For fans of: Iconoclastic hard rock.

What they're saying: Billboard’s Mick Stingley gets at what made The Cult unique in his review: “it’s notable that while other bands of the era were writing prurient songs about chasing girls and partying, The Cult waxed poetic on Sonic Temple.” Valerie Siebert at The Quietus also revisited the record, charting the group’s trajectory from post-punk upstarts to their commercial peak as stadium rockers, citing Sonic Temple as where they perfected that sound.

What we say: Nice 30th anniversary reissue of the 1989 LP. This was the biggest selling record from the hard-rock band that bucked many of the eras trends. From a brief window when classic rock & alternative rock could be the same thing. Still great!

Further Listening: For more of the same energy revisit Electric (1987) while you’re at it.