Choice of Weapon

2012 studio album by the Cult

Choice of Weapon

Studio album by

The Cult

Released| 18 May 2012
Recorded| March 2011–January 2012
Genre| Hard rock
Length| 41:40 (Original)
58:10 (Deluxe Edition)
Label| Cooking Vinyl
Producer| Chris Goss, Bob Rock
The Cult chronology
| Born into This
(2007)  | Choice of Weapon
(2012)  | Hidden City
(2016)

|
|

Choice of Weapon is the ninth album by the British rock band The Cult. The album was initially planned for release in 2011, but the release date was pushed back to May 2012. It was initially released on 18 May in Europe, before being released in the UK on 21 May and then in the US the following day.[1][2]

Recording sessions for Choice of Weapon began in March 2011 with Chris Goss, who produced the 2010 Capsule EPs. The sessions took place at studios in New York City, Los Angeles, California, and the "California desert". The album was finished in January 2012. During the recording sessions, Bob Rock teamed up with The Cult for the first time since 2001's Beyond Good and Evil and co-produced Choice of Weapon. Choice of Weapon was named iTunes "Rock Album of the Year" in 2012.[3]

This album marks the first and, so far, only time the band did not make any personnel changes over two consecutive albums. However, it would end up being their final album with bassist Chris Wyse.

## Background and recording

[edit]

After a four-year hiatus, The Cult returned in 2006 and released the studio album Born into This in 2007. Although Born into This sold well, The Cult were dropped from Roadrunner Records, and in July 2009, frontman Ian Astbury stated that The Cult would not make any more albums.[4] Asked in September 2009 why The Cult would not make another album, Astbury replied, "It's a dead format; we don't have the attention span for albums. By the time you put it out, it's already been leaked. It's a year-and-a-half worth's of work down the fucking tubes. We need to put out bite-sized chunks."[5] Instead of releasing albums, The Cult released two EPs, titled Capsule 1 and Capsule 2, released in September and November 2010 respectively and the band toured to support them.

During The Cult's concert at the Hammersmith Apollo in London on 21 January 2011, Astbury declared that The Cult would be recording a new album directly after the tour. They announced that they would be working with Chris Goss, who performed with Masters of Reality as a supporting act the same evening. On 11 March 2011, it was announced that The Cult were back in the studio recording the album with Goss.[6] By May, the band had been writing and recording new demos at its Witch Mountain studio hideaway in the Hollywood Hills, and began recording a new album at Hollywood Recording Studios.[7] In October 2011, bassist Chris Wyse stated the album was almost finished and expected to be released in April 2012. Wyse also described it as a "Zep/Stooges mix of energy."[8] On 29 November 2011, it was announced that the album would be produced by Bob Rock, who provided the same role on Sonic Temple, The Cult and Beyond Good and Evil.[9]

The first single from Choice of Weapon, titled "For the Animals", was made available for online streaming via the Rolling Stone website on 23 March 2012, and was released to radio on 26 March.[10]

This album marks the only time the band did not make any personnel changes over two consecutive albums. However, it would end up being their final album with bassist Chris Wyse.

In October 2012, Weapon of Choice, a collection of ten demo tracks, was made available through iTunes.

## Artwork

[edit]

The cover of the album shows a Plains Indian shaman of an undisclosed tribe. Astbury said he had possession of this picture for many years, and selected it for the album cover to express his interest in indigenous cultures, which was cultivated at a very early age.[11]

## Reception

[edit]

Professional ratingsAggregate scores

Source| Rating
Metacritic| 76/100[12]
Review scores
Source| Rating
AllMusic| [13]
Premier Guitar| 4.5/5[14]

The album debuted at number 15 in Canada and number 36 in USA.[15] In its first week of sales, the album gained the Number 1 spot on the U.K. Rock Chart on 27/05/2012 (according to the Radio 1 Official Chart).

Choice of Weapon is the only Cult album not available on most music streaming services.

## Track listing

[edit]

All tracks are written by Ian Astbury and Billy Duffy.

No.| Title| Length

|
|

1.| ""Honey from a Knife"| 3:06
2.| "Elemental Light"| 4:45
3.| "The Wolf"| 3:33
4.| "Life>Death"| 5:32
5.| "For the Animals"| 4:28
6.| "Amnesia"| 3:02
7.| "Wilderness Now"| 4:33
8.| "Lucifer"| 4:40
9.| "A Pale Horse"| 3:14
10.| "This Night in the City Forever"| 4:45
Total length:| 41:40

Deluxe Edition bonus tracksNo.| Title| Length

|
|

11.| "Every Man And Woman Is A Star"| 3:26
12.| "Embers"| 5:01
13.| "Until The Light Takes Us"| 4:19
14.| "Siberia"| 3:36
Total length:| 58:10

## Personnel

[edit]

The Cult

* Ian Astbury – lead vocals
* Billy Duffy – guitars, backing vocals
* Chris Wyse – bass
* John Tempesta – drums

Additional musicians

* Jamie Edwards – keyboards, strings
* Chris Goss – guitars, backing vocals
* A.J. Celi – backing vocals on "Honey from a Knife"

## Charts

[edit]

Chart (2012)  | Peak
position

|

Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[16] | 57
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[17] | 87
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[18] | 69
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[19] | 15
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[20] | 32
French Albums (SNEP)[21] | 122
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[22] | 30
Italian Albums (FIMI)[23] | 64
Scottish Albums (OCC)[24] | 18
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[25] | 33
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[26] | 50
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[27] | 42
UK Albums (OCC)[28] | 20
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[29] | 6
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[30] | 1
US Billboard 200[31] | 36
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[32] | 9
US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)[33] | 3
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[34] | 17

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "The Cult Return With Intense New Album". Rolling Stone. 30 January 2012. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
2. ^ "The Cult: New Album Title, Release Date Revealed". Blabbermouth.net. 30 January 2012. Archived from the original on 2 February 2012. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
3. ^ "Apple - iTunes - Affiliates - Download iTunes". iTunes. Archived from the original on 15 May 2013. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
4. ^ "Ian Astbury Says There Will Be No New The Cult Album". Blabbermouth.net. 7 July 2009. Archived from the original on 10 July 2009. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
5. ^ "The Cult Singer Says Album Is 'A Dead Format'". Blabbermouth.net. 13 September 2009. Archived from the original on 22 September 2009. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
6. ^ "The Cult Back In The Studio". Blabbermouth.net. 11 March 2011. Archived from the original on 15 March 2011. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
7. ^ "The Cult, Cooking Vinyl Records Comment On New Record Deal". Blabbermouth.net. 14 May 2011. Archived from the original on 4 January 2013. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
8. ^ "The Cult's New Album Has A 'Zep/Stooges Mix Of Energy,' Says Bassist". Blabbermouth.net. 20 October 2011. Archived from the original on 24 November 2011. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
9. ^ "The Cult Re-Teams With Producer Bob Rock and Mixer Mike Fraser For New Album". Blabbermouth.net. 29 November 2011. Archived from the original on 2 December 2011. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
10. ^ "THE CULT: New Single Available For Streaming". Blabbermouth.net. 23 March 2012. Archived from the original on 18 July 2012. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
11. ^ "The Cult Return With Intense New Album". Rolling Stone.
12. ^ "Choice of Weapon by The Cult". Metacritic. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
13. ^ The Cult - Choice of Weapon review by AllMusic
14. ^ Osweiler, Rich (6 April 2012). "Album Review: The Cult – "Choice of Weapon"". Premier Guitar. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
15. ^ "CANOE -- JAM! Music - SoundScan Charts". canoe.ca. Archived from the original on 26 December 2004.
16. ^ "Austriancharts.at – The Cult – Choice of Weapon" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
17. ^ "Ultratop.be – The Cult – Choice of Weapon" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
18. ^ "Ultratop.be – The Cult – Choice of Weapon" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
19. ^ "The Cult Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
20. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – The Cult – Choice of Weapon" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
21. ^ "Lescharts.com – The Cult – Choice of Weapon". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
22. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – The Cult – Choice of Weapon" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
23. ^ "Italiancharts.com – The Cult – Choice of Weapon". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
24. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
25. ^ "Spanishcharts.com – The Cult – Choice of Weapon". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
26. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – The Cult – Choice of Weapon". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
27. ^ "Swisscharts.com – The Cult – Choice of Weapon". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
28. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
29. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
30. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
31. ^ "The Cult Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
32. ^ "The Cult Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
33. ^ "The Cult Chart History (Top Hard Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
34. ^ "The Cult Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 27, 2025.

## External links

[edit]

* Choice of Weapon

* v
* t
* e

The Cult

* Ian Astbury
* Billy Duffy
* John Tempesta
* Charlie Jones
* Mike Mangan

* Craig Adams
* Mark Brzezicki
* Mike Dimkich
* Kid Chaos
* Mickey Curry
* Charley Drayton
* Scott Garrett
* James Kottak
* Michael Lee
* Martyn LeNoble
* Billy Morrison
* Ray Mondo
* Nigel Preston
* John Sinclair
* Eric Singer
* Matt Sorum
* James Stevenson
* Jamie Stewart
* Les Warner
* Chris Wyse
* Damon Fox
* Grant Fitzpatrick

Studio albums|

* Dreamtime
* Love
* Electric
* Sonic Temple
* Ceremony
* The Cult
* Beyond Good and Evil
* Born into This
* Choice of Weapon
* Hidden City
* Under the Midnight Sun

Live albums|

* Live Cult

Compilation albums|

* Death Cult
* Pure Cult: for Rockers, Ravers, Lovers, and Sinners
* High Octane Cult
* Pure Cult: The Singles 1984–1995
* The Best of Rare Cult

Singles|

* "Spiritwalker"
* "Go West (Crazy Spinning Circles)"
* "Ressurection Joe"
* "She Sells Sanctuary"
* "Rain"
* "Revolution"
* "Love Removal Machine"
* "Fire Woman"
* "Painted on My Heart"

Related articles|

* Discography
* Members
* Guns N' Roses
* Holy Barbarians
* Jane's Addiction
* Porno for Pyros
* Ritual
* Southern Death Cult
* Theatre of Hate
* The Wondergirls
* Velvet Revolver

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

|

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