Review – Cradle Of Filth – Cryptoriana – The Seductiveness of Decay

September 5, 2017 Toney Emmons Off All Posts, Genre, Melodic, Metal, Reviews,

Artist: Cradle Of Filth

Album: Cryptoriana – The Seductiveness of Decay

Rating: 9/10

Cradle of Filth are an English extreme metal band, formed in Suffolk in 1991. The band’s musical style evolved originally from black metal to a cleaner and more “produced” amalgam of gothic metal, symphonic metal and other metal genres. While leadman Dani Filth has been quoted as, “I use the term ‘heavy metal’, rather than ‘black metal’, because I think that’s a bit of a fad now. Call it what you like: death metal, black metal, any kind of metal…”, so call it what you want as long as it metal and you are rocking out to it.

I have been invited to preview Cradle Of Filth’s new album, “Cryptoriana – The Seductiveness of Decay” due out September 22nd, to see how it is a breakthrough in their career with more sophistication while dealing with themes such as, macabre theatrics and a sense of fascination with a ghoulish and grandiose seduction with Victorian Goth Horror. ‘Cryptoriana‘ literally directly implies the Victorian’s infatuation with the supernatural, the grave and the ghoulish.

One of the amazing things about this album is the fact the band is scattered all over the UK and getting them all together is quite the feat. Dani Filth really wanted to be more together as a band on this album. Here are their respected regions:

Dani Filth– England (South)

Martin ‘Marthus’ Skaroupka — Czech Rep

Daniel Firth– Glasgow, Scotland

Lindsay Schoolcraft — Oshawa, Canada

Richard Shaw — England (North)

Marek ‘Ashok’ Šmerda — Czech Rep

So as you can see it really was an interesting line of events to get them all in a singular space at the right time.

“You Will Know The Lion By His Claws” is one of the single releases to the masses and my thoughts on it: it’s musically and lyrically one of the best shrieking songs on the album, Dani Filth gives us his notable deep vocals he is known for in this track that’s sure not to disappoint.

The new addition of Lindsay Schoolcraft is noticed with accompanying vocals in, “Vengeful Spirit“, delivering a goulish seductive-like duet with frontman, Dani Filth. While her accompanying vocals are few she is definitely a undeniable worthy addition to Cradle Of Filth.

“Cryptoriana — Seductress Of Decay” is this album’s title track and really has this kind of hard hitting, soul capturing drums blasting throughout the track while piercing you with some precision on the guitar work coupled with Dani shrieking powerful vocals makes this the perfect title track.

A track that is stand out to me is, “Achingly Beautiful” which has so fast, hard hitting lyrics full of lash and intensity. With the back up vocals by Lindsay Schoolcraft it really is one of the hidden gems in this album.

Overrall, this album is dark, sophisticated, and very orchestral and has the macabre stylings that Cradle Of Filth enjoys to deliver in what’s been dubbed as, “elegant fury” and a “collective creative renaissance“, ” Cryptoriana – Seductress Of Decay, ” dives deep into classic Victorian Goth Horror, showing their own fascination with the odd and elegantly morbid. From the opening to the end Cradle Of Filth most certainly is still able to still make a whirlwind and make an entrance in the music scene and one thing for sure, there is no denying their amazing presence. Cryptoriana – Seductress Of DeDecay is available September, 22nd so if you are a fan or not this is just in time for the ghoulish and the full moon howlers. Your not going to regret picking up this album.