THE CULT, COOKING VINYL RECORDS Comment On New Record Deal

Legendary rock band THE CULT has inked a deal with Cooking Vinyl Records. The group, which took part in the "Love Live Tour" last year and also recorded a four-track release with Chris Goss (QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, MASTERS OF REALITY),is preparing to enter the studio to record its ninth album. A fall release is expected.

Commented THE CULT guitarist Billy Duffy: "We are very much looking forward to returning to our U.K. roots in many ways working with Cooking Vinyl." THE CULT vocalist Ian Astbury added, "We look forward to a long and fruitful relationship with Cooking Vinyl."

The band has been busy writing and recording new demos at its Witch Mountain studio hideaway in the Hollywood Hills. They will be joined by guru and master producer Chris Goss, frontman of MASTERS OF REALITY, producer on various QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE albums as well as credits on countless other works.

Chris is already working with the band to sculpt a sonic assault and truly visceral work that promises to be the greatest work THE CULT has ever released. The album will be recorded in the high desert and darkened rooms of Hollywood Recording Studios.

Cooking Vinyl beat the heated competition to the deal on the back of their long-established reputation as an artist's label, which made them the obvious choice for the band.

Commented Cooking Vinyl director Rob Collins: "I tried to sign Ian's first band, SOUTHERN DEATH CULT, when I was a scout at Virgin in the early '80s. I think I paid for coach fares to London and they promptly signed to Beggars Banquet. It's great to finally be working with Ian, Billy and co."

The reaction is mirrored at Cooking Vinyl's U.K. distributor and sister company Essential Music. Head of sales Lance Meade said, "Martin [Goldschmidt, MD of Cooking Vinyl] knew that such was the love here in the sales department, he couldn't stand on ceremony He had to sign THE CULT Now the atmosphere is Electric."

The announcement bodes well for THE CULT's forthcoming appearances at the U.K.'s Download and Isle Of White festivals and a variety of summer dates around Europe. At press time, a September tour is being planned across Canada to coincide with the yet-to-be-titled album's first release, followed by a worldwide tour in support of the new music.

THE CULT's "Capsule 2: New Blood Deep Cuts" featured new songs "Embers" and "Until The Light Takes Us", live recordings of some of the band's huge hits and an intimate look into THE CULT's rehearsal space, with a never-before-seen warm-up performance of "Black Angel".

Rather than revisit the traditional method of releasing a long form CD, the band pioneered a new way of providing material. Capsules span multiple media formats including vinyl, digital, USB, CD and DVD formats, and can be purchased at CultCapsuleStore.com.

THE CULT is Ian Astbury (vocals),Billy Duffy (guitar),Chris Wyse (bass),John Tempesta (drums) and Mike Dimkich (rhythm guitar).