Beyond Good And Evil The Cult Atlantic Records, 2001 Buy it online Tracks 1. War (The Process) 2. The Saint 3. Rise 4. Take the Power 5. Breathe 6. Nico 7. American Gothic 8. Ashes and Ghosts 9. Shape the Sky 10. Speed of Light 11. True Believers 12. My Bridges Burn Reviewed by Lucas Aykroyd	The Return of Rock. Clearly nothing less will satisfy vocalist Ian Astbury and guitarist Billy Duffy, who have just released The Cult's first new studio album in seven years. "Hail the guitar," Astbury proclaims on the explosive second track, "The Saint," and Duffy backs him up with riffing that outstrips the aggression of nu-metal and adds a mutated Led Zeppelin sensibility. They're not fooling around. In 1994, these British gothic hard rockers had lost their way and none of this success looked possible. Their self-titled sixth album sold poorly, its creative spirit sapped by substance abuse and infighting between Astbury and Duffy. When the band broke up the following year, it didn't come as a huge surprise to music industry insiders. Beyond Good And Evil reflects the renewed enthusiasm of the two core members, who got back together for a tour in 1999. The album took longer than expected to finish, as they tried working with producer Michael Bienhorn (Soundgarden, Hole, Marilyn Manson) but ended up opting for the trusty bombast of Bob Rock, who helmed 1989's Sonic Temple. The results show it was worth the wait. The vibe is similar to the raw aggression of Electric (1986). The first single, "Rise," kicks off with a grinding guitar fusillade from Duffy before Astbury enters with a Jim Morrison-style mantra that finally soars into his trademark wolf howl. Drummer Matt Sorum drives this song, as well as other tracks, with his hyped-up percussion on the chorus. "Take The Power" is built for the era when mega-bands routinely packed hockey arenas and 20,000 fists jabbed the air on the two and four. But it doesn't sound dated. Duffy's heavy use of the dropped-D tuning is absolutely contemporary. "Nico," a tribute to Andy Warhol's protégé in the Velvet Underground, is the spiritual successor to the band's earlier ballad, "Edie," equally romantic but harder-edged. Astbury has sometimes been accused of being merely a shouter, but here his baritone locks right into the lyrics: "I watched your spirit fly/Across the velvet sky." Similar to Sonic Temple, the second half of this 12-song set maintains the energy level, but the music doesn't grab the listener as quickly. Still, "American Gothic" and "True Believers" provide cool variations on that "She Sells Sanctuary" harmonic flavor that permeates Duffy's writing. Beyond Good And Evil may fall just one step short of being a "Great Album," but The Cult deserves applause for aspiring to something bigger than most rock bands do nowadays. | August 2001   Lucas Aykroyd covers the rock beat for Wall of Sound, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and other leading music publications. He is the author of 1984: The Ultimate Van Halen Trivia Book.	Beyond Good And Evil may fall just one step short of being a "Great Album," but The Cult deserves applause for aspiring to something bigger than most rock bands do nowadays.