The music press is a fickle beast. It is often accused of building bands up then knocking them down. This often happens when they start off being fairly extreme and gradually become more and more commercial. To be fair it’s not just the press but the fans too and that is very much what I started out being when Cradle Of Filth released the brand new hope for UKBM ‘The Principle Of Evil Made Flesh’ back in 1994. From there it all started to go a bit downhill; although the following few albums kept us irreligiously attending the concerts and hoping for a return to their old style. ‘Damnation And A Day’ was the nail in the coffin for me, an awful album although I did pick up the following couple (very much on the cheap) and found them a slight improvement. The last couple of albums had passed me by completely though so when this turned up I took one look at the gorgeously presented packaging, artwork and design (something the group have always been fantastically accomplished at) and decided to see and hear what I had been missing.
First up we have a 45 minute mini album which starts with camp horror intro courtesy of Doug Bradley who has worked with the group for a fair few years. Once the “very very disturbing music” starts it’s a piercing shriek and thundering drums that take us into the formulaic ‘Thank Your Lucky Stars,’ which is a new track and does little to reinvigorate my passion. Most of the other tracks are alternative versions from last album Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa and seriously make me wonder if I have been missing something by not picking it up. The guitar riff and of ‘Forgive Me Father (I Have Sinned)’ is really good and this song really gets its hooks in. Likewise I was quickly enamoured by ‘Lilith Immaculate’ I knew the song straight away and had heard it elsewhere, possibly live. Obviously it had sunk in on just the one listen and it’s a strong number and I would imagine a firm (newer) fan favourite. I do really like anything horror related and the essence and atmosphere is still very much to be found within the filthy ones output albeit in a grand-guignol, occasionally camp macabre way. The In A Trance version of ‘Forgive Me Father’ is taking things a case too far but it’s just synonymous of the sort of group COF are now and there is always the skip button. As for the end track ‘Summer Dying Fast’ done as an orchestral piece paving the path for a forthcoming album in that style, it’s good, I like it but this seems to be getting a bit silly what with My Dying Bride and Anathema providing similar overtures recently.
The DVD certainly offers value for money to the overall package and contains primarily a live show of the band’s performance at Graspop in 2011 for those of you who like watching shows from the comfort of your armchair without getting filthy. There is also a promo video for the song ‘Lilith Immaculate’ which includes the sort of imagery one would expect; band, breasts and blood basically and it’s probably enough to ruffle the feathers of any parent walking in on it. Of most interest however is the 40 odd minute documentary entitled ‘You can’t polish a turd but you can roll it in glitter.’ This heads off on tour with the group as they take in Ukraine and Russia and home then off to some European festivals. Dani narrates bits of this and the whole band get featured in parts and all have a voice. We discover that they occasionally like to get drunk (shock horror), they play the odd trick on each other, washing your passport is never a good idea, some concert halls in Russia are somewhat lacking in facilities and Ukrainian fans despite having some fantastic home grown acts think of Cradle Of Filth as true black metal! Well I laughed.
So all in all what this amounts to is a lavish package containing about 2 ½ hours worth of material to keep you occupied. I cannot see why any newer fan of the band or anyone still into them through all the years would fail to want to pick this up and it’s under a tenner too.
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Pete Woods
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