We grew up near Washington, D.C. and in our youth, a Sunday didn't pass during football season without us flipping on the TV to see how the Washington Redskins were faring against whoever they were playing that week. Those were the glory days of quarterback Joe Theismann (before Lawrence Taylor turned his leg into the handle of a manual pencil sharpener), superstar receiver Art Monk and wild beast running back John Riggins, a time when the Skins were bound to make the playoffs every year and a prime candidate for the Superbowl. Good times, indeed.
So, when we got a pitch from Cradle of Filth guitarist, Dave Pybus, to write a guest blog about his love for the Washington Redskins, we were doubly compelled. The idea of a Brit not only praising American football, but developing a strong allegiance to a single team seemed pretty Blogworthy. That he was singing the praises of our ex-love the Redskins only sweetened the deal. These days, having lived in New York for over 15 years, our allegiances have shifted and we're rooting weekly for the New York Giants (as it turned out, our timing couldn't be more perfect). But we've still got a soft spot for fan worship of the Redskin variety -- unless, that is, it comes at the expense of the Giants.
Click "more" to find out how Pybus became a Redskins fan. Read more...
Our congratulations go to Cradle of Filth, whose victory in our weekly "Your Vote Counts" contest earns their new video, "Honey and Sulphur," a slot on the next episode of "Headbangers Ball," which runs from 2 a.m. to 3 a.m. on Saturday on MTV2.
"I don't think I've heard anything quite as disturbingly amazing as Cradle of Filth's 'Honey and Sulfur,'" writes reader Engage What Remains. "The creepy-sounding screams fit the dissonant, but soaring guitars. The drums are fast, powerful, and perfectly variating. Of course, being a video, the music is only half the product. And let me say, the video surely outdoes the music itself, without making the music any less [potent]. They fit hand in hand. And I can't get over how awesome the terrified screams after the verses and choruses are."
Click more to see what the dude's talking about and to check out our video interview with singer Dani "Filth" Davey. Read more...
In the second part of our video interview with Cradle of Filth frontman Dani Davey, the denizen of darkness chats about the band's new album, his serial killer artwork, his new book and other subjects that make the devil smile. Click more to grin along with the beast. Read more...
Forsooth, an ill wind doth blow. The devil's nostrils flare with a chill that makes October grim. And in that darkened mist cometh thy blackest hour. And he shalt reign forevermore.... or at least rain forevermore. Damn, it's ugly around here. Been brisk and rainy all day, and, let us tell you, that ill went frickin' sucks. At least we can jump for joy and clack our hooves together about the arrival of a new Cradle of Filth record.
Today, the band untied the beast that is Godspeed on the Devil's Thunder, a feral concept album about the life and crimes of Gilles de Rais, a French nobleman, decorated soldier former comrade of Joan of Arc, who also happens to be one of the most prolific and vicious serial killers of all time. In commemoration of Cradle of Filth's latest proclamation of the damned, we bring you part one of a video interview with vocalist Daniel Davey (a.k.a. Dani Filth). Click "more" to hear him spew filth about the new album, the films that thrill him the most, the visual appeal of Cradle and the absurdity of capitalistic black metal bands. Read more...
For their new video, "Honey and Sulfphur," Cradle of Filth entered a 22-mile long cave in Chislehurst, South London and surrounded themselves with acrobats, stilt-walkers and tons of lit torches. The track comes from the band's upcoming album, Godspeed on the Devil's Thunder, which comes out October 28. Click "more" to see a preview of the vid: Read more...
A decade ago, the black metal scene experienced a period of renaissance and reinvigoration. Emperor had just released the legendary Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk, Immortal was riding the wave of Blizzard Beasts, Dimmu Borgir were getting close to completing the blasphemous Spiritual Black Dimensions and the English lads of Cradle of Filth were about to experience a career breakthrough with Cruelty and the Beast. The speedy, ravaging concept record told the nefarious tale of Elizabeth Bathory, a Hungarian countess in the 16th Century who bathed in the blood of virgin girls to retain her youthful beauty.
Since then, Cradle of Filth have aged, and with the years they've matured, experimenting with tonality and tempo, traveling through various avenues of lyrical darkness, straying further and further from their roots, while keeping a taloned toe or two planted in the murky black metal mist from which they surfaced. And now, 10 years from the release of Cruelty, Cradle are about to play a Cruel trick... Actually, it's more like a treat. The band's yet-untitled, just completed disc is their fastest, heaviest offering since that milestone offering a decade ago. Like Cruelty, it's a genuinely vampiric black metal concept record about a legendary serial killer from the 15th Century. This time, Cradle are chronicling the exploits of Gilles De Rais, a French nobleman who fought alongside Joan of Arc and accumulated great wealth before becoming a satanist, sexual deviant and a murderer.
Headbangersblog.com recently talked with Cradle of Filth frontman Dani "Filth" Davey about the sound of the album, why he decided to to tell the story of De Rais, the band's new drummer Martin Skaroupka, recording in the country with producer Andy Sneap and upcoming tours with Gorgoroth and Satyricon. Davey also filled us in on the song her wrote for Dario Argento's new horror film "Mother of Tears," the horror-themed video he wants to do for the new record and the long-awaited history book he wrote with Gavin Baddeley "Gospel of Filth: A Bible of Decadence and Darkness," which he hopes will be out by Halloween -- around the time the new record drops.
Click more to stream or download the podcast: Read more...
