ALBUM REVIEW: The Screaming Of The Valkyries – Cradle Of Filth
At this stage CRADLE OF FILTH require little introduction. The illustrious Dani Filth and company have been engraved in metal folklore for multiple decades with their more recent material being regarded as some of their finest works to date. Their 14th studio full length, The Screaming Of The Valkyries, is nearing its arrival on March 21st via Napalm Records and it confirms that the fire is still very much blazing.
To Live Deliciously quickly builds momentum with potent drum beats and energetic shredding. Addictive grooves and alluring melodies form an infernal partnership. Demagoguery harbours an enticing prose, equipped with hefty riffing sequences and a sinister lyrical delivery. Symphonic accompaniments add an epic theatricality to proceedings. The Trinity Of Shadows ups the ante with intense, swift instrumentation. The dramatic galloping strides combined with meticulously layered lead segments create a distinct catchiness.
Non Omnis Moriar offers up doom-laden tones meshed with snappy tempo shifts to keep you on your toes. The vocal talents of Zoe Marie Federoff provide an intriguing contrast to the signature snarl of Filth. White Hellebore delves into a darker level of aggression with additional impressive vocal performances from the aforementioned duo. Surges of feverish, blackened adrenaline copiously gush from all angles. You Are My Nautilus mixes seductive theatrics with infectious thrash sensibilities. Emphatic solo runs and captivating narratives grip your focus.
Malignant Perfection is as haunting as it is invigorating. Inviting melodies draw you closer but beware, a vicious bite looms behind its appealing exterior. Ex Sanguine Draculae opts for devilish levels of heaviness, intertwining blast beats, howling screams and monstrous hooks to devastating effect. When Misery Was A Stranger rounds this release off in formidable fashion, possessing an absolute earworm of a chorus betwixt the fiery chaos.
The Screaming Of The Valkyries is simply stunning. From the captivating lyricism to the theatrical ebbs and flows of instrumentation, CRADLE OF FILTH have constructed an exhilarating blend of crushing ferocity and emphatic heavy metal hallmarks that is undeniably impressive. To see a band of their tenure releasing an album of such high calibre rather than opting to rest on past accomplishments reaffirms exactly why they are one of the most revered extreme metal bands on the planet.
Rating: 9/10
The Screaming Of The Valkyries is set for release on March 21st via Napalm Records
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