SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: CRADLE OF FILTH – TROUBLE AND THEIR DOUBLE LIVES

Cradle Of Filth
Trouble And Their Double Lives
Napalm Records

For their first live album in 20 years, Cradle Of Filth knew that fans would crave something more sinister than the usual affair that makes up a project such as this. Eschewing the standards of simply using recordings from a single show, the black metal extremists tapped into a slew of shows that spanned the course of five years, all from different U.S. tours, that covered the length of their entire career to create Trouble And Their Double Lives. This gave fans not only a celebration of their over thirty-year discography but included two brand new studio tracks within the album, “She Is A Fire” and “Demon Prince Regent,” which is what makes this record stand in beautiful defiance against the preconceived concept of a live album.

The two aforementioned tracks are certainly the highlight of the record, as a live album by itself is something that can be very polarizing and this one is no different at times. On one clawed hand, the sound quality is mesmerizing, with the band sounding as tight as ever, making it hard to believe that these recordings aren’t from the same evening. However, that does become apparent with Dani Filth’s vocals, which can be hit or miss depending on the song in question. His signature shriek always sends ripples across the neck, yet his overall style is difficult to replicate in a live setting and sometimes that comes through all too clearly. Had it not been for the two studio tracks, with “Demon Prince Regent” being the blistering standout, this record would unfortunately not be remembered for very long and possibly only by dedicated fans. But with these two included, it gives a chance to further ensnare new listeners into their particular brand of theatrical, black metal-infused style that to this day remains unmatched by any who attempt to follow in their wake.

Artist Links