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Cradle Of Filth have used the services of The Budapest Film Choir Orchestra & Choir on this album. That alone is a fact born to arouse bitter laughter and ridiculing among some the more "pure" metal maniacs. But I personally can do nothing but listen to this album in sheer amazement. It's so excellent. I shit you not. Of course this album is so full of everything that it's about to burst. But that's the name of the game with COF. You've got about everything in there, from 80's sounding guitar riffs to fateful classical choirs, from blastbeat drumming to swaying feeble violins and hellish horns. And I absolutely love every second. Dani Filth growls, whispers, creaks, wails and leads the madness into a turmoil of absurdity. This is a trip to the Apocalypse. The album is mighty and majestetic and megalomanic, insane, entertaining, visual, artistic, highly stylish. I'm left wondering where all that creativity comes from. The band can and must be seen as a part of the British goth tradition and visual art school ideas that have been the backbone of British popular music. This is 1970's David Bowie transformed into the 2000's. Seen from that point of view the sell-out opinions become sort of meaningless. COF is entertainment with an excellent artistic vision, and as such it is made to sell well. Selling well is no sin in my eyes. The vision is total, it's all over this package. The cover booklet and all the artwork is probably the best I've ever seen. I seriously thought Midian was a point of COF's chosen path from which it would be impossible to continue further. But I was wrong. Damnation And A Day goes through all boundaries, and after hearing this, I won't doubt the band anymore. The next album might well be still something much more. Too bad I'll be running out of reviewer's stars then.
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Neon Nights / May 2003 |
