Dani Filth is a walking, talking history compendium. I find his knowledge and his idiolect fascinating; this skill at reading, analysing and extracting ideas from our world and transferring them to music is incredibly inspiring. Not surprising that Cradle of Filth have secured their place at the very top of extreme metal for over thirty years.
Their fourteenth studio album, ‘The Screaming of the Valkyries’ is just as detailed, and informative as the previous releases, we are treated to a rich and indulgent array of songs that do not disappoint.
Despite the revolving door of artists that have graced the band over the years, C of F have surpassed all expectations, constantly excelled in every aspect of making an album. The research into topics that they will cover, the lyrics, the music, the visual representations are unrivalled, and the intricacy and ecstasy are unbridled.
Leading with ‘To Live Deliciously’ we get a crazed nun, mad eyes, talons for nails and a healthy dose of ruptured, lacerated and blistered skin, attributes we know and love. Forever brazen with their attitude to all things religious, this video has all the devilish elements, which will no doubt upset some people.
For this record we dip our toes, in fact we deep dive into Norse mythology, we learn that the Valkyries are the handmaids that guide the souls of the ‘einherjar’ back to Valhalla. Their screams are an indication that they have arrived on the battlefield.
There’s enough propellant here to twist you round and round like pretzel, even a contortionist couldn’t wrestle their way out of this.
Produced, recorded, mixed and mastered at Grindstone Studios under the watchful eye of Scott ‘Officer Down’ Atkins we are in capable and safe hands.
Amidst the ‘Demagoguery’ and lurking amongst ‘The Trinity of Shadows’ we find Horace with the philosophical ‘Non Omnis Moriar’ which entertains the notion that our legacy will outlive us after our death. I think that is accurate, we still listen to music from artists that have passed away, we hold it dear, and it provides comfort when we need it.
Alongside Dani we have Daniel Firth – bass, Marek ‘Ashok’ Smerda – guitars, Martin Skaroupka – drums, Zoe Federoff – keyboards/vocals and Danny Burbage on guitar, and together they help to illuminate and express the tales of old that are woven into the fabric of our society. Each track is unique it it’s originality and its presentation, you get chapter and verse in a curse, a united affront to polite society, yet you still invite it in.
Meticulously macabre, delectably debauched and menacingly moreish -absolutely love Cradle of Filth, I will not be taking any questions at this time.
Azra Pathan
Cradle of Filth – The Screaming of the Valkyries out now