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Do you believe in the word"cult" as far as the rare records are concerned?...I don't...Discuss, and justify your choice..

'obscure, but of such high quality that in a fair world it would be considered a classic'

The rarity of a record alone can't make it ''cult". It's more about the musical approach of each band. A very distinctive sound with some very ''special'' elements, certainly not something for wide ''consumption''. Sonic characteristics that some may find amazing, some strange while some others truly annoying.

Here's also a dictionary explanation: cult –adjective of, for, or attracting a small group of devotees: a cult movie.


Best example that comes to my mind: Tim Baker's vocals.

We're on a very good way...I wanna see more opinions on the topic please...

I think it does have to be original too, not exclusively ground-breaking and always innovative, but it must offer different sounds and approaches and explore new grounds aswell. In resume, either totally unique bands or obscure bands with original powerful and wicked music.

An example of *CULT* is a band I have recently discovered called MEFISTO.
They're a swedish underground cult band playing a very interesting malevolent oldschool thrash with riffs that makes me going berserker.

And interstingly enough, neither of the guys are swedish naturals, I guess.

So far so good they my most interesting discovery.

To me, a cult band/record/... is a band/record/... that deserves to be more known because of the great quality.
Satan's Host comes to mind, among others.

Well, i think quality is something subjective. And something well-known doesn't also mean necessarily that it is of great quality. Quality as far as art is concerned is a matter a taste. Millions of people for instance worship Led Zeppelin. I can't listen to them, never did and never will. For me, they will always remain an average band, no matter what others think. I can't accept the term ''great quality" or "classic" for this band.
Something similar goes for my beloved Satan's Host. I love every track they made. I don't expect everyone to like this stuff, it's out of the ordinary, really unconventional even for a metal band. You may find their riffs good or bad, it depends on your taste, but you can't ignore in any case that the album is something different from the usual/common metal release of that period. So, i believe that it is not the quality that distinguishes a cult band from a non-cult one. It's more about the way the band expresses its feelings, thoughts and ideas about how music should be played. A unique, totally personal way.

Cult can mean something really good in terms of musical obscurity and how barbaric it sounds - no matter how old it is. It's also a stupid gimmick word which means nothing anymore.

More often than not it's the latter.

Astaroth wrote: It's also a stupid gimmick word which means nothing anymore.

Unfortunately, yes. Nowadays, everyone who likes an old unknown band names it "cult". They are actually more cult bands than common ones in the 80s. The word indeed means nothing anymore.

The discussion is about the explanation/interpretation of the word, examples are not so welcome (even if i personally used some).

I guess nothing's cult today. But I remember what was cult back in the day. Bands that were doing new and sick things. Cult following was more often than not associated with the groups positing themselves on the "evil" axis. Angel Witch, Venom, Mercyful Fate, Hellhammer/ Celtic Frost, Bathory, Mayhem ... Groups who have wrapped themselves with the veil of mystery. Exception may be Napalm Death due to different provenance. And indeed HM world was really mysterious back in the day. Awww boy. Nobody can kill nostalgia in me.

For me a cult band is a band that makes quality and original music (I agree on what Mr Ion Britton said on this point), that's not recognized by all but a small minority of fanatics (here again he gave the good definition).
CORONER is the first band that comes to mind when evoking this word. They were the perfect example of a cult band.

I don't like the "cult" term and I rarely ever use it, especially when it comes to metal. A good album is a good album and a good band is a good band despite their promotion budget or their tough luck. I don't like what "cult" means to other people these days (a " _stupid_ and easy to laugh AT, oh, are we the best" cover/song titles/lyrics/attitude) so I've decided to never ever (ever) use it again and hope that it dies soon so that we can enjoy music for what it is and not for the number of LPs that were pressed.

...and, goddammit people (not you- I'm talking to people into "Metal"), Cirith Ungol is not a Cult band. This is Heavy Metal!

I never use this word

That word means nothing to me. If a good metal record is good, it is due to its musical value, not because it is rare or anything like that

SolidSnake311 wrote:An example of *CULT* is a band I have recently discovered called MEFISTO.

They are the epitome of cult.

No, I rarely use the word. And yes, after the beginning of kvlt black metal the word has had no real meaning, and has rather become a mockery of the great ones than anything else. As for the definition, Ion Britton is spot on.