Sonic Temple

Sonic Temple is the fourth album on which THE CULT widened their dark aesthetic into bigger, more linear hard rock. Billy Duffy’s thick guitar and Ian Astbury’s distinctive voice draw a strong outline over a stately rhythm. Welcoming producer Bob Rock, the sound gained an arena-scale grandeur. Songs led by “Fire Woman” give great drive to simple power chords. Songs like “Sun King,” “Edie (Ciao Baby)” and “Sweet Soul Sister” condense the band’s varied appeal. In particular, the ballad “Edie (Ciao Baby)” is a fine song showing the band’s lyrical side. Bringing together punk, gothic and hard-rock sensibilities on an arena scale, it achieved great commercial success — one of the band’s signature works.