The Mission U.K. began in the late '80s as a more pop-friendly variant on the British goth scene. With members hailing from Sisters of Mercy and Red Lorry Yellow Lorry, they mixed goth's dark visions with post-punk drive and a radio-ready knack for anthemic melodies. Some 20 years down the line, singer Wayne Hussey, having weathered countless personnel changes, keeps the Mission's mission going with GOD IS A BULLET. The faithful won't be disappointed, as the album bears all the hallmarks of vintage Mission: soaring, dramatic vocals; churning, reverb-drenched guitars; and an evocative, atmospheric air of mystery. Original guitarist Simon Hinkler even turns up as a guest, adding some of that old black magic to the 21st-century version of this long-running raincoat-rock institution.