Metal Reviews
Metal Reviews
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Cruelty And The Beast CRADLE OF FILTH |
| Cradle Of Filth
are : Robin Graves : Nocturnal Pulse Stuart : Infernal Overkill Nicholas : Zyklon Beats Gian : Carnivorous Licks Dani Filth : Oral Pleasures Lecter : Unbiblical Chords/Torture Chamber Music The tracks are : 1. Once Upon Atrocity 2. Thirteen Autumns And A Widow 3. Cruelty Brought Thee Orchids 4. Beneath The Howling Stars 5. Venus In Fear 6. Desire In Violent Overture 7. The Twisted Nails Of Faith 8. Bathory Aria : Benighted Like Usher A murder Of Ravens In Fugue Eyes That Witnessed Madness 9. Portrait Of The Dead Countess 10. Lustmord And Wargasm (The Lick Of Carnivorous Winds) Hadleigh Horrors Cradle Of Filth are without doubt Britain's most outrageous and controversial Black Metal band. Unleashing their new dark masterpiece Cruelty And The Beast on the unsuspecting world and once more the band have taken their fascination with Vampirism and all things that belong in the forbidden love to new heights of unbridled intensity. Cradle Of Filth have always been inspired by Vampirism and classic horror, they read books, watch films, write music and for Cruelty And The Beast, Cradle Of Filth have chosen to bludgeon the legend of one 'Elizabeth Bathory', the 16th century noble woman who bathed in the blood of virgin girls to preserve her beauty. But she met an untimely end after being discovered, she was tried, convicted and sentenced to meet her maker, by being bricked up, the best way I can describe being bricked up is like being buried alive, but behind a wall. Now exactly how much (if any) of this story you are prepared to believe is down to you, but the one thing you can't deny is that this is classic COF material and add to this the inclusion of Ingrid Pitt, star of such Hammer classics as "The Vampire Lovers" and "Countess Dracula" engaging her vocal talents on the track 'Bathory Aria' and you have a marriage made well, somewhere. Cruelty contains all of the COF classic hallmarks, searing yet strangely melodic guitars, lush keyboards and Dani's unique vocal delivery. Now hang on a moment, the very first thing you notice as soon as you press play are Dani's vocals, gone are the high pitched screams of old to be replaced by a much more audible, but no less evil delivery. This change of style has made the COF's songs much easier to listen too. Now you don't have to follow the lyric book to scare yourself shitless if you don't want too, and this change of style should open up the COF's music to a wider audience. I have always been a great fan of horror films, especially the classic days of Hammer and even though I have probably seen everyone of them at least ten times over, I never get tired of watching them, and I still get that uneasy feeling when I am watching one I haven't seen for sometime, and it's the same air of anticipation that I review each new COF album. Cruelty sees the COF unleash a further 10 songs that explore the shadowy place where Vampirism blurs into Eroticism and the effect is truly stunning. If any one who purchased 'Dusk And Her Embrace' thought the band couldn't possibly get any better, you'd be wrong. Cruelty is without doubt the COF's best work to date. Dani and Co are simply on fire (that's Hell's fire of course) and the production is shit hot as well, from the opening choir like vocals of 'Once Upon Atrocity' to the dying embers of 'Lustmord and Wargasm' it's clear the the COF have arrived in the musical big time. Now before I sign off, here's something for all you collectors of the COF rarities and limited editions. Cruelty And The Beast is available for a very short time in a special Celtic cross shaped box which features extra tracks and cover versions giving the album a total running time of 77 minutes. The extra tracks are 'Venom's Black Metal', Sodom, Sodomy and Lust', ? Hallowed Be Thy Name' and a techno remix entitled 'Twisting farther the nails of faith'. The artwork and packing are just superb and just to tempt you even more the first 5,000 copies have been signed by the band. But be warned, bearing in mind the amount of units the COF are currently selling, you may end up searching the small ads for a copy. Never mind though, even without all the extras Cruelty is an outstanding album, showcasing a band at the top of their musical tree, and comes highly recommended and certainly one candidate for album of the year. Released by Music For Nations. 333 Latimer Road. London W10 6RA Website : http://www.peaceville.com/ |
The Principle Of Evil Made
Flesh CRADLE OF FILTH |
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Lineup for The Principle
Of Evil Made Flesh : |
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From The Cradle To Enslave EP CRADLE OF FILTH |
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Tracklisting: 1. From The Cradle To
Enslave The most astounding and controversial metal phenomenon of the final years of the 20th century, Cradle Of Filth finally release their long awaited EP. An absolute must for all Filth fans, this EP features brand new material from the band since 'Cruelty and The Beast' album was released in May of 1998. The title track and 'Of Dark Blood and F**cking' are without doubt two of the best songs the band have ever recorded. The EP also features two cover versions, one of The Misfits 'Death Comes Ripping' and the amazing 'Sleepless', originally recorded by Anathema. While 'Perverts Church' is one of those techno mixes that you will either love or hate. Personally, done well in this case and fits in with the other songs on the EP, that you can't help feeling that Dani and co. will have the last laugh. Not content with seeing the
90's out with this EP, the video of 'From The Cradle To Enslave'
will be on show in the Millennium dome as part of the museum of
the British History Exhibition. Released by Music For Nations.
333 Latimer Road. London W10 6RA |
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Midian Cradle of Filth |
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The long awaited follow up to "From the Cradle to Enslave" mini LP has finally arrived. Like a heavy downpour of black rain, "Midian" is thrust upon the masses and take heed, oh ye of little faith, Armageddon has surely arrived! The black massacre you've been waiting for, "Midian" is the return of the filth and the fury, at their primordial best! From the opening moments of "At the Gates of Midian," where eerie entrance music foretells of the awaiting presence from beyond, "Cthulhu Dawn" comes crashing down in a fiery rage-all Hell's broken loose and who dared speak against the soiled namesake that's beheld the throne of the black kingdom of the damned… Not I, said the feeble listener, mouth agape and eyes ablaze. Dani Filth and co. have long been considered leaders amongst their peers, and probably been on the receiving end of more than a few jealously-led remarks concerning their recent growth in popularity. Having built a loyal underground following since their inception in the early '90s-and as if the English haven't already paid a heavy toll with that black cloud that follows them around day after day-one of the most bleakly ubiquitous creations ever to disgrace a stage simply will not go away! Known as much for their bizarre and sacrilegious imagery as for their sinister and seductive lyrics, Cradle of Filth belongs right at the top among the elite of their genre… in fact in only a few short years they've not only risen to the top of the ranks, they basically flew right by some steep competition! "Midian," follows the route of the fallen angel-biblically themed, and Barker-like in its portrayal of the evil on the outside… the outcasts who'll live to tell the frightening tale, and as is typically the case, the music is as violent and valiant as any before. The production elements are absolutely flawless-a full and grandiose measure of darkness descending, no longer confined or hidden beneath a veil of mysticism or hollowed out, cave-like restriction, theirs is a state of the art creation knelt before diversity and dramatic damnation. "Midian" also finds the band in yet another transitory stage, with the addition of several new musicians, built around the inner core of Dani and bassist Robin Eaglestone, the songs still built heavily on structural dynamics, electrically embedded scarification and chilling taunts, yet the elements of aggression, streamlined though they may be within the resource of time, have never been more pronounced! Everything Cradle of Filth's ever been praised and crucified for in their short and controversially successful career is all cast into the foundations of "Midian," a twisted new vision of extreme terror-a frightening foray into a nocturnal world of cruelty and beauty that's set to once again redefine the parameters for the rest to follow… Released by Koch Records Review by Vinnie Apicella [va85@columbia.edu] |
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Bitter Suites to Succubi Cradle of Filth |
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"Sin Deep My Wicked Angel…" and embrace the darkness, bleed for me my wicked angel, for I have tasted sin, and from your soul I feed, you shall burn in the abyss of flames and your greatest fears forever untold, shall quench the glowing embers of my bloodlust… Actually the opening sequence is little more than a chilling introduction, with added improvisational lyric effects to introduce the latest Black Metal epic from Dani Filth and this unholiest presence, reborn, always, and like darkness descending, an undying evil, so too exists Cradle of Filth, unyielding, unbridled… undead. And thus "Sin Deep My Wicked Angel" silently opens the gateways to another journey through Hades, a wicked world of orchestrated madness, delivered right to death's door from the evil elite, "Bitter Suites…" and blackened minds. Furthering their next step into the great beyond with last year's unparalleled "Midian" release, "Bitter Suites…" an extended EP featuring five new tracks, a cover, and remodeled past works all to leave a pleasant taste in the mouths of their legions of fans the world over; from the beginning, through the corridors of the dark, and today still, making them one of the biggest selling extreme Metal bands in a world where controversiality and corruption still rule the land, theirs is a claim to infamy yet unmatched in Black Metal circles… so in perfect unison, the bitterness will soon be revealed to the distaste of those they've managed to damn, destroy and disgust since their ten year inception and expect nothing less than hope sprung decay on their latest bastion of battle-ready Satanically-wrought fire-power and impending classically-bred Black Metal doom-"All Hope In Eclipse," "Born In a Burial Gown," bloody blasphemists with the steadfast purpose of shredding every last ounce of decency to any such a thing of lyrical substance… And never lost for words, there's plenty, as is traditionally expected, to absorb, sonically, visually, emotionally… By the time "No Time To Cry" chimes its death toll, and for all who recall U.K. Goth-pioneers Sisters of Mercy, there's none to be spared. Cradle of Filth is the embodiment of all that's wretched… wretched excess by way of musical mutilation and degradation to all that's held dear by such a notion as human value, effectively disemboweled, once and again, "Bitter Suites To Succubi," a right of revalidation granted, "The Principle of Evil Made Flesh," and for many greatly refuted, and for those who succumbed to the relentless conversionary power, pure affectation for the twisting knife edge of fate that's brought them here and kept them around when by all accounts they could've been buried long ago. Released by Spitfire
Records. Review by Vinnie
Apicella [va85@columbia.edu] |