The Cult brought their 8525 Tour to Los Angeles and delivered a night that felt both fierce and nostalgic. The evening opened with LA alt-rock veterans Failure, who set the tone with a tight, atmospheric set. Then Death Cult took the stage, tearing through early post-punk cuts like “Ghost Dance,” “Gods Zoo” and “Horse Nation” before shifting gears into a full-on rock set under The Cult banner. Ian Astbury’s voice was commanding, Billy Duffy’s riffs roared through the hall and the crowd stayed locked in from “Wild Flower” to the massive closer “She Sells Sanctuary.” With the band recently announcing they’ll be stepping away from touring for a while, the night carried a bittersweet edge.

The Cult

Death Cult

Failure

All Photos by Owen Ela