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CRADLE OF FILTH :
MIDIAN
I have never been a big fan of "Black Metal" (for those of you with no clue, this means ultra fast satanic metal, not bands like Living Colour). I grew up with death metal, so I've always dug death growls, but have never really been able to get into the Black-Metal-Gremlin voice most bands of this genera employ. So, you ask, why the hell did I pick up this CD? Since Cradle of Filth are one of the biggest Black Metal bands in the world. Well, I heard one of their new songs called "Her Ghost In The Fog" on a compilation CD, and could not get it out of my head for days. It actually had parts you could remember and hum to yourself! (a rare thing in black metal). It had also been a while since I picked up something that was a real "Piss you neighbours off-super fast-ultra heavy-suicide inducing-slab of metal". So I took a chance on this disc. And I must say its very kool. The vocals range from Death Metal growls to demonic sounding gremlin like cries, and everything in between. The songs are super fast, but still able to remain catchy, with hooks you don't even realize are there till after you put the CD away, and they're still with you. There are also a lot of great atmospheric elements on this disc, some female backing vocals, a few keyboards, and other little gothic touches. Of course Cradle have always had a very kool gothic-fetish image going on, so it comes as no surprise that some of that carries over into the music. Bottom line, good disc, creepy as hell, ma & pa ain't gonna like it.
RATING = 8.5 Black-Metal (Released 2000)
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CRADLE OF FILTH :
BITTER SUITES TO SUCCUBI
Black Metal masters, Cradle Of Filth, are back with a new CD to tide us over until the next full release of new studio work. This was originally supposed to be an EP, but it grew into a full-length package of evil goodies. What you get are; 3 re-recorded classics ("Summer Dying Fast", "The Principle Of Evil Made Flesh", and "Black Goddess"), 4 brand new tracks ("All Hope In Eclipse", "Born In A Burial Gown", "Suicide And Other Comforts" and "Scorched Earth Erotica"), and what may be the coolest cover ever to be recorded, Sisters Of Mercy's "No Time To Cry". This alone is worth the price of admission. Also, if you get the European import version of the disc, you get a clip of the promotional video for Born In A Burial Gown, as well as a trailer for the Cradle of Filth horror movie, "Cradle Of Fear", which looks to be just as sick as all the rumors say it is. Again, this enhanced portion is NOT on the US release! To sum up, this is one kool, creepy as hell CD. I have just recently started to see the merits of this band, but I must now admit to being totally sucked into COF's evil little world.
RATING = 8.5 Black-Metal (Released 2001)
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CRADLE OF FILTH :
LOVECRAFT & WITCH HEARTS
It seems Cradle of Filth had some contract obligations to fill, so here we are with a 2-disc "Best Of" release. Don't start frowning yet kids, 'cause in true COF fashion, instead of fighting the release, the band has helped to make this a very strong package. Best of discs are always hard to review, on one hand, you usually have a bands best work, but on the other hand, we have heard almost all of this before, plus there is always that nagging feeling that you just got ass-fucked by the record company (and guess what, you did). So, in a way, this rating reflects not if we got ass-raped, but rather, if it was an enjoyable ass reaming or not. This package offers the hits, a couple new tracks, some remixes, and some cover tunes. So let's take a look and break this thing down. Disc one has 11 cuts, these are all the "big" hits. You get fan favourites such as "Dusk And Her Embrace", "Her Ghost In The Fog", and "From The Cradle To Enslave". If you are even a casual fan, you probably have all these songs already, but what did you expect, it is a greatest hits affair. Disc two, this is the one that hard-core fans will care about. Here we have 13 tracks, including 3 new songs, five covers, and five remixes. Sometimes the mixes work, sometimes they don't, but the good thing is that they all sound very different from the original. I mean why bother remixing it if I can't tell the difference between the old version and the new one? There are also two cool covers that close out the disc, that were originally only available on shitty tribute CDs. The best of these is Slayer's "Hell Awaits", which is done with passion, and balls. The other cover is Iron Maiden's "Hallowed Be Thy Name". While I love that song, and this version is good, it doesn't kick my ass. Other covers include Massacre's "Dawn of Eternity", Sabbat's "For Those Who Died", and Sodom's "Sodomy And Lust". As well as the music, you also get the usual professional booklet from the COF boys, which is essential in these days on rampant downloading. All in all, a great package, worthy of your hard earned dollars. Disc one would have to rate a 9, disc two a 7, so we can average that to an 8.
RATING = 8 Black-Metal (Released 2002)
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CRADLE OF FILTH :
LIVE BAIT FOR THE DEAD
It seems we can't go more than a few months without another release from COF. That's not a bad thing, but the boys might want to be careful not to glut the market. This time out it's a live CD package. Disc one of this two disc set is the live show, which unfortunately is the same show as the DVD "Heavy Left-Handed and Candid", it's the April 14, 2001 live show from Nottingham's Rock City. A good show, but fans will already have the DVD, and this is sort of repetitive. Disc number two however has some goodies that you can't get anywhere else. Here are the reasons to pick up this disc; "Born In A Burial Gown" - The Polished Coffin Mix, "No Time To Cry" - Sisters Of No Mercy Mix, "Funeral In Carpathia" - Soundcheck Recording, "Scorched Earth Erotica" - Original Demo Version, "Nocturnal Supremacy" - Soundcheck Recording, "From The Cradle To Enslave" - Under Martian Rule Mix, "The Fire Still Burns" - Twisted Sister cover, and the "No Time To Cry" - Sisters Of No Mercy video. So, if you have the DVD, disc one is a throw away, but disc two still makes this a must have for fans. And if you don"t have the DVD, then you're gonna love the whole damn thing.
RATING = 8 Black-Metal (Released 2002)
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CRADLE OF FILTH :
DAMNATION AND A DAY
This is COF's first release on a major label (Sony)... a lot of fans thought that it meant the end of their beloved Black-Metal kings. But how wrong they were. Damnation And A Day, is to put it mildly, out-fucking-standing!!!! Dani and company have outdone all their past efforts, with each of the 17 songs seemingly better than the last. This has it all; unbridled speed, well used keys, thunderous double bass drumming, eerie gothic-inspired atmosphere, it's a symphonic Black-Metal masterpiece. It is both beautiful and yet hideously ugly. I was trying to think if this would qualify as a "10", or only a 9.5, is it really that good? I then realized that while listening, I was unconsciously drumming to the furious beat, my heart was pounding faster and faster, and I was yearning for each subsequent note like some pathetic alcoholic, who was being rationed his prized libation one drop at a time. If that doesn't qulify it, I don't know what would. No matter what happens, the COF camp seems to be unbreakable, with multiple line up changes over the years, and backlash from "true" Black-Metal fans, Dani just keeps pushing his dark creation further and further. They are currently untouchable... Dimmu is coming close, but COF still holds the position of the "alpha male". If you were on board with "Midian", this will make you instantly hard. For new fans, this is a great place to start, for long-term believers who had given up on them, I say put away your preconceptions and give it a try... join us... join us.
RATING = 10 Black-Metal (Released 2003)
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CRADLE OF FILTH :
NYMPHETAMINE
Cradle Of Filth must now be one of the most prolific Black-Metal bands on the planet, and as we all know, they are the most successful. We also all know that many Black-Metal purists refuse to even acknowledge them as members of their sacred sub-genre, but none of that really matters to the band anymore. Dani has brought his group of outcasts to the greatest height that any band of this nature has ever achieved, and as much as people want to call him a sell-out, it's pretty f*ckin' hard to do so when the music is so damn good. The brilliant mix of Black-Metal, grandiose symphonics, and Iron Maiden-isms has once again managed to score a winner for the band. If you liked last years "Damnation And A Day", or 2000's "Midian", then you should fall for this one in a second. The only criticism I can possibly apply to this disc, is that is doesn't cover any new ground. COF of 2004 sounds just like COF of 2000, but like they say, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". Highlights for me include the moody "Absinthe With Faust", and the kick-ass title track which features guest vocals from the goddess (well, I would worship at her feet if she'd let me) known as Liv Kristine of "Theatre Of Tragedy" and "Leaves' Eyes" fame. There is really not much more to say, it's another winner, and one of the best of the year, although I think I still like Damnation just a little bit more. If you don't have the CD yet, wait a little longer, there is a special edition coming out in March '05 with a second CD full of bonus cuts, which I'm sure will be worth the extra few bucks.
RATING = 9 Black-Metal (Released 2003)
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"Greatest hits albums are for housewives and little girls."
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