Album Details

• Artist: Cradle Of Filth
• Album: Godspeed On The Devil's Thunder
• Label: Roadrunner
• Year of Release: 2008
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: solitaryman on 2008-10-04

Drawing back to the early days of Black Metal's rise to popularity, up rose a behemoth known as Cradle Of Filth. While taking many cues from their BM inspirations, the band (led by frontman Dani Filth) would evolve from lo-fi muddled messes of gothic black to an orchestrated, themed and well-designed monstrosity of their BM roots, modern metal fixes, NWOBHM-esque guitar melodies and ever-increasing gothic overtones. Along the way they've picked up and lost many a fan, but their sound has never strayed drastically from it's beginnings, always containing three basic elements to enjoy; Dani's variety of vocal acrobatics, some of the best riffs to be found in metal and lyrical themes that leave atmospheres you can quite easily get lost in. On Godspeed On The Devil's Thunder, everything that made them what they are is present, plus a fervent immediacy that has been lacking in their music for years.

Opener and grand theatric mood-setter "Of  Grandeur And Frankincence Devilment Stirs" will be quite familiar to any COF fan who's heard more than a couple of their albums; this sort of opener is obligatory for the band. It sounds somewhat like "Once Upon Atrocity". Opening "song" "Shat Out Of Hell" is a fireball hurled at the listener, bursting forth with a galloping drive I for one thought the band had long since left behind. Dani's voice is still capable of hitting the lowest lows and highest highs, cementing his place as one of the most versatile extreme metal vocalists...ever."The Death of Love' is epic as hell and catchy to boot, quickly standing out as the best track over the album's first half and perhaps the most enjoyable of the bunch. Female guest vocals could be the girl who sung on their "Nymphetamine" track, but I can't confirm this.

Over the rest of the album, you'll get some 8-minute epics not quite on par with their older classics but certainly are worthwhile. The overall theme of the album regards a man named Gilles de Rais, infamous French nobleman who reportedly fought alongside Joan of Arc and, after obtaining vast wealth and fortune turned sadistic and into an apparent serial killer. The myths and legends surrounding the man are well plotted out over the album, as his journey twists from a man of honor and acclaim into a satanic nightmare. COF fans can also rejoice in the return of Hellraiser actor (he played the equally infamous Pinhead) Doug Bradley in the narrator's role, his eloquent and dark speaking voice lending even more credibility to the themes. On the whole, Godspeed On The Devil's Thunder is the best Cradle of Filth release since Midian. Inspired, passionate, equally catchy as it is devastating, an album worthy of the COF name and one that this fan has been waiting to hear for years. A strong canditate for my Album of the Year honors. 

User Reviews and Comments

Review:

on 2009-08-10 xTheSlasherx Said:

I have no hesitation is saying that Godspeed on the Devil's Thunder is one of the greatest musical compilations in the history of Symphonic Metal. Cradle of Filth really brings you back to the day's of Midian and Cruelty & The Beast. This is justified not only by the sound but the fact that it's not an album, it's a story..or an Audio-Biography as I like to say. Godspeen on the Devil's Thunder chronologically follows the life and crimes of Gilles De Rais from the beginning of his monarchy, to the death of Joan of Arc to his spiral into satanism/murder and finally his death.

Not only is this album a chronological story of one of the mos infamous killers of all times, but if you separate the track they each stand out on their own as amazing songs.

If you pick up the special edition copy of the "album" you will notice that it resembles a leather bound book. In each of the covers you have a disc, and on the inside you will find the story of Gilles De Rais, as well as the cover art and album book. Reading through the book you will find the lyrics for each song. You will know what I mean by how it's more of a story if you read through the lyrics front to back, it explains perfectly everything about the great killer. On top of the exquisite lyrics you will also find exquisite artwork on each page depicting (again chronologically) the different stages and evolution of Gilles De Rais.

In closing, if I haven't already convinced you, than there is no point in trying. Your not intelligent enough to understand it. I'm not saying that because I'm looking for trouble, purely for the fact that the album is so deep and well written, that if you can't grasp the concept of the true beauty of their work, or you can't get passed the style that's it done in, than you will never fully understand music.

Cradle of Filth is not so much a "Metal" band as they are a classical band, with deep emotional vocals. If Bach or Motzart were alive today, I guarantee they'd be in a band like Cradle of Filth.

With all of that said I hope I was able to inspire a few people not only to pick up the album, but possibly inspired a few to listen to some "metal'.

Thank you for my review and if you wish to comment back directly feel free to email me at xTheSlasherx@Rock.com
Not Rated

on 2008-10-18 dscanland Said:

Downloading it right now!
Not Rated

on 2008-09-08 SolitaryMan Said:

Everyone stop what you're doing and go check out the new COF track on their myspace, called "Tragic Kingdom". I dare say it's the best song they've unleashed since the days of Midian. It's certainly more in line with what made me fall in love with them in the first place. This is one of my most anticipated albums of the year.
Not Rated