Philadelphia Punk trio Cult Objects released their debut album Secrets of Pain-Free Living on June 8. Quoting an instagram post from Cult Objects, “almost 5 years into being a band, we’re so happy to finally share our album with you. We want to thank the wonderful @shaunsutkus for recording this with us right before the pandemic back in 2019. Special thanks and love always to original Cult Objects members Carolyn and Meredith.”
The group’s current line up consists of Lauren Leilani Iona on guitar and vocals, Larissa Sapko on bass, and Charlotte Anne Dole on drums and percussion. Secrets of Pain-Free Living is a lo-fi punk tape that rides the line of abrasive and palatable very well. Some highlights from the tape are “What Do I Owe You,” “Sea Foam,” “Lungs,” and “Glue Trap.”
“What Do I Owe You” is a solid opening track; it gets right to the point and brings the energy right out of the gate with a lead guitar smashing away at power chords while drums give it a rage filled heart beat. “Sea Foam” is a retro rocker with attitude to spare; “Lungs” brings the tempo down in a washy distorted slow ballad that climaxes with a chaotic guitar solo. “Glue Trap” is wild; Dole is smashing blast beats with Iona screaming over her guitar making for a song that is very abrasive but it is still grounded – this is noisy, but it’s not just noise.
To celebrate the release of Secrets of Pain-Free Living, Cult Objects is throwing a release show at the Dolphin Tavern in South Philly along with Haldol, DeStructos, and a DJ set by Charlotte Ann Dole. Plus on Cult Object’s bandcamp there are a handful of physical versions of the record, which you can listen to below.