The Cult & Jonathan Hultén at The Roundhouse, 2024

On an early crisp November evening, London’s The Roundhouse played host to an unforgettable night of music, featuring two acts, each with an equally powerful presence and cult following: The Cult and Jonathan Hultén. The venue, with its intimate atmosphere and stunning interior, was the perfect setting for a night of rock and atmospheric sounds that left the audience completely mesmerised.

Jonathan Hultén

The night kicked off with Jonathan Hultén, whose ethereal blend of dark, brooding melodies set a haunting tone for the evening. Hultén, formerly of Tribulation, brought a delicate yet powerful performance to the stage. His music, combined with his striking stage presence, was utterly captivating and deeply emotive, combining elements of folk, rock, and post-punk. He transformed the stage into a magical setting that evoked a sense of being lost in a forest and transported back to Shakespearean times. His act is both theatrical and exquisite, and deeply emotive. With just his voice and guitar, he effortlessly captured the audience’s attention, sending shivers through the crowd with his raw, vulnerable energy. With The Roundhouse packed to the brim, at times you could hear a pin drop. 

The Swedish artist’s set was a perfect precursor to the headliners, as the crowd, initially quiet and captivated, responded with rapturous applause after each song. Tracks like ‘The Mountain’ and ‘Elder’ resonated deeply, leaving the crowd in a near-trance state, entirely drawn into Hultén’s world. If I were to compare him to anyone else I follow, I would say that his meticulously curated persona reminded me of Orville Peck and his harmonies took me back to Silverchair’s ‘Across The Night’. I was completely new to his music going into the evening, and I left a devoted fan with both his albums – ‘Chants From Another Place’ and ‘The Forest Sessions’ (from which he borrowed the sound effects of chirping birds and gentle hum of leaves) firmly on repeat from the moment I left The Roundhouse.

The Cult

As the lights dimmed and the iconic opening chords of ‘The Ride of the Valkyries’ and excerpts from ‘Apocalypse Now’ echoed through the venue, the atmosphere left behind by Jonathan Hultén shifted, and the anticipation was palpable. The fans were eager with anticipation and from the banter I managed to have with some of them, you can tell they are devoted followers. Fresh from a sold-out show at The Royal Albert Hall the night before, The Cult, led by the magnetic Ian Astbury and the legendary Billy Duffy, stormed the stage of a more intimate setting of The Roundhouse with an intensity that only a band with decades of experience can muster.

Astbury’s distinctive voice, still as commanding as ever, was in top form, effortlessly navigating the band’s expansive back catalogue. Leading with ‘In The Clouds’ followed by ‘Rise’, they set the tone for the remainder of the evening. The crowd’s energy was contagious and every song felt like a celebration. 

The set didn’t skip the classics, like one of the band’s most enduring hits ‘Fire Woman’, which was a moment of pure rock euphoria with an iconic riff. It was one of the highlights of the night, and Astbury’s vocal delivery was as fiery as ever. The new material, ‘Mirror’ from the most recent album “Under the Midnight Sun” was a brilliant showcase of The Cult’s ability to still write powerful and atmospheric rock songs. Its dark and brooding feel was complemented by its pounding rhythm section, which added a sense of urgency to the live rendition. The crowd was fully engaged, embracing the new material with as much energy as the classics. 

A fan favourite from “Sonic Temple”, ‘Edie (Ciao Baby)’ offered a nostalgic trip for many fans. The crowd was entranced by its laid-back, hypnotic groove and Astbury’s emotive delivery. This was one of the quieter, more introspective moments of the show, with the audience hanging on every word. Another iconic track from “Sonic Temple”, ‘Sweet Soul Sister’ followed and reignited the high-energy vibe, with fans singing along loudly to the song’s unforgettable chorus. Duffy’s infectious guitar riff was the perfect backdrop to Astbury’s vocals. ‘Love Removal Machine’, the high-energy hit from their 1987 album “Electric” closed the main portion of the set, with the tempo kicking up several notches as Duffy’s thunderous riff drove the song forward. As one of The Cult’s most loved tracks, it was the perfect (near) finale. 

After rapturous applause, they returned to perform ‘Brother Wolf, Sister Moon’, a standout track from “Sonic Temple”, and the big finale was the classic, unmistakable ‘She Sells Sanctuary’, one of The Cult’s defining anthems. As soon as the iconic guitar lines rang out, the crowd erupted. Astbury’s voice soared, delivering every word with power and emotion, and the crowd sang along in unison. The song’s hypnotic rhythms and the soaring guitar work had everyone in the venue in the palm of The Cult’s hands until the last moment.

What made the performance so memorable was the seamless blend of nostalgia and unrelenting energy. Duffy’s razor-sharp guitar work was spellbinding, punctuating the atmospheric layers of the music. The synergy between the band members was palpable, and it felt as though the whole room was vibrating. The Cult’s ability to engage and elevate the crowd was undeniable. The Roundhouse, with its vibrant acoustics, allowed every note to resonate and carry throughout the space, making the experience more immersive.

Artists: Jonathan Hultén, The Cult