Tag Archives: gothic black metal

Reviews

(review) Cradle Of Filth – ‘Trouble and Their Double Livcs’ (Napalm Records)

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Cradle Of Filth have been one of my favorite bands since I listened to their ‘Dusk And Her Embrace’ and ‘Cruelty And The Beast’ many moons ago. They grew old like fine wine, delivering albums filled with their melodic vision of dark gothic black metal with lots of symphonic and dramatic pathos to the songs and recognizable voice by charismatic frontman and only original member Dani Filth.

This time, Cradle released live album, first one after twenty years combining all the classics with fan favorites and blinding good setlist but also containing two new studio songs, being ‘Demon Prince Regent’ being fast and dramatic yet also melodic song, like we are used to from Cradle on last two albums. ‘She is a Fire’, second new song, was chosen as single announcing the album and has such contagious melody that made me listen to over and over again with all the gothic darkened vampiric drama that only this band can provide. Definitely, my favorite of the two. New keyboardist/backing female singer fit into band perfectly and I think that this current line-up is possibly one of the strongest line-ups of this band ever, especially drummer Marthus who is one of the best drummers in extreme metal in my humble opinion. Considering live songs, hits like ‘Born In A Burial Gown’, ‘Nymphetamine’ older ‘Haunted Shores’ and part of ‘Cruelty And The Beast’ set is sure to win you over if you are a fan. Sound is perfect and this one captures the eternal greatness of this legendary band.

8,5/10

Reviews, Various

(review) Agathodaimon – The Seven (Napalm Records)

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I remember Agathodaimon well from second half of the nineties when they released their great albums Blacken The Angel and Higher Art Of Rebellion, both being a masterpiece of gothic influenced vampiric black metal with long songs, perfect mixture of black screaming and clean vocals and great melodies bringing something progressive and fresh into the scene. They released six albums and disappeared and now they are back with new opus and new line-up, but the constant backbone is guitarist/vocalist Sathonys. New opus contains 10 songs of beautiful melodic atmospheric black metal with great songwriting, fantastic melodies but the one thing that really stands out for me is interplay between Ashtrael´s shrieking voice and Sathonys´ clean and gothic voice thus delivering the skinprickling atmosphere of almost touchable darkness. The songs are not so long as in the first albums, but they tell the story of persistence, emotions, darkness, a bit romantic gothic vampirism and longing, eros and thanatos. My personal favorites are Mother Of All Gods which features ex member Vlad Dracul, also Ain´t Death Grand and both In My Dreams conceptual songs. Welcome back Agathodaimon, with a strong return album.

8,5/10