The previous Cradle Of Filth album ‘Thornography’ showed a band cautiously experimenting and exploring new paths: a healthy and proper principle of every developing musician/band. The law of action and reaction predicts that one might expect something completely different now. In the brain of master lyricist Dani Filth the creation of a new concept album was growing at that time. Ten years after the captivating story of the Hungarian countess Elizabeth Bathory - the main theme on ‘Cruelty And The Beast’ - the most popular English black metal band has chosen the wealthy French nobleman Gilles de Rais as horrible subject to regale ‘Godspeed On The Devil’s Thunder’ with a lugubrious theme. This man was accused of dark occupations like alchemy, demonology, kidnapping, heresy and was mainly known as a serial killer who committed his crimes while praying obsessively to God. In brief: a blackened soul inspiring enough to create a new portion of supreme horror metal.
Musically Cradle Of Filth sounds a lot heavier again on this new album. In addition it is an advantage that Dani maintains his diversity in vocals, ending up in more expressive and dark areas, a fine contrast with his screams. Cradle Of Filth is top notch and can go all the way in a concept album, that’s common knowledge, isn’t it? Well, they surely do. After a symphonic intro with dark spoken voice they cut loose in a snappish manner in ‘Shat Out Of Hell’. Symphonic arrangements increase the grandeur of this masterpiece. ‘The Death Of Love’ is the only song with female vocals, but there are heavy riffs, overwhelming choirs and various vocals of Dani as well. Another feature, looming up mostly at the beginning of every track is the introducing narration: with a kind of pompousness he tells us the story of de Rais’ depraved life. This is dramatic; this is highfaluting, gothic and brimming with decadence. After a short moment of rest in ‘Tiffauges’; they swallow the bait again in ‘Tragic Kingdom’. This can be listened to at their MySpace and it appears to be one of the fastest songs. Cradle Of Filth is their hectic, overwhelming themselves again, a breath-taking experience. It is once again illustrated by ‘Sweetest Maleficia’ and in ‘Honey And Sulphure’ in which we hear some superb choirs. Next are two longer tracks in which lots of things happen. ‘Midnight Shadows Crawl To Darken Counsel With Life’ is typically Cradle, but we are surprised with a calmer part with dark whispering voice. ‘Darkness Incarnate’ is cinematic, lots of background sounds and multi-layered. This grandly stuffed production - Andy Sneap led them far from the raging crowds and is responsible for this superior production - includes a mid-paced song in ‘Ten Leagues Beneath Contempt’. The sinner becomes desperate and melodic guitar leads in this track are absolutely imposing. My favourite song! Of course Cradle Of Filth fans will not have a message on this remark, since they will like to loose themselves in the hyper-kinetic vortex of the fast and furious title track. We are coming close to the end of the story, which occludes with an epilogue in ‘Corpseflower’. My conclusion?
My favourite Cradle albums are ‘Dusk And Her Embrace’, ‘Cruelty And The Beast’ and ‘Midian’ and I add ‘Godspeed On The Devil’s Thunder’ to that list. Says enough, don’t you think?
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