The Cult's debut studio album Dreamtime was released in 1984 to moderate success, with its lead single "Spiritwalker" reaching No. 1 on the UK Indie Chart. Their second studio album, Love (1985), was also successful, charting at No. 4 in the UK and including singles such as "She Sells Sanctuary" and "Rain". The band's third album, Electric (1987), launched them new heights of success, also peaking at No. 4 in the UK and charting highly in other territories, and spawned the hit singles "Love Removal Machine", "Lil' Devil" and "Wild Flower". On that album, The Cult supplemented their post-punk sound with hard rock; the polish on this new sound was facilitated by producer Rick Rubin. After moving to Los Angeles, California, where the band has been based for the remainder of their career, The Cult continued the musical experimentation of Electric with its follow-up album Sonic Temple (1989), which marked their first collaboration with Bob Rock, who would produce several of the band's subsequent albums. Sonic Temple was their most successful album to that point, entering the Top 10 on the UK and US charts, and included one of the band's most popular songs "Fire Woman".
By the time of their fifth album Ceremony (1991), tensions and creative differences began to surface among the band members. This resulted in the recording sessions for Ceremony being held without a stable lineup, leaving Astbury and Duffy as the only two official members left, and featuring support from session musicians on bass and drums. The ongoing tension had carried over within the next four years, during which they released one more studio album, The Cult (1994), and called it quits in 1995. The Cult reformed in 1999 and released their seventh album Beyond Good and Evil two years later. The commercial failure of the album and resurfaced tensions led to the band going back on hiatus in 2002. They resumed activity in 2006, and have since released three more studio albums: Born into This (2007), Choice of Weapon (2012), and Hidden City (2016).
According to music critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine, the band fuse a "hardcore punk revivalist" sound with the "pseudo-mysticism ... of the Doors and Uriah Heep and the guitar-orchestrations of Led Zeppelin and The Cure ... while adding touches of post-punk goth rock". In 1985 Astbury said, "Our music is just melodies and guitars. We're like Big Country and U2, only better!".
On August 15, 2020, Duffy announced on his Twitter that the band were recording a new album with producer Tom Dalgety at Rockfield Studios, where The Cult had recorded their debut album Dreamtime 36 years earlier.
The Cult is also the name of a Las Vegas funk group that recorded one album in 1976, an Australian psych rock band that released one single in 1965, a UK punk band that released one 7" in 1980 and a garage rock band (featuring Allan Springfield of Chelsea Beige) that released two singles in 1965 and 1966.
The Wolf
The Cult Lyrics
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Mean streets rage me up to fight
I’m a lover but I’ve been known quick to strike
You think you know me, oh, but you’re never right.
Don’t need to see the Bible, liars
Caught in the jaws and the flame
I’ve been consumed by the trials,
Creatures run and watch the world being eaten out
And my heart feels they are under strike
Looking to the virtues of the other land
Take back my lust and
I give my heart to the heavens
I give my heart to the light, yeah, to the light.
Don’t be deceived by the liars
Caught in the jaws and the flame
I’ve been consumed by the trials
These wicked chains that hold my name.
The lyrics of The Cult's song The Wolf reflects the conflict between the singer's inner darkness and the world around him. The first verse is an introduction to the singer's persona. He describes himself as a lover but also someone who is quick to strike. He has a black heart and is easily enraged by the mean streets. The second verse talks about the singer's relationship with religion. He does not need to read the Bible since he perceives it as a deception. He is consumed by the trials and wicked chains that hold his name. The third verse talks about the world being eaten out, while the creatures run and watch. The singer seeks to find his virtues in other lands, but the darkness inside him is hard to escape. Despite this, he is willing to give his heart to the heavens and the light.
The Wolf is a song that speaks about the struggles of the human soul. The singer is torn between his good and evil sides, and he seeks to break free from the wicked chains that hold him down. The lyrics suggest that the world around us can be dark and unforgiving, but we can still find hope and redemption by seeking the light. The verses are written in a powerful and poetic style that draws the listener in and leaves them wanting more.
Line by Line Meaning
Black hearts of devils in the night
Evil things happen when darkness falls
Mean streets rage me up to fight
Life in tough neighborhoods makes me defensive
I’m a lover but I’ve been known quick to strike
I can be both gentle and aggressive
You think you know me, oh, but you’re never right.
You make assumptions about me, but you're always off
Don’t need to see the Bible, liars
I don't trust religious texts or deceitful people
Caught in the jaws and the flame
Trapped in a dangerous situation
I’ve been consumed by the trials,
I've been overwhelmed by difficult experiences
These wicked chains that hold my name.
I'm stuck in a negative pattern that defines me
Creatures run and watch the world being eaten out
I feel like helpless observers witnessing destruction
And my heart feels they are under strike
I feel empathy for those suffering
Looking to the virtues of the other land
I search for inspiration in different cultures
Take back my lust
I want to break free from unhealthy desires
And I give my heart to the heavens
I offer my soul to something greater
I give my heart to the light, yeah, to the light.
I choose to pursue goodness
Don’t be deceived by the liars
Beware of those who lie to you
These wicked chains that hold my name.
I'm still struggling to overcome my past
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: IAN ROBERT ASTBURY, WILLIAM HENRY DUFFY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind