If you check out how much muscle contest guys put on after a show you will understand my theory regarding cut then bulk, when you cut you create a hugh anabolic window for muscle tissue to grow and if your fresh enough the body will build hugh amounts in a short period of time when you couple a bulking cycle with a bulking diet straight after a cut, if you bulk then cut your muscle to bodyfat ratio is out and you will tend to lay down further fat storage rather than build quality muscle.
Thing to do is try on method this time around and log results and compare.