent chords from different keys, and deliberately picking disharmonic melodic lines, all are present here and executed flawlessly. Of course, it also means that the unique combination of Ian's voice (using so many different techniques for each song) with Billy's uncanny guitar-playing, full of disharmonic 'plays' between voice and guitar, set to unusual keys and syncopated rhythms where it's hard to figure out the lead, turn their music into something impossible to reproduce (note how _nobody_ ever does Cult covers, and even on YouTube, people try to exchange information about what exactly Billy is playing and often being absolutely clueless on how he does it).It's worth listening to _Weapon of Choice_ before buying this album. It was available for free download (you might still find it online somewhere) back in October 2012, and the idea was that it would be the equivalent of a 'prequel' to _Choice of Weapon_: the tracks are pretty much the same, but you can clearly see that they were still at some early stages of development (and production). Many already include most features as the 'final' tracks; some have dramatically changed, lyrics and all, and although recognisable as being the 'same' music, it becomes something completely different. Also, _Choice of Weapon_ is clearly a much better-produced album, with much richer harmonies (they have hired extra staff), and an emphasis on the supporting vocals which is uncommon on their other albums.As said, if you're open-minded about The Cult, and what you like most of them is their awesome ability to reinvent themselves and make each album unique, then you will most definitely enjoy _Choice of Weapon_, especially if you already have listened to the free _Weapon of Choice_ and are curious to see how the finished production sounds like.On the other hand, if you're expecting 'more of the same', then save your money — this band simply _never_ produces 'more of the same', each album is unique!

Este disco dejará satisfechos a fans de the cult de todo tipo, desde los amantes del Love a los amantes de Sonic Temple. Un disco en que los cult escarban en sus raíces y presentan un poderoso set de canciones del binomio Astbury/Duffy que pasarán a ser himnos. Desde el comienzo del disco con HFAK hasta el último, no tiene desperdicio... Ademas esta edición viene con un precioso vinilo blanco con las cápsulas editadas entre el Born into this y este trabajo. 100% Recomendable

The Cult sind von den Toten auferstanden und das mit Stil. Wer hätte nach dem durchwachsenen "Born into this" mit einem derartigen Comeback gerechnet? Wohl kaum jemand, noch dazu, nachdem die Herren Duffy und Astbury mittlerweile auch einige Lebensjahre mehr auf dem Buckel haben. "Choice of Wepon" hält allerdings alle Trademarks bereit, für die man The Cult liebt und schätzt. Billy Duffy's Les Paul zaubert Riffs und Melodien wie in besten Tagen, Ian Astbury gibt den Schamanen und ist sowohl stimmlich als auch textlich voll auf der Höhe. "Choice of Weapon" ist dabei kein straightes Hit-Gewitter im Stile von "Sonic Temple" oder "Beyond Good and Evil" als viel mehr ein Altar voll toller Rocksong-Reliquien, ein süchtig machendes Elixier, das sich mit jeder Dosis mehr und öffnet. So werden das spirituelle "Elemental Light" oder "Life > Death" zu unauslöschlichen Ohrwürmern, die unter die Haut gehen. "The Wolf" strotz vor Energie und greift sogar vage das Thema aus "She sells sancturay" auf. "Honey from a Knife" "Lucifer" transportiere den Geist von Alben wie "Electric" oder "Love" ins 21. Jahrhundert. "You can't destroy them, the beauty and the youth ..." singt Astbury, dem ist nichts hinzuzufügen. The Cult haben ihren Nachlass mit diesem Werk jedenfalls um einen wichtigen Part erweitert und sind 2012 genauso relevant und authentisch wie 1989.