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Artist: The Cult

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The Cult Homepage

CD Title: Sonic Temple

 

Category: Hard Rock

Year: 1989

Label: Sire/Reprise

Catalog Number: 9 25872-2

Personnel

Ian Astbury vocals and percussion
Billy Duffy guitars
Jamie Stewart bass and keyboards
Mickey Curry drums
John Webster additional keyboards

Tracks

1.	Sun King
2.	Fire Woman
3.	American Horse
4.	Edie Ciao Baby
5.	Sweet Soul Sister
6.	Soul Asylum
7.	New York City
8.	Automatic Blues
9.	Soldier Blue
10.	Wake Up Time For Freedom
11.	Medicine Train

If you see any errors or omissions in the CD information shown above, either in the musician credits or song listings (cover song credits, live tracks, etc.), please post them in the corrections section of the Heavy Harmonies forum/message board.

The music discographies on this site are works in progress. If you notice that a particular The Cult CD release or compilation is missing from the list above, please submit that CD using the CD submission page. The ultimate goal is to make the discographies here at Heavy Harmonies as complete as possible. Even if it is an obscure greatest-hits or live compilation CD, we want to add it to the site. Please only submit official CD releases; no bootlegs or cassette-only or LP-only releases.

EPs and CD-singles from The Cult are also welcome to be added, as long as they are at least 4 songs in length.

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Existing comments about this CD

From: Mark Renton

Date: March 19, 2001 at 22:51

Simply one of the best hard rock albums of all times. The guitar of Billy Duffy with the vocals of Ian Atsbury made this album a real anthem. Such songs as Firewoman, Sun King or Wake up time for freedom show us what a real hard rock band must to be. 1989 was an excellent year for the Hard Rock, and this album it's the demonstration. Long live the kings of Hard Rock. The Cult is still alive. A real classic one

From: joe	Date: December 14, 2001 at 7:03
The cult at their best, get this one

From: Jenni	Date: January 19, 2002 at 17:51
Doors wannabes!

From: Scott	Date: February 21, 2002 at 13:04
A great hard rock CD...The CD that put this band on the map...A must have for 80's hard rock fans.

From: CHIRO	Date: April 18, 2002 at 0:50
BUY IT RIGHT NOW MOTHERFUCKER AND ALSO ELECTRIC...THIS ALBUM DOES NOT APPEAR ON THIS PAGE BUT IT KICKS ASS

From: richierocker	Date: May 30, 2002 at 21:57
All I have to say Is FireWoman kicks ass. I love that song. great rock song that will make you bang your head and groove all night long. The other songs on this album are awesome too, and Billy Duffys guitar playing is superb. Rock on friends, crank up the music!!

From: jason	Date: June 1, 2002 at 15:00
This is a great album, no question. Medicine Train is one of the best tracks, if you ask me. I see that the new album, "Beyond Good And Evil" isn't listed on this page. That is the only other Cult album I have. It came out in 2001 and it's pretty damn good as well.

From: TIM	Date: June 6, 2002 at 14:30
No doubt, an excellent album. I'll have to try the newest one jason.

From: jason	Date: June 6, 2002 at 17:29
If you are wondering TIM, Matt Sorum is back on this album (I don't know how long he has been back?) and Bob Rock was the producer again. Maybe you have already heard the song "Rise"? It was the first singal off the new album (damn good). I think you just might like Beyond Good and Evil.

From: Richard Hall	Date: June 19, 2002 at 12:55
A classic in every sense of the word from a band with their own passionate vibe for rock & roll."Elecric" was also a classic ,buy both.

From: Baris	Date: September 13, 2002 at 9:37
A WONDERFUL PIECE. Full of fire and energy. If the former ELECTRIFIED you, this will blow up your TEMPLE!

From: ROBERT	Date: October 22, 2002 at 10:11
FIRE WOMAN otra pasada! grandes temas para un grupo "raro", pero que tenian mucho hard rock en sus venas..

From: ted	Date: November 25, 2002 at 10:15
Gran hard rock guitarrero con un vocalista excepcional como ian atbury ,la producción de bob rock es exquisita y los temas tienen una calidad sublime

From: FM	Date: May 11, 2003 at 2:24
I first listened to this album years ago, and still I like it even more every time I crank it up. Great rockers as well as great melodies, with a singular, exotic and damn fascinating vibe. This album is loud, powerful, has great vocals and great guitar-work. I say this is a must have, the Cult at its best!

From: dckiss	Date: May 25, 2003 at 16:56
Desert Island Album!!!!. The Cult will never touch this album. Everyting was perfect. The songs, bands performance & the production. The timeing was perfect as well. I love every cult album but this is the very best. If you don't have it quick get to ebay and buy it you will not be sorry. It is produced by the great Bob Rock.

From: chiro	Date: June 23, 2003 at 17:50
amazing!!!!!!the first time i listened to it...i thought it was a compilation....11 songs......11 hits!!!

From: vikingo666	Date: September 5, 2003 at 5:03
simplemente uno de los mejores discos de la historia del rock y la cancion fire woman una de las mejores canciones de la historia del rock

From: robert	Date: December 15, 2003 at 21:40
Otra Genialidad de esas q solo salian en aņos como el 89' una maravilla d disco!!

From: Fat Freddy

Date: January 8, 2004 at 16:02

FAAAAAAAN-friggin'-TASTIC album, the Cult's best (although their comeback album, Beyond Good & Evil, came close). I could listen to "Fire Woman" forever. Unfortunately, when they came thru town opening for Metallica in 1989 they were terrible. Astbury was drunk as a skunk, kept blowing lyrics, and eventually laid down on the stage and said "Sorry, I'm a little f**ked up." Although they were and brilliant on record, The Cult never got another dime outta me for concert tickets...

From: mamadoo	Date: March 22, 2004 at 17:55
A falta de una palabra mejor, lo definiria como "PERFECTO". 15 aņos despues sigue siendo mi favorito.

From: Lynchomaniac	Date: June 6, 2004 at 11:06
Incredible album, an alltime fave of mine

From: Gabriel Alves	Date: June 17, 2004 at 4:13
The Cult always has been to me a band that is going through a personality crisis. Every record itīs different from its predecesor. This is the best The Cultīs record. Good hard rock playing and songs. The best songs are Fire Woman and New York City. Thatīs the kind of record that when it gets to the end you are still waiting for another track because you didnīt perceive time passinī by.

From: Rafo Phoenix	Date: March 10, 2005 at 6:42
Otro clasico impresionante del hard Rock, que no puede faltar en tu coleccion, IMPRESCINDIBLE!!!

From: Lennie	Date: April 18, 2005 at 16:07
A sonic boom of fantastic sounds from beginning to end. A must for any serious hard rock fan. Just listen to the shit kicking solo on Sun King for an example of where this album is going.

From: danoq	Date: September 13, 2005 at 0:48
Simpy put "if you don't like the cult........YOU'RE WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!! And if you don't have this record........You're buying the wrong records!!!!!!!

From: Carlos A.

Date: July 29, 2006 at 15:51

Buen disco, Hardrock del bueno aunque con un estilo algo hibrido y adelantado a su epoca pues suena a 90`s, (el productor Bob Rock la hizo linda aunque vaya produjo discos de varios grupos "Alternativos") hay temas memorables como "Sun King","Edie Ciao Baby","Sweet Soul Sister" y la rockeraza "Soul Asylum" un temazo, poderosas guitarras, un baterista fuera de serie y el cantante inspirado...una joyita 9/10

From: rick kerch vzla	Date: December 25, 2006 at 22:49
"Jewel Temple"!!!!!!!.

From: juan carlos	Date: March 22, 2008 at 21:59
"Jewel Temple" Hahaha damn yeahh rick!! Yep Carlos, this one is a Jewel. "Eddie (Ciao Baby)" will be my favorite forever but donīt forget about "Fire Woman" Oh God What a song!!! the whole album is pure Hardrock!! ROCK ON BABE, ROCK ON!!! 9/10

From: lalo r.o.c.k.	Date: April 25, 2010 at 0:45
CLassic Hard Rock,killer melodies and crunchy guitars with "that" unique sound,THE CULT are the same, a CULT band,9/10.

From: happy2849	Date: October 28, 2010 at 16:30
I've been listening to and collecting music for many years. Sorry to say this is the 1st Cult album I've picked and wish I had done so sooner. Some great rock here! Now I have to look for some others, especially Electric.

From: rockhardrock	Date: January 18, 2011 at 13:59
even more hard rockin' release by this band than their previous album electric but for me on this one's more fillers than on electric,but even tough my gave song by them is still fire woman. oder my faves on this record: eddie (ciao baby), sun king and sweet soul sister.

From: hair metal again	Date: May 9, 2011 at 11:20
great release by THE CULT back in 89 ,when hard rock music ruled the planet.every band tried to be more hard rockin than usual and THE CULT is no exception.excellent production by bob rock,marvelous musicianship and many good songs like "fire woman","soul asylum","sun king" and 'automatic blues".outstanding release

From: Wardy

Date: February 24, 2012 at 22:02

Sure The Cult headbanged harder on Electric and shared their peace with LOVE but SONIC TEMPLE saw them truly americanising (but with restraint) and indeed peaking, Sonic remains my preferred howl. The BobRock production gave the album much lift and throughout we're treated to nothing short of quality cuts. The Cult were always good for a rolling bass line and SunKing, and the album itself, benefits from just that, a grooving building wall of sound, and the song is tremendous. Fire Woman was the hit single and still smacks today, Eddie beautiful AmericanHorse more old school Cult and SoulAsylum epic borderline masterpiece another tune benefited from a huge intro. This one set the benchmark neither they nor many contemporaries managed to reach again Ceremony suffering from usual sequel qualms. Why we can't get these kinda albums anymore is beyond me but with each and every release the Cult have offered good material, but simply, this one was near perfect for its time. Rating 9.5 'Baby'

From: pie75	Date: April 15, 2012 at 6:21
great album they hit their peak with this one sun king,fire woman,sweet soul sister it's superb stuff i'm more of a fan of electric but that's because of my love (or is it obsession) with that ac/dc sound but this is essential to any rock fan

From: rick kerch vzla	Date: July 24, 2013 at 23:27
For some people this has been The Cult's finest moment in music and let me tell ya somethin' if it isn't is well close to it!!!..."Sun King","Fire Woman"(hit single),"American Horse","Soul Asylum"(my all time fave of this record ),"New York City" & "Soldier Blue" are in my book for sure...recommended!...87/100

From: Doghouse Reilly

Date: November 27, 2014 at 23:30

After Rick Rubin stripped down the Cult's sound to it's bare essence on Electric, the band brought in Bob Rock to build it back up again, at least partially, and turn the bar-band sounds of '87 into an arena-rock monster in '89. Damn if it didn't work, too, Sonic Temple boasting a suitably huge sound, with layered guitars and an added emphasis on melodies and hooks rather than Ian Astbury's siimply yelling the lyrics. "Fire Woman" is the album's biggest highlight, and was a huge MTV hit back in the day (it even got played on the Club MTV dance-music show, although that may have been because Downtown Julie Brown was a big fan rather than its being a real club hit--it was the oNLY hard rock song to make that mostly pop- and R&B-filled show). The song still sounds great 25 years later, and not everything from 1989 does anymore.

From: Doghouse Reilly

Date: November 28, 2014 at 12:36

Among the other three singles, "Sun King" is cool, but seems a little underwhelming to start the disc off, especially coming before the knockout punch of "Fire Woman." "Edie (Ciao Baby)" is a rather clumsy attempt at he then-mandatory power ballad (and I doubt many metal meatballs of the time gave a fuck about Andy Warhol). "Sweet Soul Sister" hits the mark square though: smooth but powerful, with plenty of ear candy going on. Several other songs stand out as well, including "American Horse," "New York City," "Automatic Blues" and coulda-been-a-single "Wake Up Time For Freedom."

From: Doghouse Reilly

Date: October 10, 2022 at 19:18

Good thing I skimmed the comments, because I was about to reiterate pretty much the exact same thing I said before. Instead, I'll just say that, while I prefer Electric over Sonic Temple as an album, "Fire Woman" is hands-down my favorite Cult song. Also, anybody else notice that "Sweet Soul Sister" is just the Cult doing "Perfect Strangers" by Deep Purple? Regardless, Sonic Temple is one of the few albums that both metal meatheads and college-rockers could agree on in 1989.

From: Dramarama	Date: May 3, 2024 at 0:35
As many others said before me this is one of the greatest albums ever recorded. Strong, emotional, dark and immediate. This album will become a part of your life and never leave.

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