The artwork is fucking gorgeous

This isn’t going to win over anyone who’s not a fan, but if you like Cradle of Filth then you’ll probably like this one too. Good performances from everyone. I watched them play last year and it was crazy how good they sounded also. I will say that the songwriting feels pretty paint-by-the-numbers for them. It feels pretty dry in the production as well, like a bit too clean.

Some real bangers in here, to use a technical term.

Great album, so much fun to listen to. I’ve been playing it all day and a lot of stuff got stuck in my head from the very first listen, which didn't happen at least since Midian. But even the tracks that I didn't notice during the first spin, like Ex Sanguine Draculae, are hitting really hard now. The musicianship is top-tier, female voice is great, Dani's vocals dropped a bit already on the previous album, but he is still killing it.

Definite highlights: Non Omnis Moriar, White Hellebore, Malignant Perfection, Ex Sanguine Draculae

"Demagoguery" is easily the highlight of the album for me.

What a nice surprise. The last few albums were already fun to listen to, however despite having a couple of great songs, eventually they had more fillers than anything. This new album is actually a great listen from start to finish. Standouts are Demagoguery, White Hellebore, Your Are My Nautilus, Malignant Perfection and Ex Sanguine Draculae.
The sequence from track 5 to 8 is simply flawless. I've red people complaining about the longer songs (tracks 6, 7 and 8) but for me these are actually the most interesting ones, with twists and turns and many good riffs. On the weaker side of things, To Live Deliciously and The Trinity of Shadows, while being fun listens, are the ones i've been skipping here and there.
The last track and Non Omnis Moriar are interesting enough to keep me invested.
All in all, maybe their most concise (no intros or interludes), direct (many thrash, heavy meaty riffs) and overall best album since Midian.

I'm finding this one highly enjoyable. The female vocals add a very nice layer and the writing throughout has little to no faults. I will be returning to this one a lot I reckon

True story behind CoF and Ed Sheeran cooperation:

Dani Filth was strolling somewhere in England when suddenly, something unexpected caught his eye—a ginger guy wearing a Cradle of Filth t-shirt. He squinted, stepped closer, and suddenly, it hit him.

Dani: Oh hey, man! I had no idea you were a fan of our band!
Ed: What? Who are you pal? And what the hell are you talking about?
Dani: It's me, Dani! You're wearing a shirt of my band! I thought you were a fan!
Ed: Dude, piss off! I have no idea who you are! I just bought this rag because it had a cool picture. I didn’t even know it was from some band.
Dani: Oh damn, so you don’t even know our music?
Ed: I’m telling you, man, I’ve never heard of you. If I knew it was your band, I probably wouldn’t have even bought this shirt.
Dani: Oh damn, that’s a shame! But hey, maybe you can do me one little favor?
Ed: (sighs) Alright, what now?
Dani: Do you mind if I scam my minions... I mean, my fans, and tell them we’re working on a song together that’s gonna be on our album?
Ed: I don’t care, dude. Say whatever you want.
Dani: Awesome! Just, if anyone asks you if the song exists, tell them yes, and that it’s already recorded, just waiting for release.
Ed: Alright, dude, get lost, you’re a total weirdo.
Dani: Thank you! Thank you!

Apart from that story as real as any Dani's promises, very good album Cradle! My fav track is 'You Are My Nautilus.' The year just started and this record hits hard already.

One of the best CoF albums (with Cruelty, Midian, Damnation, Hammer and Cryptoriana). No fillers, just two 'only' good songs ('Non Omnis' and 'Malignant...'), soo many fantastic melodies, and finally album is not boring.

I must just not get it. The music was ok but it was uninteresting. I didn't feel anything emotionally. I found the choruses irritating. There were cool screams, but emotionally, I don't know, I guess the artists' passion didn't get through to me. I'm glad most people are connecting with it, and I'll give the record another chance in the future.

Just the fact that their song-writing has stayed so consistently high in quality is mind-blowing to me. I listened to this band when I was a teenager, now I'm 33 and they are still putting out high quality albums on a regular basis. They will truly go down as one of the greatest metal bands of all time. Oh yeah and the above album is awesome of course. Song 3-4 are a little weak but the rest of the songs are all bangers.

Just ok.

They have become a melodic death metal band...

"White Hellebore" and "The Trinity Of Shadows" are stand out songs. I think this us best bands album in ages, best female vocals, even better as Liv, s in Nymphetemine, food instruments, good catchy melodic riffs.

Arguably their most complete album. Ex Sanguine Draculae is the highlight so far.

Thornography aside, CoF has an amazing list of badass albums and somehow continues to produce them. This one is no exception.

It's Cradle of Filth, if you are not a fan then it's not for you. Being a fan however, it depends on your expectations: it's not Dusk or Cruelty. It's been almost 30 years since these days. That aside, Valkyries is a good album. Catchy riffs, solid melodies, it doesn't feel like 45min filler material. Probably one of their best the last years.

Written by RoyBoy432 on 22.03.2025 at 02:07

I must just not get it. The music was ok but it was uninteresting. I didn't feel anything emotionally. I found the choruses irritating. There were cool screams, but emotionally, I don't know, I guess the artists' passion didn't get through to me. I'm glad most people are connecting with it, and I'll give the record another chance in the future.

Same, on first listen nothing that adds to their discography, I rather just listen to their whole previous discography. Not one song that stands out.

Why are January, February and March such prone to album releases that suck? In this time period albums barely get released and when they do, then this.

The only album from them that's genuinely impressed me post-Midian is Hammer Of The Witches. This is paint-by-numbers COF for me, not badly made by any means, but nothing that particularly stands out, and I remember when I used to admie Dani Filth's vocals but now his style is starting to grate on me. Could be either his vox has deteriorated somewhat over time, or I've developed more of an intolerance to his style.

Written by AndyMetalFreak on 26.03.2025 at 13:53

The only album from them that's genuinely impressed me post-Midian is Hammer Of The Witches. This is paint-by-numbers COF for me, not badly made by any means, but nothing that particularly stands out, and I remember when I used to admie Dani Filth's vocals but now his style is starting to grate on me. Could be either his vox has deteriorated somewhat over time, or I've developed more of an intolerance to his style.

I’ve finally been able to listen to CoF again in the last few months and actually enjoyed this one, but for about the last 6-7 years I haven’t listen to them much at all because Dani’s voice annoyed me too much. I also used to be a huge fan of them but I think the vocals are really gimmicky and once they start to bother you it’s like nails on a chalkboard. I think his vocals are about as good as they ever were here, but what’s missing are interesting hooks like you’d hear in Midian, Nymphetamine, and Godspeed. The songs themselves were more interesting then.

The music is a bit simpler this time around

E x t r e m e l y b o r i n g a l b u m

Really good one! Ex Sanguine Draculae and Demagoguery are my stand out songs here

Vocally quite the letdown. Some good ideas, but overall not great. I haven’t really listened to CoF much. I should dive into their catalog.

Written by Boxcar Willy on 30.03.2025 at 17:17

Vocally quite the letdown. Some good ideas, but overall not great. I haven’t really listened to CoF much. I should dive into their catalog.

I like everything they released pre-Midian, but they went down hill since imo with maybe the exception Hammer Of The Witches. Dusk And Her Embrace is my personal favorite in their discog.

Written by AndyMetalFreak on 30.03.2025 at 18:15

Written by Boxcar Willy on 30.03.2025 at 17:17

Vocally quite the letdown. Some good ideas, but overall not great. I haven’t really listened to CoF much. I should dive into their catalog.

I like everything they released pre-Midian, but they went down hill since imo with maybe the exception Hammer Of The Witches. Dusk And Her Embrace is my personal favorite in their discog.

I think that’s true but they’ve had some really excellent songs since then. Their albums as a whole are pretty inconsistent since Midian but they’ve got some great songs buried in some mediocre albums that I think are well worth listening to. And honestly their first three albums are way overrated imo, but I love the Vempire and Cradle to Enslave EPs.

Yet to become their fan. Seeing their duscigraphy and the immense support they get here I feel really shameful. Damn.....I think I have to start from 90s.

First CoF since Dusk and her embrace. Quite good stuff.

Easily their best since perhaps "Midian",
so smooth listening to