British Extreme Metal band Cradle of Filth are back on their feet once again with the twelfth full-length album titled Cryptoriana — The Seductiveness Of Decay and is released on September 22nd, 2017 through Nuclear Blast Records. Prior to the astonishing 2015’s Hammer Of The Witches, Cradle Of Filth’s discography over the years went from traditional Black Metal, to more Gothic, Symphonic and Extreme boundaries and this time, their continuations for a revamped line-up is extremely enjoyable upon listening to this album. I’ve always particularly enjoyed Cradle Of Filth’s catalog with 2004’s Nymphetamine became one of my all time favorite albums by this British outfit and question is, did they outbeat Hammer Of The Witches or is this another failed attempt? And to be honest, I truly believe Cradle Of Filth’s newest album took a massive improvement both musically and lyrically to produce incredible institutions that are cooperated fluently. Tracks anywhere from Death And The Maiden, Achingly Beautiful, The Seductiveness Of Decay, Vengeful Spirit which also features former Theatre Of Tragedy/ Leaves’ Eyes singer Liv Kristine and my personal favorite being the heaviest song off on the whole album called You Will Know The Lion By His Claw are all contained with passionate, inspired, motivating and increasingly symphonic, concept-oriented which periodically refreshed the whole group from Cradle Of Filth as this album naturally progresses into a identifying, technical precision seems to be a well thought out experience.
Aside from the last album Hammer Of The Witches, Cryptoriana — The Seductiveness Of Decay remained the extremist elements from Dani Filth’s shrieked, backbone,accessible and memorable vocal deliveries we all know and love has never sounded this impressive on a Cradle album since 2000’s Midian. Then onto the later half of the album we introduce the magnificent Lindsay Schoolcraft who’s contributions alone makes the album very well utilized, harmonized and beautifully written passages from the Gothic/ orchestrated piano and keyboard segmentation balances her vocals with Dani’s is a fresh intake to the album’s content. Perhaps the contributors to Cradle’s answers is the tasteful balance between aggression and engaging melodies, Black metal tremolos, thrashy palm-muting, and touches of gothic atmospheric passages lead into a mythological, almost a epic possibility to realize what the band wanted in a sense of their own essential craft. This is another presented and well achieved album from these British musicians and has complimented such greatness within their 26 year span as a artist.
Overall Score: 9.0/10
Review by Jake Butler
