CULT OF YOUTH open for Zola Jesus at the Garrison Wednesday (April 20). See listing. Rating: NNN
Considered neo-folk by some and post-industrial by others, Cult of Youth, with their violins and strummed acoustic guitars, certainly embrace elements of the former. But band leader Sean Ragon’s vocals – alternately hollered and sung in low, almost gothic tones – along with the dramatic keyboards and militaristic overtones of album closer Lace Up Your Boots confirm that the band is better suited to dark clubs than to sunny summer festivals.
Escaping easy comparisons to other bands, Cult of Youth have made a sophomore album that swings from gentle, almost pastoral pop to danceable – or more accurately, stompable – beats. Intriguing and engaging, it isn’t always an easy listen but offers rewards over time.
Top track: Through The Fear