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About six or seven years ago, I found myself sitting in my living room watching the then Much Music U.S.A. metal show, Uranium. As I sat there, I beheld a female janitor cleaning urinals. Who then proceeded to open a stall door and discover a digital video recorder inside. After turning it on, she saw a crowd of schoolgirls running down a corridor into a lavitory. Once inside, the girls were forced onto their knees, adorned with yarn-suspended number cards and doggie bowls with a matching number, and subjected to humiliation. I sat and wondered why doggie bowl #1 had no occupant. All the while surrounded by a group of men, the main screaming into a megaphone. As the events unfolded, it seemed as though the group were "auctioning off" the misfortunate damsels. Then the camera started spinning. Around and around it went, only to stop in front of a mirror. And, lo and behold, there stood the female janitor who had stumbled upon the record of madness. Around her neck, number card #1. She was then seized, sat into a chair, and forced to partake in some sort of film production, entitled "Pandora's Box"..... That video scared me to temporary paralasis. LITERALLY. Little did i know that in time I would come to adore the makers of such a gruesome work of art, Cradle of Filth.
Damnation and a Day is, in my opinion, Cradle of Filth's peak performance. Vaguely inspired by the classic poem, Paradise Lost, Damnation takes on the key fundamentals of the beginning of the war between God and Satan, with Satan as the protagonist. As for the instrument playing, it's a masterpiece in itself. From the heavy and shrill guitar riffs and solos to the soft, melodic sounds of the orchestrated choir, it's guaranteed to arouse and/or sooth the savage beast inside us all.
SONGS TO GIVE PRAISE TO
The Promise of Fever- A little racy at the beginning for my taste, but Dani fills the void well with his "Lycanthroat" as usual. Also, a TERRIFIC bridge riff. Slow, heavy, orchestra-accompanied. I would accept nothing less from Cradle. The overall theme of the song is the first war in Heaven. Sacreligious in a sense, but genious storytelling and lyric writing, nonetheless.
Better to Reign in Hell- Awesome drum roll at the beginning. Along with excellent guitar playing, this song is definitely one of the "diamonds in the ruff" on the album. The theme- Satan's argument: "Freewill made me better to reign in Hell."
Serpent Tongue Pt. 1 & 2- Another diamond, the song starts out with a melodic guitar and keyboard riff, accompanied with Dani's guttural speech. Which rises to conventional Cradle style, both times. The song is Cradle's take on the Fall of Man, with a Hebrew folklorish and Gothic twist.
Babalon A.D. (So Glad for the Madness)- How great, the wonder of music. This one starts out with a slow, heavy, dark orchestra. Followed by a bass/cymbal riff, which becomes heavy as it goes on. Absolutely amazing solo, one of the best on the album. This song's theme is Satan's listing of his influence throughout history in and on certain historical events and icons. From Job to the Marquis DeSade, you're sure to find a familiar character on the party list.
Doberman Pharoah or Cruelty Wore a Bondage Mask- This song has every type of musical style around. Fast, slow, hard, soft, and even a vague and mystic guitar solo that sounds somewhat middle-eastern. The theme: Cradle's unfaltering storytelling of the biblical story of Moses' coming to free the Hebrews, Ramses' defiance to the act, and the ten plagues that he and all of Egypt recieved for his stubborness.
Mannequin- Fast from start to finish, except the chorus, this song would be one of Cradle's greatest hits if they came out with a more recent compilation album. The theme is very cryptic and involves a certain person's obsession with a mysterious entity who he chases through many aeons and fraternizations.
All together, Damnation and a Day is sure to captivate the deviant, libido, murderer, sadist, masochist, and story lover in us all. A monolith of melody, symphony, metal, and debauchery for all. And if I've turned anyone off by reviewing this album, I say this: NEVER JUDGE A BOOK BY IT'S COVER. Enjoy.
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Top reviews from other countries
"death_to_all_that_be_true"
black metal at it's best
Reviewed in Canada on December 29, 2003
