Lindsay Schoolcraft Announces Departure From CRADLE OF FILTH

Cradle Of Filth is the iconic symphonic black metal project of lead vocalist Dani Filth. Cradle Of Filth are from the UK and started off their career with an explosive start in 1991, releasing three demos over the span of three years in the early 90’s. Since then the band has released 12 studio albums, including classic albums such as ‘Midian’ and have sold more than four million records worldwide. Cradle Of Filth’s last album was 2017’s ‘Cryptoriana – The Seductiveness of Decay.’ The band has announced they are working on a new album and expect to release it around August of this year.  Continue reading

Dani Filth Didn’t Tell Band About BMTH Song Until It Was On Social Media.

Hailing from Suffolk, England, Cradle Of Filth have become the torch bearers for all things extreme for nearly 28 years spreading their brand of extreme metal across the globe. The bands most recent offering, ‘Cryptoriana: The Seductiveness of Decay,’ arriving in the later part of 2018, sees the band continuing to showcase their vast influences by seamlessly blending gothic and symphonic metal with frontman Dani Filth’s penchant for singing about all things macabre. Continue reading

Review: DARKEST HORIZON – ‘Aenigmata’ [Official Video]

Darkest Horizon is back with a brand new album called ‘Aenigmata’ after having released 3 beautiful albums in the past. All the way from ‘Shattered Skies’ which got released in 2011 to their 2014 record ‘The Grand Continuum’ they have served us with dark and symphonic unholyness and with ‘Aenigmata’ they have proven that they can take their roots to the next level!

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KAMELOT, DELAIN, BATTLE BEAST In Silver Spring, MD [Review & Photo Gallery]

 

 

The North American Tour by American power metal band Kamelot came to the Washington DC/Baltimore area recently. This is a tour I really wanted to cover as I am a big symphonic metal fan, and I had not seen  opening act Delain as of yet. On top of that one of the supporting bands was Battle Beast, who I had covered last year when they were supporting Sabaton. The recent album released by Kamelot, ‘The Shadow Theory’, has been very well received by fans and critics alike. Check out our recent review of the album (read here). Let me dive in to the review now, you can check out the photographs at the bottom of the page.

Battle Beast was the first band of the night. If you recall, Battle Beast first captured worldwide attention as the winner of Wacken Metal Battle some years back. They have made big strides over the years since, with the last release ‘Bringer of Pain’ being quite a success. As soon as the lights went out, a drum solo by Pyry Vikki started then proceedings with the lead singer Noora Louhimo bursting in to “Straight to the Heart” followed by “Bringer of Pain”. The lack of a local opening act meant that Battle Beast had a relatively longer setlist including eight songs, and I am not complaining about it at all, bring on more Battle Beast! However, if I recall correctly it was the exact same set list they played last year, and in the same order as well. I would have really liked to see some changes. On the other hand, this was a superior performance compared to the last one, a clear sign of the progress the band has made. The band is a joy to photograph, their energy on stage is simply phenomenal. An energetic performance by Noora Louhimo, with powerful yet melodic vocals, was well backed by the other band members. A fantastic start to the night, and Battle Beast left the stage to a resounding applause from the crowd. We have heard that the band is working on the upcoming album which will be released next year. Well, we can’t wait for that!

Dutch symphonic metal band Delain delivered a set that lasted close to an hour. This would be my first time seeing Delain. The set started with a drum solo, and soon after Charlotte Wessels wasted no time in setting the mood with “Hands of Gold” and “Suckerpunch”. Meren Bechtold was amazing on the guitar. The crowd enthusiastically sang with Charlotte Wessels pretty much throughout the set, and her stage persona lends very well to the kind of music the band plays. Delain wrapped up their set “We Are The Others”, one of my favorite songs by the band. They are in the process of writing a new album, which will be released sometime next year. Charlotte Wessels mentioned that they have been trying to do a US tour every year for the last few years. We will be eagerly waiting for the album and the tour next year.

Kamelot took the stage after a half hour long break after Delain’s set. They started their performance with “Phantom Divine”, the opening track from ‘The Shadow Theory’. The lighting, stage setup and the music generated quite a mood enhancing environment, a stark contrast to that of Battle Beat and Delain. Tommy Karevik took command of the stage and belted out the lyrics amidst his energetic antics on stage. Thomas Youngblood initially stayed near the sides of the stage, letting the other band members take control of the stage. Once the set progressed, he took center stage and blasted out some riffs. Lauren Hart, the vocalist of the death metal band Once Human, provided vocal support with some amazing screams and growls. Kamelot closed their set with “Liar Liar”, possibly their most popular song. The crowd was a happy bunch. I highly recommend this show. The stark differences between the styles of music played by the bands, yet bonded by the melody in the music, lends very well to this show being a resounding success. I have always been a huge fan of tours with bands that herald distinct styles, and this was one of the prime examples of that. Tons of dates are still left, so check out when they are heading your way.

State Of The Art: GREYLOTUS [EP + Video Stream]

*This is a part of our State Of The Art series, showcasing bands every Monday from the featured state.*

This month’s state is Maryland!


Welcome to the final installment of this months SOTA! I thought I would end this one with an artist that I believe will quite literally blow your mind. This is songwriting at its highest conceivable level, but what is most remarkable, is the fact that it is solely the work of one man! From Baltimore, Maryland, let me welcome the technical/blackened deathcore project Greylotus. January saw the release of the explosive debut EP ‘Savior’ which in my opinion is undoubtedly one of the most exciting releases of this year (up there with the likes of Inferi and Slugdge who have both dropped AOTY contenders) and forms the first part of a total 3 installments. Collectively the 3 EPs will form Greylotus’ debut full-length album, with work already underway on the second installement ‘Dawnfall’.  Continue reading

Kings Of Strings: Chris Wiseman From Shadow Of Intent!

Shadow Of Intent is a symphonic death core band you may have heard of before, after the release of their first full album ‘Primordial’ people went crazy. It is melodic, symphonic, brutal and it is filled with riffs that will melt your face off. It is all you ever wanted but more. Prior to this masterpiece Shadow Of Intent came together to create the 2014 EP ‘Inferi Sententia’ which touches more on the black and death metal side of things. If this wasn’t enough awesomeness already prepare yourself because on the 28th of April this year the album ‘Reclaimer’ landed on planet Earth and it is even better than you could ever imagine. I was sure that nothing could ever beat ‘Primordial’ but they proved me wrong. They are so ahead of the game it is unbelievable, it is inhuman how fast a band can grow and mature in such a small amount of time. They truly are all artists worth showcasing but since this segment is all about guitar players, let’s start off with back up vocalist and most importantly guitarist Chris Wiseman!

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MIST OF MISERY Release Single Broken Chains From Upcoming EP!

 

Mist Of Misery is for sure one of the most unique Black Metal bands I have ever come across, they combine the best elements from some of the most beautiful aspects from Black Metal together and make it their own. While listening you will almost get overwhelmed by their diversity, you will hear some clear influences of depressive, atmospheric, symphonic and melodic black metal. It is crazy how these guys do it but it sounds insanely good. I have fallen in love with them right after the release of their 2016 album ‘Absence’. It moves you into this mood that you can’t explain in words, it is magical. You for sure need to check it out, I have linked it down below and you can also click on the album name right above.

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The Bucketlist With DAWN OF ASHES Vocalist Krisrof Bathory!

Industrial/Symphonic Black Metal artists Dawn of Ashes are set to release their new record. On June 9th they will release their seventh album ‘Daemonolatry Gnosis’ on Metropolis Records. Dawn Of Ashes has already released a lyric video for the track “Guardians” from the upcoming album. The band formed in 2001 and has been a dominating force in the symphonic metal genre ever since. ‘Daemonolatry Gnosis’ is a diabolical musical milestone & Dawn of Ashes‘ most brutal fusion of Extreme Symphonic Black Metal to date. Like Dawn of Ashes‘ previous album ‘Theophany’, ‘Daemonolatry Gnosis’ was mixed & produced by Mick Kenney of AnaalNathrakh. Features a cover of Black Metal legend Mayhem’s “Freezing Moon”, as well as guest vocals from Cradle of Filth’s Lindsay Schoolcraft. In support of ‘Daemonolatry Gnosis’, Dawn of Ashes will set out on a headling North America tour called “Fire Of The Phoenix” with Projekt F Continue reading

Cairiss: Black Metal Forever Changed With the Release of “Fall”

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Black Metal is usually a polarizing sub-genre of Metal. Very fast. High-pitched vocals; oftentimes dealing with oppressively dark and/or overtly Pagan/Satanic subject matter, barked out at an unintelligible rate. It is usually either loved or absolutely hated for one or all of the reasons above. Every now and then, however, a band rises above the genre and puts out a release so striking, it ruptures the box attempting to surround it. One such band is Southampton, UK’s, Cairiss.

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