Cradle of Filth

Cradle of Filth – Hammer of the Witches Review

By Grymm on July 9, 2015 in 2015, Black Metal, English Metal, Gothic Metal, Nuclear Blast, Reviews, 48 comments

“British goth-metal mainstays Cradle of Filth have had a bumpy ride since the new millennium came about. I’ll admit to checking out after 2000’s Midian, and from what I’ve seen, between members jumping ship en masse, half-inspired songwriting, and bad dance covers, I didn’t really miss much. Sure, I’ll check out the occasional song here and there, but for the most part, Cradle of Filth seemed to lack the ferocity that made the period between 1996’s Vempire EP through Midian such incredible albums.” Is there any real filth left in the olde nursery these days?

Damnation Angels – The Valiant Fire Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on June 19, 2015 in 2015, English Metal, Massacre Records, Power Metal, Reviews, Symphonic Metal, Power Metal, Symphonic Metal, 22 comments

“Do a quick Google (or should I say YouTube) search of vocalist PelleK. If you are not familiar with this name, you will discover that he loves selfies, modeled shots, filming himself singing other people’s shit, and acting in Norwegian TV shows. Though his solo work in Pellek is enough to make me wanna set myself on fire (which includes sixteen cover albums of EVERYTHING from Pokemon and Power Rangers themes to ’90s sitcom themes), his four-octave range is simply incredible. So, were Damnation Angels damnable fools for snatching him up for 2013’s Bringer of Light and 2015’s The Valiant Fire?” You know you want to hear those Pokémon themes.

Sterbhaus – New Level of Malevolence Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on June 9, 2015 in 2015, Black Lodge Records, Black Metal, Death Metal, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Thrash Metal, Black Metal, Death Metal, Thrash Metal, 6 comments

“Sterbhaus’ style crosses borders between thrash, death, black, fun and simply retarded.” They have a song called ” Frogboiler” so what else needs to be said?

The Order of Apollyon – The Sword and the Dagger Review

By Grymm on March 28, 2015 in 2015, Black Metal, Death Metal, French Metal, Listenable Records, Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, 29 comments

“Hey, remember what I said about supergroups last year? In 2008, there was another conglomeration of established musicians based out of France called The Order of Apollyon, and it consisted of B.S.T. (Aosoth), James McIlroy (ex-Cradle of Filth, Chaosanct), Peter Benjamin (ex-Akercocke, Voices) and Dan Wilding (Carcass, Trigger the Bloodshed). Such a who’s who of death and black metal would create a whirlwind of head-twirling mayhem, right?” Super groups…when will they learn?

Syn Ze Şase Tri – Stăpîn Peste Stăpîni Review

By Angry Metal Guy on February 27, 2015 in 2015, Black Metal, Code666 Records, Folk Metal, Reviews, Symphonic Metal, Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal, 6 comments

“Syn Ze Şase Tri is a Romanian band hailing from from—no joke—Transylvania, and whose material I had the pure luck to discover by my naïve dedication to trying to review everything that ever landed in my mailbox back in the early days. The band’s first record, Între două lumi, was the victim of brutal mastering job which rendered the mp3s I received in the promotional material unlistenable. ” Will these Carpathian creepers have the aural bite to win AMG’s love this time around?

Things You Might Have Missed 2014: White Empress – Rise of the Empress

By Angry Metal Guy on January 17, 2015 in 2014, Black Metal, Death Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Peaceville, Reviews, Things You Might Have Missed 2014, 19 comments

Twenty-fourteen was a busy one for me, but that’s no excuse for me not covering White Empress’s début record Rise of the Empress which came out in September from Peaceville Records. It’s hard to know whether or not to call White Empress a super group, per se, but the heart of the band is Paul Allen and Will Graney—previously of Cradle of Filth. From the Empress’ mouth herself, Allen and Graney put together some demo tracks and started working with Mary Zimmer, formerly vocalist for Luna Mortis. This developed slowly, spawning a Bandcamp site and some pretty wicked imagery The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe imagery before the band finally got picked up by Peaceville. Next thing you know and Rise of the Empress was released and I completely biffed on it. Regardless of my schedule or whether or not White Empress qualifies as a “supergroup,” Rise of the Empress is a strong showing that shouldn’t be overlooked.

Cradle of Filth – Total Fucking Darkness Review

By Grymm on May 6, 2014 in 2014, Black Metal, English Metal, Mordgrimm, Reviews, Symphonic Metal, Black Metal, Symphonic Metal, 2 comments

“Suffolk extreme metallers (and eternal underground whipping martyrs) Cradle of Filth, have given Mordgrimm the official go-ahead to release their infamous third demo, Total Fucking Darkness, to the masses over 20 years after its initial release, remastered with more tracks.” Grymm gets pulled underground into Total Fucking Darkness, will he make it out unscarred?

Retro-spective Review: Emperor – In The Nightside Eclipse

By Grymm on March 1, 2014 in Black Metal, Norwegian Metal, Retro Reviews, Black Metal, 6 comments

“Has it really been 20 years? Goddamn, I feel old. In 1994 PG (Pre-Grymm), I was a high-school sophomore with an in-between mullet/long-hair, burnt out on mainstream metal (“90s Metal Weirdness,” anyone?), and I was looking for darker, heavier, faster affairs. With some recommendations from friends as well as some trusty advice from the long-dormant-and-majorly-missed Metal Maniacs magazine, I would be introduced to a slew of new (to me) bands, including one by a bunch of teenagers from Norway who would be creating, and later changing, the blackest of all musical landscapes to come…” Grymm gets in the Wayback Machine for a wistful look at one of the defining moments in Black Metal History. He’s a wistful guy, that Grymm.

Astrophobos – Remnants of Forgotten Horrors Review

By Madam X on January 19, 2014 in 2014, Black Metal, Releases, Reviews, Swedish Metal, Triumvirate Records, Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal, 5 comments

“Following on from their 2010 self-released EP, Arcane Secrets, Swedish band Astrophobos have arrived at the funeral dressed in all all their Triumvirate Records finery, in a manner that I can only describe as just a smidgen outside of fashionably late. Yup, the eulogy’s in the process of wrapping up – can you say awkward silence?” Awkward silence at a funeral? That sounds weird.

Illnath – 4 Shades of Me Review

By Madam X on March 9, 2013 in 2013, 3.0, Black Metal, Danish Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Pitch Black Records, Releases, Reviews, 2 comments

“Prior to 4 Shades of Me, their fourth full-length, Danish metallers Illnath had similarities to bands like Taiwanese Chthonic, South Korean Dark Mirror ov Tragedy, and the the non-Asian Cradle of Filth and Dimmu Borgir. The evolution that is 4 Shades of Me led them to drop the keyboard and symphonic sparkle, instead giving up their inner Illnath and adopting a virtually unrecognizable aggressive approach resembling the melodic blackened side of Dark Funeral. While I was intrigued to spin this album and waited for it with some anticipation I also had a seed of trepidation lurking in the pit of my stomach that 4 Shades of Me would have the same meh, lack of power and spark as Third Act in the Theatre of Madness.” I’m not sure what surprises me more, that Madam X actually has heard of the band Illnath, or that she actually knows their discog inside out? Looks like she’s the person to tell you whether or not you should be check out their new record Four Shades of Me.