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The Cult

Musical Group or Musician
Forrock listeners curious about the cult’s gothic-to-hard-rock evolution, plus fans of 80s/90s guitar rock and later-career comebacks.
13 Reviews 9 Definitions 28 Charts

The Profile

The Cult are an English rock band formed in Bradford in 1983, associated with both gothic rock/post-punk and later hard rock, and best known for their mid-1980s to late-1980s albums and singles.

Publicly known as an English band formed in 1983 (Bradford, West Yorkshire). The reviews repeatedly center the band around singer Ian Astbury and guitarist Billy Duffy and discuss the earlier names Southern Death Cult and Death Cult, plus a stylistic shift from goth/post-punk toward hard rock and classic-rock influences.

Across these reviews, The Cult are framed as a trend-savvy but influential rock band built around Ian Astbury and Billy Duffy. Their early run is praised for blending gothic/post-punk with classic-rock influences, peaking for many with “Love.” Later records pivot into leaner hard rock (notably “Electric” and the more controversial, American-facing “Sonic Temple”). The 2000s–2010s era is often described as a strong return in power and songwriting, even when consistency is debated.

Who knows The Cult?

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