You have to tip your hat to an act like Blue Öyster Cult. Despite some minor personnel changes, these guys continue to chug away with no end in sight. While it’s hard to imagine that they could ever match the brilliance of a memorable repertoire that includes “Cities on Flame,” Dominance And Submission,” “Burnin’ For You,” and the FM staple “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper,” Blue Öyster Cult carry on with indomitable determination. A huge arena act in the 70s, BÖC has been a mainstay on the club circuit since the late 80s. They are “On Tour Forever,” with dates all over the country. When they released the all-digital Curse Of The Hidden Mirror in 2001, it was supposed to hatch a new beginning. Other things intervened.
Many of the album’s 11 songs exhibit a return to BÖC’s mystical legacy. Part of the allure has to do with the lyrical contributions from author John Shirley (he wrote the screenplay for The Crow). “Dance On Stilts” and “Eye Of The Hurricane” are two prime examples of pensive wordplay balanced by steady and swift riffs. But that’s only half the story. Eric Bloom’s “Showtime,” originally written in 1979, clearly features the band’s front man at his most synergetic. “Pocket,” the album’s lone single finds guitarist and vocalist Buck Dharma striving to stay in step with some of his most impressive hooks in years. For the most part, it’s a match of grit and guts between Bloom and Dharma as their combined efforts bore several gems. “The Old Gods Return” is a throwback to the days of Secret Treaties; “One Step Ahead Of The Devil” would have fit nicely on the band’s first live album from 1975, On Your Feet Or On Your Knees. “Here Comes That Feeling” and “Stone Of Love” extract a striking semblance from BÖC’s early 80s Fire Of Unknown Origin period.
With the winning rhythm section of bassist Danny Miranda and drummer Bobby Rondinelli, the Cult’s founding trio of Dharma, Bloom and guitarist and keyboardist Allen Lanier can’t help but ride high on the extra punch revitalizing the band and this record. Even an uncharacteristic slow-paced number like “Out Of The Darkness” keeps them in focus. The closing “Good To Feel Hungry” may be a little too-feel-good for this East Coast unit, but it serves them well in showcasing their drive to becoming a tight and consistent outfit. Despite its notable strengths, Curse Of The Hidden Mirror was last BÖC studio album for nearly 20 years, when the band returned in 2020 with The Symbol Remains. It was also the last one for Lanier, who passed away in 2013. And Blue Öyster Cult still remain “On Tour Forever” until further notice.
~ Shawn Perry
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