CRADLE OF FILTH: THORNOGRAPHY

SCORE: 90/100

Cradle of Filth's seventh studio album and their second as a five-piece is just as wonderful as I expected it to be, with more normal-length tracks and a sound that is both fast and heavy, 'Thornography' manages to be everything I could've wanted it to be and more. It carries out sounds that they had become known for while adding new elements into the mix, and the aesthetic & grit of the album are deeply enjoyable on every front.

'Thornography' has more guitar solos than Cradle of Filth's previous album, with the guitarwork coming even closer to the front of the record while the drums and vocals follow suit. The elements present within this album all come together strikingly well; coming together into one bigger picture that winds up becoming a melodic metal masterpiece.

It's extreme in every sense of the word, but it feels grounded enough to not be even close to "too much" - it finds a balance and keeps it strong, and the tightly woven sound catered by the band makes this album stand out by tenfold when compared to plenty of other extreme metal projects. The charisma and image that the band has helps their albums to be that much better, and this project is yet another impressive feat for the band.

This album helps to set the standard and expectations for 'Nymphetamine', and it works as a striking blueprint that will leave you wanting more from the band. It's one of their less-loved projects; but I can't see why. The style of this album is gorgeously crafted with heavy riffs, striking instrumental work all around, and incredible vocal performances that put some other vocalists to shame.

There's a huge sense of originality and inspiration drawing from this project, with each track feeling unique to the band and their dark, heavy style. It's yet another victory lap for the metal five-piece, and it's another album well worth its long runtime. It's a long and winding road, but it's worth the journey.

Like their other albums, it does run a bit long at times - but it comes together so well you can't complain about the length. The songs that are longer are long for good reason, and there are some incredible moments on this album that come together into one striking work of metal masterclass.

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