Darkness descended upon The Billboards Venue, Melbourne.
After a visa debacle which resulted in being denied entry to the U.S. and China, Cradle of Filth added their first Australian tour dates in 4 years and HELL was it worth the wait!
Those of the Cradle were riding high on the aggression and angst gathered from their denied visas, and were out to prove something this night. The pit exploded into a violent ocean of black clad bodies at the opening rendition of Tragic Kingdom.
Limbs were flailing. People were lost in the flood. Sweat was flung around like monkeys feces at the zoo. Darkness was truly here.
“Satanic. Enigmatic. His black magic was ecstatic”. If one song could define what Cradle of Filth were setting out to achieve at Billboards this night, Tragic Kingdom had it in spades.
Dani was highly vocally impressive. The small powerhouse of an English gentleman looked entirely relaxed, yet ready to summon underworld minions with his demonic voice as he stood in front of the sold out Melbourne crowd, bathing in the darkened light that showered down on him from the rafters. That high pitched squawk he produces is definitely not from this realm. To be honest I was shocked to hear Dani reproduce this live. Let the naysayers nay. Dani was fucking awesome, as was the entire band.
Watch “For Your Vulgar Delectation (LYRIC VIDEO)”
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Cradle powered through a storm of a set, each sound and song melting into the next as if to weave a tale around the audience. For Your Vulgar Delectation flowed like the rivers of hell into A Dream of Wolves in the Snow. New song Lilith Immaculate gave demonic birth to crowd favorite Nymphetamine (Fix). Nymphetamine was crowd participation central, with each and every head banging, every mouth reciprocating what Cradle were pushing out. Everywhere you looked, an endless sea of people rolled in heaves and waves, that haunting female vocal drifting over us like a spirit seeking vengeance.
Watch “Lilith Immaculate”
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The set finished in style with The Forest Whispers My Name. The Pantene fresh hair of guitarist James Mcllroy constantly turning and churning like the windmills of Holland to the grinding riffs and guttural exploits of Dani’s vocal chords. That wasn’t enough – nowhere near enough for this hungry crowd. Cradle of Filth couldn’t give us any more…. Could they??
Watch “Nymphetamine (Fix)”
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“CRADLE, CRADLE, CRADLE” chanted the hypnotized crowd as the stage blackened. What followed was a Cradle of Filthy treats.
Cruelty Brought Thee Roses
Her Ghost in the Fog
From the Cradle to Enslave
Could Cradle have chosen three better songs to leave Melbourne with? Whilst that’s debatable and subjective, I was left in shock. Cradle of Filth were really on their game this night and the crowd ate every minute of every blast beat, every vocal sent from hell, every chugging riff and sweetly dark melody.
Watch “Her Ghost in the Fog”
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