BLUE ÖYSTER CULT – Cult Classic (2020 re-release)
- Posted on 28-07-2020
Earlier on this year the Italian purveyors of classic and melodic/AOR rock that are Frontiers Records re-issued this rather interesting album by the legendary Blue Öyster Cult (which was originally released back in 1994), and “Cult Classic” contains fourteen re-recorded tunes by the great band including some of its most well-known compositions such as “Godzilla” “Burning for You”, “Astronomy”, and “Don’t Fear the Reaper”.
Even though one could make the strong argument that the majority of these songs hardly need to be re-recorded and that the original renditions sound just fine, it is a treat to listen to “Cult Classic” as the songs ooze class and are delivered with a strong sense of determination and heaps of passion. Former Rainbow drummer Chuck Burgi does the songs justice and it is always awesome to listen to him play, but overall, there is absolutely no faulting the entire band performance either as everything sounds professional and perfectly refined. Again, they neither improve on nor top their original counterparts, but nevertheless they come across as genuinely convincing and riveting pieces of music here – almost as if they have been given a new coat of paint and injected with a fresh and cool vibe of sorts. Is the record an essential one or a mandatory buy? Well, if you are a fan then yeah, you obviously need this one, but it also serves as a decent introduction to the band’s unique style and a good glimpse of what this hugely skilled outfit has to offer. In other words, if you are new to the band, “Cult Classic” might be worth checking out and using as a starting point if you wish to delve further into the vast and varied catalogue of Blue Öyster Cult material out there.
“Cult Classic” may not be essential or a stroke of genius, but it still rules and is rich in atmosphere and filled to the brim with progressive hard rock excellence.