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Album Review
by SashaS
25-2-2005
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| CofF's 'Nymphetamine' (Special Edition) |
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Cradle Of Filth: 'Nymphetamine'
(Roadrunner)
Cradle of Filth: limited wide-screen edition CD
Two items caught our stunned attention just moments ago: the first one is The Darkest - ‘The Ultimate Tribute to The Darkness’!? Man, woman, Almighty - how can you tribute a pantomime? Is this the new depth in the world’s dumbing down or, we can go even lower?! The second being an ad for the Marilyn Manson’s compilation.
The once-shocking [if you were a religious nut] MM have had to compile [high?] moments, plus a new version of Depeche Mode’s ‘Personal Jesus’, to assemble his ‘Best [Of]’ album while Cradle of Filth simply went into a studio and recorded it - afresh! And all that after a frustrating year they had on the major’s roster [see our Interview for some stories].
Thus, ‘Nymphetamine’ is a huge intoxicant, it focuses on the noir-side of a brain and starts igniting unholy thoughts, blasphemous poses, exploitive-cum-vulgar sexuality, Red Bull alchy-ing, it erects your Gothic hormones and guides over the borders of imagination… [Assuming some is left and not all crisped by TV-obesity?] Good, several may be required to truly appreciate this disc.
The band was obviously pished off with their Sony [mis]adventure and the level of venom must have risen considerably. Out of that frustration and, as Adrian explained [re: the already trailer-ed interview], hundred-odd shows, the band entered the studio and recorded it - live! Instead of laying down drums and then building tracks up - they actually rocked in the room collectively and the songs thus almost gain the fourth dimension!
The benefit is overall and there is more here than ever before - this is the first disc that presents CoF’s music in cinemascope, or wide-screen and 5.1 mix. It simply burns from the opening tune, ‘Satyriasis’, to the ‘gliding-over-Styx’ bonus track, ‘Nymphetamine Fix’, one extreme mutha. CoF are like maxed-out Iron Maiden, not just its negative, its antithesis but more like one-Hyde [a measure of fear] deeper. Led by lyrical imagery that should secure a trophy for Dani.
The most realised album by the band powerfully displays their majestic grimness, the dark end of soul, the diverse sides of repercussion… There are so many highlights here it is unfair to single out several songs but the ominous ‘Absinthe With Faust’, brooding epic ‘Nemesis’, punky-metallistic ‘Filthy Little Secret’, Maiden-esque ‘Coffin Fodder’ and totally mind-blowingly magical ‘Nyphetamine Overdose’ appear to rise slightly above. The latter seriously surpasses, in 9:14 minutes, anything Amy Lee and her Evanescence achieved on their entire album that sold millions.
To be fair, this is CoF’s eight studio inning. Achieving new filth [of heart, mind and soul], this is clearer, more focused by being revved up by some fresh adrenaline.
Are they not men? Nope, they are Cradle of Fiends!
Oh, yeah - top mark!
[Album originally released 27 Sept. 2004; review published on 25 Sept., 2004]
~
Five months later comes the ‘Special Edition’ equipped with a second disc of goodies, brimming with bonus material of interesting and exhilarating nature: alongside two new songs, ‘Soft White Throat’ and ‘Pray’ and an alternative version of ‘Nymphetamine Fix’ fronted by Sarah Jezebel Deva, there are three covers.
Bathory’s ‘Bestial Lust’ is gargantuan but nowt quite like CoF’s take on Ozzy Osborne’s ‘Mr Crowley’; they’ve grabbed it and appropriated with such brutality as if the band actually created it itself… However, nothing prepares you for the CoF’s ‘Devil Woman’ version, a maniacal, savaged and totally re-clad like a ‘zombie-babe’. Backing vocals provided by King Diamond and it would have made Sir Cliff Richard windmill in his grave if he had gone beyond already…
This ‘Special Edish’ may be for fans only but whatta treat!
SashaS
25-2-2005
Cradle Of Filth's album ‘Nymphetamine - Special Edition' is released 21 February 2005 by Roadrunner
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