04.08.2012 Cradle Of Filth

Wacken Open Air XXIII

Wacken (Germany)

(Pentax K-5 with Sigma AF 70-200mm 2.8 EX DC APO HSM II)

Originally Cradle Of Filth should have played on Wacken Open Air already the year before but singer Dani Filth got injured so that they had to cancel the gig. Therefore he directly promised to be there in 2012 what he was fulfilling by this show.
The music of Cradle Of Filth cannot be categorized that easy. Basically it is widely comparable toblack metal but has some clear differentiations. Very distinctive is the partially cruel high singing of Filth which developed as a trademark of the band besides the complicated lyrics sung in very formal sophisticated English. Ironically just during Cradle Of Filth the sun came out and was burning with full strength onto the stage leading to Dani's very suitable comment: "Fucking Sun! Who needs it??" (furthermore he complained several times that it was much too bright). But overall it was somehow a strange gig. The band was striving obviously on stage and really presented a great show with stunners like "Cruelty Brought Three Orchids" or "Heaven Torn Asunder". Also the new keyboarder was fitting into the band quite well and all band members tried everything to make it a really terrific concert. Anyhow, in front of the stage good atmosphere did not arise. I do not know whether it was the weather or the slowly upcoming wear marks after the long and exhausting festival or it was not dark enough for this gloomy show.
I liked the gig very much especially Dani Filth is simply sheer madness. This dark voice that again and again inbetween is yielding these cruel high noises and also that charisma it really was something special to make this live experience. Although the band deserved from mood point of view something better (demanding it several times during the concert unsuccessfully).