Concert Review
The Cult
Death Cult
OLG Stage
@Fallsview Casino Resort
Niagara Falls, Ontario
Thursday October 9, 2025
Review/Photos: Joseph Suto
It was a special night at OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino as The Cult played their first show in the area in quite some time. Led by vocalist Ian Astbury and guitarist Billy Duffy, the two members that were there from the start, the band put on an electrifying performance. To top it off they went back in time and played one set as Death Cult which was an early incarnation of The Cult. Joining them on stage were drummer John Tempesta and bassist Charlie Jones.
The Death Cult played with a curtain slung down for their first song, you could see the shadows of the band only as they tore through “Ghost Dance”. But the unmistaken voice of Astbury echoed throughout the sold out cold at OLG Stage. The band is doing this for just a limited number of dates thus making this show in Niagara Falls very prestigious. Death Cult played songs that were written early on such as “Ressurection Joe” and “Spiritwalker”. Astbury did not seem too pleased by the crowds response saying “you did not do your homework”. As the set ended Astbury stated “That will be the first and only Death Cult show in Canada”. The short but powerful set was a surefire way to lead into the full Cult set as they took a brief intermission.
The Cult kicked things off as one may expect with the powerful “Wildflower” the perfect choice. From there the band cherry picked from six of their eleven studio albums to make up a solid set which was not a greatest hits set by any means. That was a good thing for the long time fans of the band. Lesser known songs such as “Lucifer” and “Rise” went over without a hitch as the band tore through fast paced set.
This band carries no dead weight. The caliber of talent is amazing as drummer Tempesta has a stacked resume that includes stints in Testament, Exodus and White Zombie among some of the elite bands he has played in. Jones has also had quite a career playing with Robert Plant not only in his solo band but Page & Plant as well.
This short tour runs into the end of October and is set to hit just 13 cities including NYC, Boston, Los Angeles among them. For Niagara Falls to land this tour was a feather in the cap for Fallsview Casino Resort. This marked the first night of the tour and as guitarist Billy Duffy noted “This was the first time we’ve done this show and we have no idea on how it was gonna go so let’s rock the fuckin’ house ok?”. Judging by the fans reactions as the band launched into “Love Removal Machine” and their final song of the night “She Sells Sanctuary” they helped put a strong exclamation point on the affair.
The Cult
Wild Flower
The Witch
Rise
Edie (Ciao Baby)
Hollow Man
War (The Process)
Lucifer
Fire Woman
Rain
Love Removal Machine
She Sells Sanctuary
Death Cult Set
Ghost Dance
Christians
Gods Zoo
83rd Dream
A Flower in the Desert
Butterflies
Horse Nation
Resurrection Joe
Spiritwalker
