The Screaming of the Valkyries
Cradle of Filth
Cradle of Filth have reached the point where the excess is part of the appeal. The Screaming of the Valkyries has theatrical vocals, fast guitars and enough gothic drama to fill a fairly large building. The difference is that this album often sounds as though the band are enjoying themselves.
To Live Deliciously makes that feeling clear. It moves quickly, with guitar harmonies that owe plenty to classic heavy metal and a vocal performance that gives Dani Filth room to be both threatening and knowingly ridiculous. The song is direct enough to work as an introduction to the band's world.
The guitars are a major strength throughout. Ashok and Donny Burbage give the riffs plenty of movement, and the leads have a clear melodic role. The Trinity of Shadows brings that side forward with an almost power-metal energy. The detail is there, but the songs don't require you to inspect every part before you can enjoy them.
White Hellebore is another highlight, balancing aggression with a memorable sense of atmosphere. Demagoguery gives Dani's delivery a different rhythmic shape, while Non Omnis Moriar opens the sound towards a more sweeping, symphonic approach.
Zoe Marie Federoff's voice adds an important contrast. Her higher, cleaner singing changes the relationship between the vocal parts, especially when the arrangements become more melodic. Some listeners may prefer the band's older balance, but the new colours fit these songs well.
There are limits to how welcoming Cradle can become. The combined force of Dani's voice, the keyboards and the guitars can still be overwhelming, and the more dramatic sections won't win over anyone already tired of the band's theatrical side. That's a fairly specific taste question rather than a failure of execution.
Ex Sanguine Draculae gives the later stretch another strong guitar-led moment. By then, the album has made a convincing case for its approach: familiar ingredients, a few useful changes and songs with real hooks. Cradle of Filth remain an acquired taste, but this is an entertaining and well-played version of it.
