Jon Lees's Album Reviews
In a lot of ways, Hammer of the Witches is a special album for me.
Not only did it mark the end of a time where I had drifted away from music, Cradle included, but it also made me realise why this was something I'll never do again.
Listening to the tracks within was like a panacea for some poison that had wracked my soul; releasing me from some fetid bondage with beautiful gothic melodies and dark harmony.
Here, Cradle of Filth take us back to what makes them great, and they do so with renewed vigour and creativity.
Something about HOTW exudes an energy that can be attributed the phoenix; there is a creative fire that burns away at whatever may have held Cradle back, leaving us with stunning tracks like Blackest Magick in Practice.
Each track has a strong and unique signature, alternating between both beauty and brutality, with the musical flow we have come to expect from the band.
Dani's vocals hit a good mix of his primordial screams and retching, with the guitar-work clear and purposeful. There are some wonderful technical elements also, without trying to dominate the tracks, whilst the drums beckon us on. Everything fits where it should.
The vinyl also some of the best artwork I have seen for a while, by Latvian artist Arthur Berzinsh, and it's quality really does represent the music here; I would be really hard-pushed to rank each track.
Even the bonus offering 'Misericord' has seen a lot of replays by me, and moreso than some previous titles.
Overall then, the musical tone and balance is top notch, and gives fans something truly enjoyable in my opinion. If you were longing for something that reflected their earlier work, Hammer of the Witches will not disappoint.
Not only did it mark the end of a time where I had drifted away from music, Cradle included, but it also made me realise why this was something I'll never do again.
Listening to the tracks within was like a panacea for some poison that had wracked my soul; releasing me from some fetid bondage with beautiful gothic melodies and dark harmony.
Here, Cradle of Filth take us back to what makes them great, and they do so with renewed vigour and creativity.
Something about HOTW exudes an energy that can be attributed the phoenix; there is a creative fire that burns away at whatever may have held Cradle back, leaving us with stunning tracks like Blackest Magick in Practice.
Each track has a strong and unique signature, alternating between both beauty and brutality, with the musical flow we have come to expect from the band.
Dani's vocals hit a good mix of his primordial screams and retching, with the guitar-work clear and purposeful. There are some wonderful technical elements also, without trying to dominate the tracks, whilst the drums beckon us on. Everything fits where it should.
The vinyl also some of the best artwork I have seen for a while, by Latvian artist Arthur Berzinsh, and it's quality really does represent the music here; I would be really hard-pushed to rank each track.
Even the bonus offering 'Misericord' has seen a lot of replays by me, and moreso than some previous titles.
Overall then, the musical tone and balance is top notch, and gives fans something truly enjoyable in my opinion. If you were longing for something that reflected their earlier work, Hammer of the Witches will not disappoint.
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With my vinyl addiction in full swing, I had previously placed an order something new; something different. As much as I want to complete Cradle of Filth collection, I wanted the next addition to be a little more niche (but still CoF).
As I flicked through the pages of results on Discogs, I saw one album I hadn’t really paid much attention to – Total Fucking Darkness. I guess you could say I was totally fucking stupid.
As often good things go, often some kind of effort is required to realise them, and sure enough this was the case here. For some unknown reason, the local courier could not decipher the delivery address (printed clearly and in full), and so took it a tiny office in the middle of their loading yard some distance away.
I have a pickup office literally over the road.
But, with that aside, what did I receive upon opening the packaging?
I remember seeing this artwork on Spotify for the first time, and it didn’t really resonate with me. It didn’t look typically Cradle, and I think subconsciously I dismissed it. This was a mistake though.
Total Fucking Darkness is actually the third demo from Cradle, but re-mastered in 2014. It was this ‘piece of history’ sense that I found appealing, and what ultimately drove me towards the purchase.
Is that to say I dislike these tracks? Hell no; this is the beginning of my favourite band on the planet, and therein lies the dark beauty of it all.
I did have to truly listen to them to appreciate their significance, but soon enough it comes through. The tracks on this vinyl present us with the vision Dani had, beginning to suckle upon the lifeforce of all who would dare listen, and foreshadowing all that was yet to be.
Being able to isolate and notice the elementary attributes of CoF and their muisc style is really possible, and it’s this realisation which is most meaningful. The contrasts between Gothic orchestral sombrance, to the early spawn-screams like no other can replicate; all of this marks the birth of the legendary band.
Despite all the tracks having their place, what will forever stand out to me is The Black Goddess Rises. It is raw and yet sublime, perfect in a way that should not be.
I guess you could say it is uncannily apt, for it is as if this very vinyl is a small piece of that obsidian female specter. We are presented with a recounting of how she began, rising through whatever void spawned her, and rendered so timelessly before us all those years ago – now re-mastered for better or worse…
As I flicked through the pages of results on Discogs, I saw one album I hadn’t really paid much attention to – Total Fucking Darkness. I guess you could say I was totally fucking stupid.
As often good things go, often some kind of effort is required to realise them, and sure enough this was the case here. For some unknown reason, the local courier could not decipher the delivery address (printed clearly and in full), and so took it a tiny office in the middle of their loading yard some distance away.
I have a pickup office literally over the road.
But, with that aside, what did I receive upon opening the packaging?
I remember seeing this artwork on Spotify for the first time, and it didn’t really resonate with me. It didn’t look typically Cradle, and I think subconsciously I dismissed it. This was a mistake though.
Total Fucking Darkness is actually the third demo from Cradle, but re-mastered in 2014. It was this ‘piece of history’ sense that I found appealing, and what ultimately drove me towards the purchase.
Is that to say I dislike these tracks? Hell no; this is the beginning of my favourite band on the planet, and therein lies the dark beauty of it all.
I did have to truly listen to them to appreciate their significance, but soon enough it comes through. The tracks on this vinyl present us with the vision Dani had, beginning to suckle upon the lifeforce of all who would dare listen, and foreshadowing all that was yet to be.
Being able to isolate and notice the elementary attributes of CoF and their muisc style is really possible, and it’s this realisation which is most meaningful. The contrasts between Gothic orchestral sombrance, to the early spawn-screams like no other can replicate; all of this marks the birth of the legendary band.
Despite all the tracks having their place, what will forever stand out to me is The Black Goddess Rises. It is raw and yet sublime, perfect in a way that should not be.
I guess you could say it is uncannily apt, for it is as if this very vinyl is a small piece of that obsidian female specter. We are presented with a recounting of how she began, rising through whatever void spawned her, and rendered so timelessly before us all those years ago – now re-mastered for better or worse…
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