CRADLE THE FILTH PERFORMING AT BOURNEMOUTH’S O2 ACADEMY

★★★★☆ (4.5/5)

CRADLE THE FILTH PERFORMING AT BOURNEMOUTH’S O2 ACADEMY
PHOTOCREDIT: CHARIS BAGIOKI

Just ahead of Halloween week, the O2 Academy in Bournemouth started filling up with a goth dressed crowd, buzzing for an evening of dark and adrenaline-pumping metal. It is not often we get such gigs in the south of England, especially not on the spookiest week of the year – how convenient – as both local and international talent gathered to welcome in town the infamous Cradle of Filth.

If someone told me ten years ago that I would be attending such an event, I would have thought it’s a trick or treat prank. The perfect spooky atmosphere was set by New York-hailing band Black Satellite, bringing a unique sound that mixes industrial metal with dark alternative rock vocals. Their set started early but hit hard straight off, with deep bass lines and sharp industrial metal riffs with a melodic edge. Vocalist Larissa Vale commanded the stage with an intensity that excited the crowd on a Monday evening, and her bold character brought the gritty vocals to a different level. Performing a set of their own songs that were a perfect warm-up to the night, they closed off by performing the thunderous Sonne by Rammstein, paying homage to the original song while also adding their own raw style to the music.

Next up was High Parasite, bringing a different sound and vibe to the evening. Guttural vocals and gritty guitars replaced the industrial and melodic vibe of earlier, bringing a more primal and punk-inspired side of metal to the stage. High Parasite had a very energetic stage presence, with powerful songs and lots of riffs that had the crowd shouting. The band describes itself as ‘death pop’, with hints of gothic rock and dark synths, their songs are produced by Paradise Lost, while singer Aaron Stainthorpe is quite famous for his doom metal alter ego in My Dying Bride. When one considers all the above, it is easy to imagine how good the band’s body of work is and how suitable they were to set the tone for the rest of the evening. My favourite song of the set was ‘Forever We Burn’, which I recommend to fans of the genre to listen to immediately.

As the lights dimmed, Butcher Babies took the stage with a force that could only be described as explosive. While I had heard a lot about them, I had never caught their set live and I was taken by surprise. Right from the first note, the band delivered a powerhouse performance that really brought the room alive. Vocalist Heidi Shepherd stormed the stage with a stage presence that had everyone glued to her every move, commanding the audience with fierce vocals, playful banter and her unique charisma. Fans of Alissa White-Gluz would immediately feel the striking resemblance to Heidi, especially through the dynamic stage presence and the growling vocal style. Heidi did not only introduce the songs with memorable introductions, but also engaged with the audience by joining a circle moshpit, keeping the energy high through the set. A particularly exciting moment was when they played their new unreleased track called Sincerity, which will be officially released on November 8th. Towards the end of their set, Butcher Babies brought the tone down to perform ‘Last December’, my personal favourite song on their set, warming up the crowd ahead of the headliner’s set and leaving the stage to a roaring applause.

Last but not least, as the lights turned even darker, the smoke turned thicker and the gothic inspired Translyvanian piano chords filled the room, the atmosphere was set of Cradle of Filth. Entering the stage in thick mist and atmospheric lighting, perfectly suited to their gothic and theatrical style, Cradle of Filth took over the night. Dani Filth emerged in his signature black leather and adorned with macabre details, commanding the room with his piercing vocals and dark charisma. The band’s sound was as massive as ever, delivering the eerie symphonic metal that fans know and love while their setlist covered a wide blend of their discography, from classic tracks to newer material.

Each song was delivered with theatrical precision from the band, from Hellraiser references to guitar licking and Dani Filth’s otherworldly signature piercing screams, the band delivered an immersive experience to their fans that had everyone entranced. Standout tracks like Nymphetamine and Her Ghost in The Fog received the loudest crowd participation, while Dani’s vocals cut through the air in his signature shrieks and guttural growls. Despite the miserable dark night outside, the crowd was very eager during the performance, craving more and cheering after every song. The night was filled with spine-chilling theatrics that only Cradle of Filth know how to deliver and with high quality musicianship and energy – a perfect celebration of everything extreme metal has to offer.