Nearly forty years have passed since vocalist Ian Astbury and guitarist Billy Duffy first teamed together, settling on the moniker of The Cult for their musical entwinement, and, while it has been a partnership that has to endure critical and commercial highs and lows, come 2022, and Under The Midnight Sun (Black Hill) their eleventh album, the epithet that class is permanent has rarely rung so true.

Presenting their distinctive rock with a swathe of mature sombreness, there is no pretence at trying to relive or rewrite the bouncing anthems of decades (long) past. Instead, there is a focus on really high quality music and songwriting, the country undertones and distinctive jangle to Duffy’s musicianship providing the canvas for Astbury (who sounds as strong as at any part in his recording career) to paint melodic pictures, all while adding searing and lilting leads. 

This may mean an album that is a touch darker or less joyful than those who have a superficial interest in The Cult may wish for, but it also means an album that is all the better for its focus on substance over style.

For Under The Midnight Sun drips class at every turn. Take ‘Give Me Mercy’, both vocally powerful and memorable, where Duffy interjects a cool motif, instinctively knowing when to build from minimal backing to swell and rise, a nod to a goth rock underbelly. ‘Outer Heaven’ manages to be both understated and dramatic, embellished by orchestration, and perhaps a touch of the modern Marillion about it, a story told and a musical journey undertaken. 

In an age of excess, it is also pleasing to see a focus on quality not quantity, with all eight songs standing as equals. No more tracks are needed as the band say everything they need to across the thirty-five minutes; whether it is the gentle epic, slide-guitar suffused, ‘Knife Through The Butterfly Heart’, the rockier, more uplifting ‘A Cut Inside’, or the simply captivating denouement of the cinematic title track, it could be argued The Cult have never sounded better. Certainly not since the eighties. 

Growing old gracefully definitely suits them. They’ve retained signature parts of their sound without retreading former glories, and have produced an excellent album dripping with integrity, soul and powerful music. 

Buy the album here: https://shop.blackhillrecords.com/products/under-the-midnight-sun-black-lp

8 / 10

STEVE TOVEY