CULT LEADER

Monstrously heavy grind-inflected hardcore mayhem and some sombre moods

We know Salt Lake City as a Mormon capital. But the Utah state capital also offers something entirely else. For instance, this bone-crushing metal band. Is the band name a comment, perhaps?

Cult Leader mixes charred, grind-inflected hardcore and reverbed soundscapes with rich baritone crooning. Feeling angry, then feeling down, back to disgustingly brutal songs, then slow songs that make you feel lost in an ocean of despair. You get the pattern.

That’s how it is in Cult Leader’s songbook, which you can hear on their two albums Lightless Walk (2015) and a Patient man (2018). One review mentions that Cult Leader comes recommended to fans of Converge and Chelsea Wolfe. Two kinds of dark.

The Salt Lake City quartet emerged in 2013 after former band Gaza broke up. Three members moved on to form Cult Leader who signed with Converge frontman Jacob Bannon’s label Deathwish Inc.

Cult Leader packs so much energy when they play live. Guitarist Mike Mason and bassist Sam Richards bring huge pedal boards with effects, and they aren’t afraid to use them. Vocalist Anthony Lucero is the always hooded vocal acrobat who sings, growls, screeches and gurgles. Drummer Casey Hansen plays so intensely - from octopus rolls to inhuman blasting. He certainly gives Converge drummer Ben Koller a run for his money! Collectively, they are one punishing machine. Get in there, rage your inner demons out. Cult Leader will do you some good!