The Cult - Choice Of Weapon (2012)

I actually wanted to dislike this record...and then I heard the Bolan-esque riff-monster that is 'Lucifer' and became hooked. Okay, so Astbury's vocals seem strained, almost lost within the rich guitar roll, but it's such a cool hook that I began to fall for the glammed up rock avalanche. I was a huge fan of the heavier 'Beyond good & Evil' and then felt the band lost their way, although let's face it, the rainy days of the 'Electric' swagger are long behind us, and most certainly today these guys can not replicate their massive album sound live, but 'Choice...' is a return to form...at times,a nd when Mr Astbury isn't so intent on being Jim Morrison, he can return to his former self, particularly on the rambling 'Honey From A Knife' and psychedelic swirl of 'Elemental Light.' 'Choice...' is a solid record, Duffy shines through, giving the album a real epic feel, but Astbury does grate at times, his tales so far removed from the swaggering days of 'She Sells...' but the brooding 'Life/Death' evokes those heady days of Goth and glitter, the track plays out like some Bowie soundscape, whilst 'Wilderness Now' is a beauty, a sweeping, moody work of art with its poetic lyrics, backed by a crescendo of guitars and slow moving structures. 'Choice...' is a consistent record that rarely lets itself drag, but whether it's what the fans really want I'm not sure, but The Cult have most certainly embedded themselves into rock 'n' roll lore, even if it's via some sort of Americanized and seemingly corporate avenue that snagged redskins, wolves and Wild West storytelling. 'Choice...' is still a big improvement on the last offering. The Cult, and particularly Astbury, know how to stir their cauldron of emotion, and when you hear a track like 'Amnesia' (have we heard this riff somewhere before?!) one can only smirk, because just when we were about to dismiss the band entirely, they up the anti. Best track on the record even if somewhere in the distance, and after a minute or so, I can hear the ghost of Bolan again, but even so, this time round the band have chosen a weapon that actually inflicts some damage on the ears. 8/10