Cradle Of Filth - Hammer Of The Witches (Album Review)
Friday, 10 July 2015
Written by Alec Chillingworth
So much shines brightly in the twinkling flashbacks to yesteryear: Turkey Twizzlers, The Simpsons and realistic, manageable student debt all linger in that rose-tinted realm. Some basement-dwelling keyboard warriors believe Cradle of Filth belong there, too. But they are wrong.
Cradle's 11th full-length, 'Hammer Of The Witches', is a dropkick to the sternum. Paul Allender is out, while Ashok and Richard Shaw are now fully fledged Filthlings. With them, they’re lugging a truckload of twin harmonies.
Opening gambit Yours Immortally begins with a thrashing assault typical of modern day Cradle. The monster rolls over 25 seconds in as guitars swoop and line the edges with a dual-edged melody that In Flames would be grumpy upon hearing.
And it doesn't stop there. No, sir. 'Hammer Of The Witches' powers along Memory Motorway while simultaneously hitch-hiking with the burly trucker of the present, offering the beast of both worlds. Aside from the return of twin harmonies, Right Wing Of The Garden Triptych is bolstered by a chugging mid-section harking back to Queen Of Winter, Throned (also referencing the song further in) and Enshrined In Crematoria begins with a hulking intro that sounds as though the band are re-recording The Black Goddess Rises for the millionth time.
The stench of nostalgia is pure but never overpowering. Reference points are obvious but not boring, with flourishes from recent works thrown in for good measure. Martin Škaroupka's militaristic drumming keeps time and stays true to the muscular tunes the band have favoured since 'Midian' and Lindsay Schoolcraft fills the Sarah Jezebel Deva-shaped hole the Filth have been bleeding from for some time now.
Doubling up as keyboard twiddler, Schoolcraft contrasts beautifully with Dani Filth's bollock-squeezing highs and provides sorrowful melodies akin to A Gothic Romance (Red Roses For The Devil's Whore), with finale Onward Christian Soldiers leaking cheese all over your speakers. It's supremely pompous, but that's just Cradle of Filth.
With all this in mind, Filth still commands. His piercing screams have always been a bit Marmite, but there's a lot of mid-range and low grunting here, meaning that the elaborate tales regarding ye olde witch hunts can actually be interpreted. It's a varied performance from the would-be Icon Of Suffolk, providing fodder for fans and a fair chunk of bait for curious bystanders too.
Put simply, this album is a ripper. The new line up has rejuvenated the core of Cradle's sound and, as a result, etched the strongest, most vitally brilliant chapter in their history since 'Midian' arrived. Fans old and new can rejoice in the knowledge that Cradle have learned their lesson, combined the old with the new and will continue to fly the flag for extreme metal. And hopefully they'll never do another Heaven 17 cover.
Cradle Of Filth Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows
Fri October 16 2015 - NOTTINGHAM Rock City
Sat October 17 2015 - BRISTOL Motion
Sun October 18 2015 - NORWICH Waterfront
Tue October 20 2015 - WOLVERHAMPTON Wulfrun Hall
Wed October 21 2015 - GLASGOW Glasgow Garage
Thu October 22 2015 - MANCHESTER Manchester Academy 2
Fri October 23 2015 - LONDON KOKO
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