Cradle of Filth – Existence Is Futile Review

Cradle of Filth Existence Is Futile There is a truckload of things to say about an album called “Existence Is Futile” in the first place. Especially whether this album was recorded by a band like Cradle of Filth, one of the most outstanding Black Metal bands of these days. I used to think the same as the tittle, that existence is futile. Not anymore. But I do understand who does. This sad and lonely and pathetic little planet is no bed of roses. It’s no pleasure cruise. Maybe a pleasure cruel. I know, you know, we know and now Cradle of Filth stand for it as well. Existential or problems from the existence have always been a marvelous fountain of inspiration for Metal bands. Essentially “Existence Is Futile” isn’t a concept album but the intent is to be one. I mean, the theme of the album is to be a concept. Maybe Cradle of Filth guys got together and decided that would the time of talking about something more substantial and voilà here’s “Existence Is Futile.”

Cradle of Filth here opted for a more mundane thematic and a more mundane music. I don’t mean that the album is more accessible. In fact, it’s my understanding that any Black Metal album may ever be accessible. What I mean is that “Existence Is Futile” may get more listeners than the other albums the band recorded in the past. I’d say that in terms of genre the album may be understood as Symphonic Black Metal. I guess that the music in “Existence Is Futile” may be better understood if the fan pays attention to its tittle. That’s why I said the album isn’t a concept album but the intent is. Opener track “The World on Our Shoulders” explains this a lot and I ask who’s never felt the weight of the world on the shoulders. I have. Many times. The track sounds as if it were an opera because I guess Cradle of Filth assume an opera may deliver the idea better. Then comes the heavy and thick and full of orchestrations “Existential Terror” whose a tittle kind of ends the discussion about the theme of the album. I ask my fan to pay close attention to the vocals throughout the album. Vocalist and mastermind Dani Filth managed a way of diversifying his dark and doomy shriekings to another level. The initial scream in “Necromantic Fantasies” gets really something when added to the soprano background vocals and the keyboarding. See how he changes his tone and his way of shrieking throughout the song and how the background soprano adds a lot to the song.

In this album the band added some more to their Black Metal vaudeville. Cradle of Filth kind of wish to pass a message to new bands like ‘We’re the ones who created all this. Behold to the kings.” I just guessed that while listening to the devilish beautiful “Discourse Between a Man and His Soul” a track that if it were from another band I’d say it would be a ballad. The kind of despair and hopelessness the song delivers is unimaginable. The perfect soundtrack to a dark and doomy day in our lives. And there are many of them I’d say. I don’t know who is darker: the soul or the owner of the soul. That’s great question. Following track “The Dying of the Embers” doesn’t drop the ball in any way. It keeps the same mood even being faster but maintaining the main idea of the album. Man, it’s so difficult to pick a track to write any longer.

Well, Cradle of Filth are back and in grand style. The album is everything but poor produced. On the contrary, it’s a gem of production and song writing. Lots of orchestrations, long songs with lots of twists and changes of cadence and tempo, lots of diverse vocals, ultimately, an album not to be forgotten or avoided. The kind of album to have and listen everywhere.

Cradle of Filth “Existence Is Futile” will be released on October 22nd via Nuclear Blast Records.

Track Listing:

  1. The Fate of the World on Our Shoulders
  2. Existential Terror
  3. Necromantic Fantasies
  4. Crawling King Chaos
  5. Here Comes A Candle – (Infernal Lullaby)
  6. Black Smoke Curling from the Lips of War
  7. Discourse Between a Man and His Soul
  8. The Dying of the Embers
  9. Ashen Mortality
  10. How Many Tears to Nurture a Rose
  11. Suffer Our Dominion
  12. Us, Dark, Invincible
  13. Sisters of the Mist (Bonus)
  14. Unleash the Hellion (Bonus)

Watch “Crawling King Chaos” official video here: