Cradle Of Filth, Auckland NZ, 2019

Cradle Of Filth

12th September 2019
The Studio, Auckland, New Zealand.

Review by Sarah Kidd. Photography by Doug Peters.

It had been a long time coming, hundreds of New Zealand fans waiting on tenterhooks when Cradle of Filth played Australia last year, for local tour dates that never eventuated. But last night, all the offerings of first-born children and whispered wishes came to fruition, as the English stalwarts of extreme metal finally crossed our hallowed threshold.

The dedicated who had arrived early to stake a claim on prime viewing positions were rewarded for their efforts with a very solid set from Wellingtonians Fall of Man. Having only formed in the latter half of 2018, and performing live since the beginning of this year, Fall of Man are certainly making big strides, having already supported both Cult of Fire’s exclusive New Zealand show and now adding a Cradle of Filth support slot to the list.

Consisting of six members – much like the main act – the black metal band was led by vocalist John Doe, who had obviously taken a leaf or two out of Mr Filth’s page, his aesthetics working well for his position of front man; while only a very minor criticism it would have been nice for an occasion as auspicious as this one for the band to have had a more cohesive look overall, if only to compliment the themes of their own music. Beginning with ‘Between God and the Devil’ which the band have just recently released as a two-track album on bandcamp, Fall of Man immediately caught the audience’s attention as the menacing intro gave way to a faster and heavier tempo; Harry Benson-Rea cutting an impressive figure on bass and backing vox at the forefront of the stage.

Delivering a tight set with all the beloved elements one would expect from a black metal band, including pulverising drumming from William Barrett, as well as an accomplished cover of Pentagrams ‘Sign of the Wolf’, and Fall of Man are an up-and-comer to keep a close eye on. Also, how refreshing to have some New Zealand talent from outside of Auckland to open the show!

Sufficiently warmed up, the ever-growing crowd were ready and waiting for the main act to arrive, the sold-out status of the show bringing its own form of electricity to the already highly charged room. Lights out and the hundreds of baying fans momentarily drowned out the intro music, their voices shedding the tendrils of disbelief that this evening was finally upon them.

As Cradle of Filth strode forth, the fans cheered as they simultaneously surged forward, hoping to catch a closer look at the six members as they arranged themselves across the stage, the ethereal Lindsay Schoolcraft seemingly floating across the floor in her long black gown and tiara adorned head, the long-standing drummer Martin ‘Marthus’ Škaroupka stepping behind his wall of perspex and donning his headphones. The loudest cheers of all of course being saved for the leader and visionary of the band Mr Dani Filth himself, as he ripped the tattered coverings from his face and launched straight into ‘Thirteen Autumns and a Widow’, striking his trademark rigid pose as he hit the higher octaves that are so distinctively Cradle of Filth that they could not ever be mistaken for anything else.

With this tour seeing Cradle of Filth play one of their most revered albums – Cruelty and the Beast – in full each night, the majority of the crowd settled in for the ride, ebbing and flowing against the barrier, a small group in the centre instead choosing to instigate and continue throughout almost the entire show one of the most vigorous mosh pits seen in recent times.

Despite his recent illness Dani stepped beyond himself to deliver some of Cradles more difficult work vocally, guitarists Marek ‘Ashok’ Šmerda and the completely animated Richard Shaw who often a resembled a zombified Victorian doctor hanging slightly broken looking over the lip of the stage whilst playing with one hand, flanking him on either side; bassist Daniel Firth with his piercing gaze weaving his way between them. This was a band that intuitively knew both how to utilise a stage to the best of their abilities while visually delivering a performance fans would not soon forget.

A concept album, Cradle of Filth brought the figurehead of the Countess Elizabeth Báthory to life, her bloodied presence felt in the very walls themselves and the unearthly shrieks of Schoolcraft, especially during the esteemed opus ‘Bathory Aria’; ‘Lustmord and Wargasm – The Lick of Carbivorous Winds’ with its intricate blast beat patterns signalling the end of the albums playthrough, the crowd howling in satisfaction as Ashok let fly with the final earth-shattering riffs.

Addressing the audience, Dani Filth acknowledged the fact that it had taken Cradle far too long to finally play here, before throwing in a few jokes about hobbits and their feet for good measure, his expression of ‘Anyhooo’ in his distinctive English accent curling more than a few mouths into a smile. The second half of the evening consisted of some selected favourites from across Cradles extensive discography, ‘Malice Through the Looking Glass’ from yet another one of their most favoured albums 1996’s Dusk and Her Embrace kicking it off, Dani pulling from the bottom of his gut as he passionately shrieked the verses. Once again, the outstanding line-up of guitarists stole the show as Ashok would tease the front row with the head of his guitar, behind him Shaw impossibly spinning in circles without missing a single note. It may have gone against the grain of the usual stoic demeanours expected of an extreme metal band, but it made for one of the most visually enthralling metal shows that New Zealand had seen to date, Cradle of Filth almost giving more of themselves than usual to make up for their extended absence from our fair shores.

Dedicating ‘Heartbreak and Séance’ to all of those who had come to the earlier meet and greet, Cradle moved through into one of their more mainstream tracks, ‘Nymphetamine (Fix)’ with its distinctive synth motif setting the crowd alight, the set finishing with the quintessential ‘Her Ghost in the Fog’ both band and fans giving it everything they had, the occasional blood red rose being thrown out to the audience by Dani and Shaw. Bidding all a good night, it was hard to believe that the show was already over, the fans desperately chanting for an encore, their efforts rewarded with one final track.

There are not enough superlatives in the English language to describe the calibre of last night’s performance, Cradle of Filth irrefutably proving that after twenty-eight years they are still very much at the top of their game.

Were you there at The Studio for this brilliant black metal gig? Or have you seen Cradle Of Filth perform live somewhere else? Tell us about it in the comments below!

Cradle Of Filth Setlist:

1. Once Upon Atrocity
2. Thirteen Autumns And A Widow
3. Cruelty Brought Thee Orchids
4. Beneath The Howling Stars
5. Venus In Fear
6. Desire In Violent Overture
7. The Twisted Nails Of Faith
8. Bathory Aria
9. Portrait Of The Dead Countess
10. Lustmord And Wargasm – The Lick of Carnivorous Winds
11. Malice Through The Looking Glass
12. Heartbreak And Séance
13. Nymphetamine (Fix)
14. Saffron’s Curse
15. Her Ghost In The Fog
16. From The Cradle To Enslave

Fall Of Man Setlist:

1. Between God And The Devil
2. Rebirth
3. Necrosectomy
4. Daemons
5. Sign Of The Wolf [Pentagram cover]
6. Optimistic Pessimist

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