More than 30 years after their debut record, The Cult remains as relevant and essential as ever. They can also officially lay claim to having the first great rock record of 2016. From the ass-kicking opening notes of “Dark Energy,” the band winds their way through the complexities of the modern world (“Deeply Ordered Chaos”), the band sings of redemption and rebirth and ultimately shows they are firing on all cylinders. In addition to a the anticipated, generous helping of guitar-driven rock songs – “Avalanche Of Light,” “Dance The Night” and “Hinterland” among them – The Cult expands upon their sound with the inclusion of the piano as both a primary and accent instrument, heard on “In Blood” and the poignant album closer, “Sound & Fury.”