Cradle Of Filth - "Midian"
Guest Reviewer: Lord Konrad Chaos
Band: Cradle Of Filth
CD Title: Midian
Year: 2000
Website: cradleoffilth.com
MySpace: myspace.com/cradleoffilth
Label: Music For Nations
Featured on: Loucifer Speaks Guest Reviewer Exclusive
Rating: 8.5 / 10
More Links: Please discuss this review and band in the Loucifer Speaks forum.
This album has always been regarded as one of Cradle's best. It certinaly produced one of their most well known songs. Like most of Cradle's work around these few years, it relies on Dani's vocal work more than the music. Although, that isn't to say that the music isn't any good, few, if any, will forget the riff for Death Magic For Adepts, and everyone will know the piano intro for Her Ghost In The Fog. The album is based on the novel Cabal, by Clive Barker, and has more than one obvious reference to the fantastic works of H. P. Lovecraft (nodding towards the subtle Cthulhu Dawn).
The album is more guitar orientated than earlier works, but there is a distinct lack of solos, which aren't what Cradle do. Some orchestral work on some of the songs, and the sinister chanting of Satanic Mantra, definatley give the album a twisted, macambre feel to it. But, the main thing about this band the people praise, and criticise in equal measure, is Dani Filth.
In Midian, his vocals are much faster than later albums, and slower, and more audiable than earlier ones. It's a nice balance. Although, the lyric book is a muct to be able to 'sing/screech' along to. Dani's growls in this album are nice and gritty, yet remaining distinct from most other black metal bands. Some use of, what he calls, 'Snakebite' technique, where it sounds like two voices at once, even live, makes a strange change at times. It doesn't lack a gothic feel to it at all, which some more recent bands are, even Cradle's newer albums are losing this touch to a degree. The lyrics in the album, although based on the novel said above, seem to lack coherency, there is very little to link songs together.
Overall, the album could be considered their best, it could be said it is the last of Cradle's good, black metal albums before becoming commercial. I disagree, while it is a damn fine album, which I'll never stop listening to for a long time, I know that the band can, and will produce greater works.
Recommended Songs to Download:
Her Ghost In The Fog
Death Magic For Adepts
Cthulhu Dawn
Band: Cradle Of Filth
CD Title: Midian
Year: 2000
Website: cradleoffilth.com
MySpace: myspace.com/cradleoffilth
Label: Music For Nations
Featured on: Loucifer Speaks Guest Reviewer Exclusive
Rating: 8.5 / 10
More Links: Please discuss this review and band in the Loucifer Speaks forum.
This album has always been regarded as one of Cradle's best. It certinaly produced one of their most well known songs. Like most of Cradle's work around these few years, it relies on Dani's vocal work more than the music. Although, that isn't to say that the music isn't any good, few, if any, will forget the riff for Death Magic For Adepts, and everyone will know the piano intro for Her Ghost In The Fog. The album is based on the novel Cabal, by Clive Barker, and has more than one obvious reference to the fantastic works of H. P. Lovecraft (nodding towards the subtle Cthulhu Dawn).
The album is more guitar orientated than earlier works, but there is a distinct lack of solos, which aren't what Cradle do. Some orchestral work on some of the songs, and the sinister chanting of Satanic Mantra, definatley give the album a twisted, macambre feel to it. But, the main thing about this band the people praise, and criticise in equal measure, is Dani Filth.
In Midian, his vocals are much faster than later albums, and slower, and more audiable than earlier ones. It's a nice balance. Although, the lyric book is a muct to be able to 'sing/screech' along to. Dani's growls in this album are nice and gritty, yet remaining distinct from most other black metal bands. Some use of, what he calls, 'Snakebite' technique, where it sounds like two voices at once, even live, makes a strange change at times. It doesn't lack a gothic feel to it at all, which some more recent bands are, even Cradle's newer albums are losing this touch to a degree. The lyrics in the album, although based on the novel said above, seem to lack coherency, there is very little to link songs together.
Overall, the album could be considered their best, it could be said it is the last of Cradle's good, black metal albums before becoming commercial. I disagree, while it is a damn fine album, which I'll never stop listening to for a long time, I know that the band can, and will produce greater works.
Recommended Songs to Download:
Her Ghost In The Fog
Death Magic For Adepts
Cthulhu Dawn
Track List
01 At The Gates Of Midian
02 Cthulhu Dawn
03 Saffron's Curse
04 Death Magic For Adepts
05 Lord Abortion
06 Armor E Morte
07 Creatures That Kissed In Cold Mirrors
08 Her Ghost In The Fog
09 Satanic Mantra
10 Tearing The Veil From Grace
11 Tortured Soul Asylum