extreme metal

The Hand That Rocks the Cradle of Filth - A Conversation With Paul Allender

Submitted by M. Drew on Monday, Oct 29th 2012

Where Cradle of Filth has a reputation as a band given to theatrical presentations and the occasional flight of fancy, guitarist Paul Allender is a man who speaks much in the same way he plays; straightforward, without wandering decoration and totally unique to him. As Cradle of Filth gets ready to spring their new album "The Manticore and Other Horrors" on the world, Allender and I sat down for the second time to discuss the album, the band's history, the martial arts, and a small army of odds and ends. It was at all points an entertaining and enlightening conversation about the man and his music.

Album Review: Miseration - "Tragedy Has Spoken"

Submitted by M. Drew on Thursday, May 24th 2012

Miseration's new album "Tragedy Has Spoken" makes me feel like the old cop in a Frankie Avalon movie who pulls over the young feller in his new red convertible GTO and gives him a stern but fatherly warning: "Whoa, where's the fire? Slow down, son, you'll get yourself hurt, and then you can't go to the beach party with your combustion engines and your rock music and your make-out parties." I think we may have gotten off on a tangent there, but you get the idea.

Album Review: Cradle of Filth - "Evermore Darkly"

Submitted by M. Drew on Friday, Nov 4th 2011

“Evermore Darkly” is slightly thin as a companion piece to “Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa,” but that doesn’t mean it is without value.

Comprised mostly of re-cut or re-imagined tracks from the main album, “Evermore Darkly” presents the known cuts from that album in a style that is less abstract. “The Persecution Song,” is reworked in a way that makes the song more accessible while not losing its original pounding, or the effect of Paul Allender’s off-kilter, rangy guitar.

Interview with Paul Allender of Cradle of Filth

Submitted by M. Drew on Friday, Feb 25th 2011

It takes a uniquely creative mind to be the burgeoning force behind the free-wheeling, exploratory and atmospheric riffs that power the band Cradle of Filth. Paul Allender is that mind and is that man. Recently, I got a chance to fire some questions at Paul concerning his band, his music and his art.

--With all the evolution of Cradle of Filth, you've been called extreme metal, black metal, speed metal, all kinds of things. What do you think most accurately describes you as a band?

Yes, I’ve heard of all these tags. Personally, I think the best way to describe us is as an extreme metal band.