Review: Death Cult (The Cult) Release New Live LP, ‘Paradise Live’ – Celebrating Their Early Days

One of our favorite bands here at B&V, the Cult, have released a brand new 16-track live album Paradise Live under their earlier moniker, Death Cult. The Cult began their career when lead singer Ian Astbury formed Southern Death Cult. By the time shredding lead guitar player Billy Duffy joined they decided to drop the “Southern” and started going by Death Cult. They were a blend of post punk rock n roll and gothic rock.

By the time they released their debut album in 1984, in order to distance themselves a little bit from that whole goth thing, they shortened it up to just The Cult. I only found out that the Cult were dropping a live album the day before it came out. I searched my streaming service on the Cult and couldn’t find it. Then suddenly I realized I needed to look under Death Cult. Just a tip if you seek this album out.

Joining Astbury and Duffy is drummer John Tempesta who I believe is now a permanent member of the band. I know he’s held the drummer’s chair longer than anybody else in their history. Charlie Jones who used to play with Robert Plant (and I think, married his daughter) was manning the bass guitar.

Death Cult got their start – or at least changed their name upon Duffy’s arrival – in 1983 and even released an EP that year. In 2023 to commemorate their 40th anniversary, the Cult resurrected their old name to celebrate their beginnings. Duffy had played in several bands prior to joining Astbury including one with, believe it or not, Morrissey.

I think the Cult, who were touring behind their last LP, 2022’s Under The Midnight Sun, and just rolled into this Death Cult “8323” tour starting in 2023. I saw them twice on that tour for Midnight Sun, once in Denver and once in Kansas City. They dropped a single “C.O.T.A” backed with “Flesh And Bone” which I felt would have been better served had those tracks been included on the ’22 album but enjoyed them anyway.

This is an interesting listen as the Cult not only revive their earlier name, Death Cult, they actually focus on very early material. It must be tough to be a rock band who’s been around a long time to find creative ways to keep it fresh on stage. I can only guess Tom Petty might have been thinking, “Yeah, we’ve gotta play “Free Fallin'” again…sigh.”

The Cult have gone back for this show to all that early stuff. They play tracks from their early EP, 1983’s self titled Death Cult. Then they only play tracks from their debut as the Cult, 1984’s Dreamtime and then a few tracks from their second LP, the fabulous Love from ’85. It’s like if the Stones decided we’re going to tour but we’re only playing our early singles and tracks from England’s Newest Hitmakers and 12×5 (yes, I used the U.S. titles). I’d actually pay to see that. Overall it’s a pretty intriguing idea and they get out of having to play “Fire Woman” or “Love Removal Machine” for the umpteenth time.

I have to say, revisiting these old tunes in front of an adoring, sold out crowd in Manchester has got the Cult, er the Death Cult, charged up. Astbury’s lead vocals are right out front where they belong. The guy is one of the best singers on the planet. And Billy Duffy attacks these tracks with his Gretsch White Falcon like a man possessed. I would have loved to see this show.

They open up with a muscular “83rd Dream” from Dreamtime, before getting heavy with some tracks from Death Cult. I have to admit, I don’t think even the Rock Chick would know these early tunes and it was her who turned me onto the Cult when on one of our first dates she picked up their superb greatest hits disc, Pure Cult. 

“Christians,” God’s Zoo,” and “Brothers Grimm” seemingly flow together in a torrent of heavy rock songs. I really dug “Ghost Dance.” Astbury dedicates “A Flower In the Desert” to the late Ian Curtis of Joy Division. Rarity “Resurrection Joe” rocks and swings at the same time. It’s a really great tune. That leads to a superb version of “Horse Nation,” one of my favorites.

I have to admit, I’m a real sucker for tunes off of Love, and “Hollow Man” is one of those deeper tracks that I just…well… love. Going back to just their early stuff really frees the band to dig deeper into their vast catalog. I love the riff on this track, they just kill it live! “Rain” is another such track, slightly deeper but a great riff and a great rocker. They sound unhinged when they play that one!

At the end of “Rain” Billy Duffy thanks the crowd and gets ’em ready for the encore. They play a song I’ve never heard before “Moya” which I was another riff rocker before heading into “She Sells Sanctuary” one of the greatest tracks by any band ever. My only complaint about “Sanctuary” is they lose the wonderful acoustic guitar accent when they play it live. It’s still fabulous, I’m splitting hairs here.

In a day and age when I thought live albums (which I love) were fading we get this great document of the Cult playing some of their earliest tunes. This ranks up there with the great live LP we got from the Pretenders last year (Kick ‘Em Where It Hurts) in helping keep the live album alive! Real instruments played by real humans in front of a crowd of… real humans. If you can’t see the show, and I’ve never been to Manchester, this is the next best thing.

If you’ve got that seasonal affect, winter blues vibes right now, this might just be the recipe to cure that. Crank this one up loud and spill a little whiskey on the table while you air guitar!

Cheers!