Album
Cradle of Filth
Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa
Abracadaver - Peaceville (label)
01 November 2010 (released)
26 October 2010
Although we are all going to be assailed from all sides about the shock, the violence and the Satanism incarnate in any new album from Cradle of Filth we should all realise one important fact: there are few bands around capable of Grande Guignol Rock Theatre with anything like the talent and passion of CoF.
This isn’t the music of hatred or praise of Lucifer – it is a great celebration of the gothic and of the darker side of legends.
It is fast, brutal and loud – oh brother is it ever loud – and the drums attack your senses like a machine gun on crystal meth while Dani Filth’s vocal style is best described as a blistering whine but underneath there is a wonderful and anthemic theatricality as well as a great deal of talent and the band obviously understand the extra power to be found in a multi-layering of their sound.
This time around they have settled on the story of Lilith - Adam's first wife and the mother of erotica, sensuality and lasciviiousness and they have delivered a full concept album that features all forms of deviation and occult lore along with images of violent bloodshed.
They were one of the originators of the form and while other bands have stood still with brutal riffery and roared ‘vocals’, Cradle of Filth have built on the themes that they began back in the nineties and now they stand head and shoulders above the rest.
There is absolutely no point in describing individual numbers of in pointing out a solo here or a great vocal there – this is a piece in the same way that opera is or an overture and it should be listened to in its entirety. It is never 'comfortable' but it is always incredibly exciting and you can't help but immerse yourself in the album.
I can’t wait to see this done live but for now I will be happy to wallow in some of the greatest and heaviest rock released this year.
This isn’t the music of hatred or praise of Lucifer – it is a great celebration of the gothic and of the darker side of legends.
It is fast, brutal and loud – oh brother is it ever loud – and the drums attack your senses like a machine gun on crystal meth while Dani Filth’s vocal style is best described as a blistering whine but underneath there is a wonderful and anthemic theatricality as well as a great deal of talent and the band obviously understand the extra power to be found in a multi-layering of their sound.
This time around they have settled on the story of Lilith - Adam's first wife and the mother of erotica, sensuality and lasciviiousness and they have delivered a full concept album that features all forms of deviation and occult lore along with images of violent bloodshed.
They were one of the originators of the form and while other bands have stood still with brutal riffery and roared ‘vocals’, Cradle of Filth have built on the themes that they began back in the nineties and now they stand head and shoulders above the rest.
There is absolutely no point in describing individual numbers of in pointing out a solo here or a great vocal there – this is a piece in the same way that opera is or an overture and it should be listened to in its entirety. It is never 'comfortable' but it is always incredibly exciting and you can't help but immerse yourself in the album.
I can’t wait to see this done live but for now I will be happy to wallow in some of the greatest and heaviest rock released this year.
