Album Review: Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Live God

By Christian Cole, OOTB Publications

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds have always carried a certain poetic darkness, an almost devilishly quirky sound that has garnered them a longtime cult following from the mid-1980s and onward. Now, well into 2025, we’ve been shown that has not changed.

We have just seen the latest release from Melbourne-formed cult rockers in the form of a lengthy and cinematic live LP, properly titled LIVE GOD (PIAS), releasing tomorrow, Friday, Dec. 5. The title alone is a suitable reflection for the sound found scattered across the staggering 18-piece tracklist.

A career-spanning and eclectic mix of tunes helps paint perfectly the image of an unbeatable and unmistakable band. When Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds are on, you never have to wonder who you’re hearing, because it can’t be replicated; and this live album stands as clear evidence to that fact.

LIVE GOD bounces from a poetic and gothic fury of post-punk madness all the way back down to piano-backed ballads referencing mythological creatures, paired against woefully strange words, and it paints a beautiful picture of what the band and its legendary frontman are capable of as a unit, all these years later.

From opening track “Frogs”—a frantic fever dream laced with a lower-register David Bowie-esque croon—to the entry point for many fans, “Red Right Hand,” we are kept on the tips of our toes; absolutely immersed in an unmistakable sonic territory.

On the in-between, we receive woeful melody paired against equally pained lyricism with tracks like, “Long Dark Night,” with its gorgeous piano and slow sobbing violin. The ambience is absolutely unbeatable. The air of pain, the longing, the depth: Beautiful.

With sweat-soaked tracks like “Tupelo,” we are lent yet another angle in the band’s repertoire. It is massive, with a beautiful choir, thumping bass and fearful vocals. “Oh god I’m in Tupelo” hits like a fistful of stones straight to the chest. The crowd’s call-and-response tucked up against Cave’s gravely holler is absolutely absurd, in the best of ways.

LIVE GOD serves not only as perfection for long-time fans, but also as the perfect entry point for any curious listeners looking to expand their repertoire and enter some new territory.

It is made painfully evident that Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds have only sharpened their spear in recent years, and aged like the finest of wines—dark red, slightly sweet, with a precious and unexpected punch; the perfect balance for listeners from any and all angles.

Favorite Tracks

“Frogs”

“Long Dark Night”

“White Elephant”

Get Album Here

https://nickcave.lnk.to/livegod

Formats

Double LP presented in a premium tip-on gatefold sleeve with spot-UV gloss inside panels. Vinyl housed in full colour printed inner sleeves.
Double CD presented in a premium remus spine digisleeve with spot-UV gloss inside panels. CDs housed in full colour card wallets.

Tracklist