# Useless Animal > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Useless_Animal > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Useless_Animal.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Useless_Animal > Source revision: 1315434511 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{For|the 2000s anime series|Damekko Dōbutsu}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox album | name = Useless Animal | type = ep | artist = [Cult Leader](/source/Cult_Leader) | cover = Cult Leader - Useless Animal.png | alt = | released = {{Start date|2015|06|16}} | recorded = | venue = | studio = | genre = [Crust punk](/source/Crust_punk), [hardcore punk](/source/hardcore_punk) | length = {{Duration|m=9|s=35}} | label = [Deathwish](/source/Deathwish_Inc.) ([DW180](/source/Deathwish_Inc._discography)) | producer = Andy Patterson | prev_title = [Nothing for Us Here](/source/Nothing_for_Us_Here) | prev_year = 2014 | next_title = [Lightless Walk](/source/Lightless_Walk) | next_year = 2015 }} '''''Useless Animal''''' is an [extended play](/source/extended_play) by the American [metalcore](/source/metalcore) band [Cult Leader](/source/Cult_Leader). Released through [Deathwish Inc.](/source/Deathwish_Inc.) on June 16, 2015, the EP features two exclusive tracks (the original composition "Useless Animal" and the cover song "You Are Not My Blood") and one original composition titled "Gutter Gods" that would later be released on the band's 2015 debut album, ''[Lightless Walk](/source/Lightless_Walk)''. ''Useless Animal'' was recorded in late 2014 by Andy Patterson, who previously recorded the 2009 album ''[He Is Never Coming Back](/source/He_Is_Never_Coming_Back)'' by [Gaza](/source/Gaza_(band))—the now-defunct band that featured three members and gave birth to Cult Leader. ==Critical reception== Music critics noted the first two tracks, "Useless Animal" and "Gutter Gods," sounded both familiar and exemplary of [Cult Leader](/source/Cult_Leader)'s signature sound. Writing for ''[Exclaim](/source/Exclaim)'', Denise Falzon gave the EP a nine-out-of-ten and called these two tracks: "raw, chaotic attacks of heavy, grinding noise filled with furious, tormented aggression." Writing for ''[SLUG Magazine](/source/SLUG_Magazine)'', Megan Kennedy praised the EP and said these two tracks, "are short tracks, like brutal slashes with rusty blades, but there is so much energy and atmosphere in their frantic, ugly rhythms." Many critics highly praised the EP's B-side "You Are Not My Blood," a cover song originally by the indie/folk collaboration between [Mark Kozelek](/source/Mark_Kozelek) and Desertshore from their eponymous 2013 album, ''[Mark Kozelek & Desertshore](/source/Mark_Kozelek_%26_Desertshore)''. Cult Leader was joined on the cover song by Kim Pack and Sarah Pendleton of the fellow Salt Lake City–based doom/sludge metal band [SubRosa](/source/SubRosa_(Metal_band)), who Falzon called "superbly talented." She elaborated that the track, "pairs surprisingly well with the jarring, distorted hostility of the first two numbers, and takes ''Useless Animal'' to another level entirely. Kennedy called the song "the stand-out track" of the EP, described Anthony Lucero's singing vocals as "an enjoyable surprise" and said the additional Subrosa members helped Cult Leader "showcase their range with this deep, brooding dirge." Michael Nelson of [Stereogum](/source/Stereogum) described the song as, "a dirge-y, doom-y thing that pretty seamlessly combines both Cult Leader and SubRosa's sounds, actually—and pays fitting homage to Kozelek's sound, too." == Track listing == # "Useless Animal" – 1:14 # "Gutter Gods" – 1:32 # "You Are Not My Blood" (originally by [Mark Kozelek](/source/Mark_Kozelek) and Desertshore) – 6:49 == Personnel == ''Useless Animal'' personnel adapted from 7" vinyl liner notes. === Cult Leader === * Michael Mason * Anthony Lucero * Casey Hansen * Sam Richards === Additional musicians === * Kim Pack (SubRosa) – violins on "You Art Not My Blood" and "Useless Animal" * Sarah Bendleton (SubRosa) – violins on "You Art Not My Blood" and "Useless Animal" === Production === * Andy Patterson – engineering === Artwork and packaging === * Anthony Lucero – artwork * Metal Jeff – photos, layout == References == {{Reflist|refs= {{cite web| title = Andrew Patterson – Credits| work = [AllMusic](/source/AllMusic)| publisher = [All Media Network](/source/All_Media_Network)| url = http://www.allmusic.com/artist/andrew-patterson-mn0000049054| accessdate = September 20, 2015}} {{cite web| last = Adams| first = Gregory| title = Cult Leader Taking 'Lightless Walk' with New LP| work = [Exclaim!](/source/Exclaim!)| date = August 6, 2015| url = http://exclaim.ca/Music/article/cult_leader_taking_lightless_walk_with_next_lp| accessdate = September 20, 2015}} {{cite web| last = Adams| first = Gregory| title = Cult Leader Reveal 'Useless Animals' 7-inch, Cover Mark Kozelek| work = [Exclaim!](/source/Exclaim!)| date = March 6, 2015| url = http://exclaim.ca/Music/article/cult_leader_reveal_useless_animals_7-inch_cover_mark_kozelek| accessdate = September 20, 2015}} {{cite web| last = Falzon| first = Denise| title = Review: Cult Leader – Useless Animal| work = [Exclaim!](/source/Exclaim!)| date = June 12, 2015| url = http://exclaim.ca/Music/article/cult_leader-useless_animal| accessdate = September 20, 2015}} {{Cite AV media notes| title = Useless Animal| others = [Cult Leader](/source/Cult_Leader)| year = 2015| type = Vinyl liner notes| publisher = [Deathwish Inc.](/source/Deathwish_Inc.)| id = [DW180](/source/Deathwish_Inc._discography)}} {{cite web| author = Keenan| title = Cult Leader - Useless Animal [7-inch]| work = Punknews.org| date = June 18, 2015| url = https://www.punknews.org/review/13625/cult-leader-useless-animal-7-inch| accessdate = June 8, 2024}} {{cite web| last = Kennedy| first = Megan| title = Local Review: Cult Leader – Useless Animal EP| work = [SLUG Magazine](/source/SLUG_Magazine)| date = July 2, 2015| url = http://www.slugmag.com/local-music-reviews/local-review-cult-leader-useless-animal-ep/| accessdate = September 20, 2015}} {{cite web| last = Nelson| first = Michael| title = Cult Leader – 'You Are Not My Blood' (Mark Kozelek & Desertshore Cover) (Stereogum Premiere)| work = [Stereogum](/source/Stereogum)| publisher = [Spin Media](/source/Spin_Media)| date = May 6, 2015| url = http://www.stereogum.com/1799519/cult-leader-you-are-not-my-blood-mark-kozelek-desertshore-cover-stereogum-premiere/mp3s/| accessdate = September 20, 2015}} }} == External links == * [https://cultleadermusic.bandcamp.com/album/useless-animal Useless Animal] on [Bandcamp](/source/Bandcamp) {{Cult Leader}} {{Authority control}} Category:2015 EPs Category:Deathwish Inc. EPs Category:Cult Leader albums --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Useless Animal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Useless_Animal) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Useless_Animal?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.