Artist: Cradle of Filth
Label: Koch Records
Release Date: 6/11/02
Rating: 3 Skulls
|
|
Title: Lovecraft and Witch Hearts Artist: Cradle of Filth Label: Koch Records Release Date: 6/11/02
Rating: 3 Skulls |
|
|
|
||
Reviewed by Requiem (10/1/02):
Lovecraft and Witch Hearts is a greatest hits/rarities package that was only a matter of time before its making. Now seems to be prime time with a number of albums under their belts and their popularity at its continuously growing peak. Whether you love 'em or hate 'em, Cradle of Filth has made an everlasting dent in the history of metal. They have slowly trudged their way up to the top of the underground metal mountain and have taken the world by storm with their unrelenting form of blackened gothic metal. Presented in a double disc form, there is enough material here to satisfy the diehard fans as well as those curious ones who need a taste test of the Filth at their prime.Disc one offers the "best of" tracks, certainly not compiled based on selections from their Top 40 hits. Nevertheless, if you've heard one track you've heard them all. I, for the most part, have never been a fan but I can appreciate their efforts as musicians and performers in the end. They were the first of their kind to carve out a style which would soon be duplicated by countless bands hoping to achieve the same status. Cradle's thrashy guitar riffs with the speedy drum tempos are classy arrangements in their own right, but Dani Filth's vocals are the final decider for most of us. There are many that agree with my stance that they are just too monotonous and screechy for their own good. Much like fingernails across a chalkboard, ignoring vocals of this nature is just not an option. Sarah Jezebel Deva saves the end product with her addition of operatic female vocals. This, along with the keyboard arrangements, gives the songs another stamp of character that adds to the band's signature sound. Some of the chosen cuts are "Dusk and Her Embrace," "Her Ghost in the Fog," "From the Cradle to Enslave" and "Lord Abortion" amongst a slew of others.
Disc two goes for a rarities/remixes/covers approach and as a result, some of the tracks shave a notch off the production value. This doesn't necessarily take away from the songs but rather just makes for a more "underground" feel. The original tracks are geared more towards cult fans while the cover tunes add a little fun for everyone else. Cover songs include Iron Maiden's "Hallowed Be Thy Name," Sabbat's "For Those Who Died," Massacre's "Dawn of Eternity," Sodom's "Sodomy and Lust" and Slayer's "Hell Awaits." These three tunes give an extra breath of life to the disc and demonstrate some of Cradle of Filth's true influences. The remixes are done in a techno formula, which is tremendously unfitting and unnecessary for this band. The CD booklet comes with a detailed essay on the band's entire career, but as a whole should have included more pictures and extra info. Lovecraft and Witch Hearts is a greatest hits/rarities/remixes disc that is most likely just a plan to hold over fans until the next release becomes available. It's a nice idea, but one has to almost scoff at releases of this nature due to the fact that the main incentive behind such a release ultimately revolves around the dollar sign.
[- Metal Judgment Home -] [- Email Metal Judgment -]
©1999 Metal Judgment. All rights reserved.