Born into This

Born into This is a work on which THE CULT distilled thick guitar riffs and a floating air into compact songwriting. Ian Astbury’s voice keeps an incantatory presence, and Billy Duffy’s guitar sharply lights the songs. It is a powerful record the band delivered after another hiatus. The title track and “Dirty Little Rockstar” hold the band’s characteristic wildness and hooks together. Songs like “Citizens,” “Diamonds” and “Illuminated” breathe the band’s full playing too. Rather than imitating past masterpieces, they sound a primal rock impulse in a present-day sound. Even as veterans, the band’s energy and personality have not dimmed in the least — a full record.