Thirty years ago we were introduced to a couple of demo tapes from across the Channel that would make their mark on the burgeoning black metal scene. In the shadow cast by brutal black metal and burning churches in Norway, a pack of young wolves from Sussex took it upon themselves to forge a new sound. Cradle of Filth took the foundations of that Scandinavian sound and used a tapestry of gothic keyboards and NWOBHM-inspired metal riffs to create an architecture of its own. The band’s vampire image only added to their appeal. The lyrical content on Cradle’s concept albums ranges from Vlad Tepes and Countess Elizabeth Bathory to Gilles de Rais and she-devil Lilith. After three decades screamer Dani Filth is the only remaining founding member but they are still a popular act with a legion of faithful fans. Their most recent slab ‘Existence Is Futile’ dropped in 2021 but for obvious reasons they haven’t had the chance to introduce the new album live. #GMM23
