Top tracks — play these first
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Dark Energy — Opening the album, this track sets a haunting tone with its driving rhythm and introspective lyrics that encapsulate the record's overarching themes of chaos and enlightenment.
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Birds of Paradise — This track stands out with its melodic richness and emotional weight, presenting a juxtaposition of beauty and darkness that is emblematic of The Cult's artistic identity.
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Deeply Ordered Chaos — With its intricate instrumentation and philosophical lyrics, this song explores the tension between structure and randomness, making it a pivotal moment in the album’s narrative arc.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong songwriting and production, with a cohesive sound that reflects The Cult's established style.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album maintains a consistent mid-tempo pace, while the second half introduces more varied rhythms and dynamics.
- Several tracks feature layered guitar textures that create a dense atmosphere, particularly in 'Deeply Ordered Chaos' and 'Avalanche of Light'.
- Lyrically, the album explores themes of introspection and existentialism, with recurring motifs that connect multiple songs.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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8/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- brooding atmospheric soundscapes
- late-night introspective listening
- danceable rhythms with depth
Maybe skip if you
- seeking instant gratification
- prefer upbeat party tracks
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Hidden City is The Cult's ninth studio album, released in 2016, marking their first release after a four-year hiatus since Choice of Weapon. This album reflects a reinvigorated sound as the band sought to reconnect with their roots while exploring new themes. With consistent line-up stability, it showcases the band's evolution while maintaining their signature style.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Fields of the Nephilim· The Mission· Bauhaus
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Dark Energy 4:28
- 2 No Love Lost 3:14
- 3 Dance the Night 4:16
- 4 In Blood 4:49
- 5 Birds of Paradise 6:27
- 6 Hinterland 5:06
- 7 G O A T 3:19
- 8 Deeply Ordered Chaos 4:32
- 9 Avalanche of Light 4:31
- 10 Lilies 4:17
- 11 Heathens 3:40
- 12 Sound and Fury 3:55
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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