When three-fourths of Gaza re-grouped as Cult Leader in 2013 following the controversy that resulted in the former’s breakup, the jury was out on how the reconstituted version of a much-loved band would fare. Fortunately for them — and you, and us — Cult Leader’s debut album Nothing For Us Here took any expectations we may’ve had and smashed right through them. Did Cult Leader one-up Gaza? The jury’s still out on that one, too, but that it’s even in the conversation should tell you how hard Cult Leader’s first album ripped.

Cult Leader are back just a year and a half later with Lightless Walk, recorded and engineered by Kurt Ballou at God City Studios, and MetalSucks is pleased to premiere the stream of “Sympathetic,” the album’s third track. Like any good three-hole hitter should, “Sympathetic” has all the tools: it can hit for power, get on base, field its position well and even steal a base here and there. That’s baseball-ese for saying it’s a great fucking track that showcases all sides of Cult Leader’s sound: the brute aggression, the dynamics, the nastiness, the elegance. It’s a franchise track worth giving a long-term deal for sure.

Check it out below. Lightless Walk comes out on Deathwish on October 16th and can be pre-ordered here. Upcoming tour dates at the bottom of this post.

10.17 – Tucson, AZ @ Southwest Terror Fest (w/ Sleep)

10.19 – Kansas City, MO @ El Torren

10.20 – Chicago, IL @ Subterranean Downstairs

10.21 – Toronto, ON @ Parts and Labour

10.22 – Montreal, QC @ Turbohaus

10.23 – Brooklyn, NY @ The Acheron

10.24 – Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie

10.25 – Boston, MA @ Middle East Upstairs

10.26 – Baltimore, MD @ Charm City Art Space

10.27 – Richmond, VA @ Strange Matter

10.28 – Columbia, SC @ New Brookland Tavern

10.29 – Orlando, FL @ Backbooth

10.30 – Tampa, FL @ Epic Problem

10.31 – Gainesville, FL @ The Fest

11.01 – Jacksonville, FL @ Birdhouse

11.02 – Atlanta, GA @ 529

11.03 – Nashville, TN @ The End

11.04 – Memphis, TN @ Hi-Tone