The Return of the Filth

Bring on the filth.

English metal band Cradle of Filth returns with their eighth album Godspeed on the Devil’s Thunder. The extreme metal band is perhaps best known for the distinct scream of lead singer Dani Filth.

Aside from towing the line between black metal, death metal and extreme metal, they also have many symphonic elements to their sound.

Although there is nearly constant screaming and grinding, hellish-sounding guitars, they also make good use of keyboards and female background vocals. This is the band’s first studio release since Thornography from 2006.

“The Death of Love” is a fine example of how the band’s music has progressed. This piece begins with great guitar riffs and melodic but ominous keyboards.

Filth’s vocals are somewhat lower than normal as he rips through the first verse. Backing vocalist Sarah Jezebel Deva provides vocals for the next verse as the two trade off on this duet. Filth’s voice soars like a bat out of hell on certain parts of the song. Deva’s soft, melodic voice is the perfect contrast to Filth’s brutal roar.

In contrast to “The Death of Love,” “Tragic Kingdom “is probably the heaviest track on the album. Filth’s insanely high-pitched voice spills out all over the place. The driving guitar and thundering double-bass pedal drumming make it extremely powerful. This song is sure to please fans of the Filth.

If you’re not a fan of screaming metal, or screaming in general, or metal in general, you will hate Godspeed on the Devil’s Thunder. On the contrary, this album should please many Cradle of Filth fans.

The guitar work is great, and the band manages to do a good job contrasting sounds that are intense and melodic. While it’s far from an ethereal experience, Godspeed on the Devil’s Thunder should be fun for most metal fans.