Cult Therapy :"Get Fucked Sinner"

These zany Michigan punks, have made a scathing album that gives religion the middle finger. There are elements of slacker 90s indie rock in the disjointed slink it takes on at times. There is also a noise rock sloppiness to what is going on here. The lazy croon to "Therapy & Drugs" places them close to bands like Weezer. "The Lord's Army' stays on topic but unleashed angry spasm that are not as catchy, They hang onto the drunken groove of "All Alone" but it feels more like Murder By Death. The mix is odd in how the vocals are way up front but I guess they want to put the message first and foremost, which is better than it being buried.

They get credit for not being pinned down into one genre, as they are more explosive than indie rock at those though on "Deacon's House" it's a more apt description. To the point of where building to the emotional explosion is all part of the formula. "Hallelujah" works off a more 90s  tinged grunge shuffle. By the time we get to "Burn it Down"  relatable lyrics are not enough when the songs begin to run together. The more pondering folk strum of "He Loves" might have worked on the airwaves back in 97 but it does not resonate with me as much since I have been there and already got the t-shirt. I can hear where a band like Brand New might have influenced these guys, but they could stand to be a little darker especially with the subject matter. 

"I'm Fine, Everything's Ok" sonically works off the tropes of the 90s , but the lyrics are what sells this one for me. Things drop down for "Born Again" ( which is not a cover of the Gillan era Sabbath song) .  Dynamically it is a pretty effective song that emotes from a place I will believe. Very familiar sounds, just short of wearing their influences on their sleeves. the lyrics win me over, as it's hard for me not to like an entire album based off the concept of religions pitfalls in the western world ,so I will give this one a 9. 

 

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