arcane-beautiful
After Nymphetamine...Cradle had the world at their feet...with people wanting more. So they gave more...and then people got bored.
It seems that this is the album where people began to loose interest in the band. And its really sad to see, cause they still remain one of my favorutie bands, although I can see why the interest has faded. When I was younger, Cradle used to frighten me...when i got older, they still frightened me. After 2006, Cradle just stopped frightened me. Now don't get me wrong, their next 3 albums, I still respect their music, but they don't have that same atmosphere that I used to have with Cradle, which made me slightly shit myself a little. I think they've grown up really...and we have grown up with them. We only expect music from these guys now, and well, that's what we get.
Now when Nymphetamine's cloud of dust started to dissolve...these guys decided to take all the things about Nymphetamine which were easily accesible, and focus on them. Now this is a very dangerous move for ANY band to make, but its still an experiment worth taking.
I like to compare this album to Carcass's Swansong. After Heartworks (which parrallels to Nymphetamine), which was their biggest album to date, they decided to, kind of go more contemporary, and flirt with the more popular side of metal. And it worked, to an extent. Now Cradle have done the same thing here. Now hardocre Cradle fans will not like this album very much, but to be honest, I haven't really heard much backlash from this album. People just seemed to except. Now when Metallica did St. Anger and Megadeth did Risk, their was anarchy...but this album seemed to cause no real backlash. I thought Cradle fans really would have been burning effigies and shit, but the fans seemed to react alright to it. It's almost as if the fans respected what these guys had done. And also, I think the main reason is that, this album is quite...good.
I mean it, this is a really decent album. I didn't dislike much about it. Their were moments where I was like "Ok, I'm not loving this," and times I was like "Ok, I'm really loving this." I would happily listen to this album again, I will always keep it in my collection and I have to admit, some of the songs on this are really strong Cradle tracks.
Now sound wise this album is different (obviously), but its also experimenting with sounds and genre's these guys have never touched upon. At times theirs the obvious gothic metal stuff, but theirs metalcore sounding riffs at times, and just standard metal sounding songs. This seems to be a more band orientated album, with guitars being the main focus (mainly due to a loss of a keyboardist). The black metal elements are all gone really too, which is interesting to see, and is pobabbly why the album was made (they really hate to be tagged under that) .The songs also seem to be more to the point, with verses chorus's and repetitive themes. Some songs go on sporadics, but you expect that now and then. Now theirs some songs that aren't the best, but to be honest, we're not expetcting the bands weight in gold.
Dani's lyrics seem to be more freerer, mainly due to the fact that their is no concept, so lyrically he could write about anything really. Now lyrically at times, they can be quite cheesy (especially on one song), but besides that, their's still some great lyrical moments. His vocals are also quite different too. His voice has made a noticable change, and he really has been able to learn what he can and cannot do. Theirs even some clean vocals on this album, which is really interesting to here, cause
1. Under Pregnant Skies She Comes Alive Like Miss Leviathan - Great orchestral intro, in fact one of the better ones. 8/10
2. Dirge Inferno - Ok, as usual, every Cradle first song has to be killer. And of course this is killer. It's not the best opening song, but its still great. 10/10
3. Tonight In Flames - Ok, this song is really interesting, and such a kick ass song. One of Cradle's best riffs in my opinion. Theirs also a riff in this that sounds identical to Avenged Sevenfolds Almost Easy, so theirs the more poppy sound. Amazing chorus, such an anthemic song. 10/10
4. Libertina Grimm - Ok, now this is the song I have a bit of a faus quas with. The lyrics are a bit too cheesy...and the song itself is a bit too cheesy. It's a good enough song, but it's ruined with cheese. 6/10
5. The Bryonic Man - I really love this song. It's so different. An amazing chorus, and some amazing vocals from Ville Valo. Such a great song, and Dani's vocals and diction are just amazing. 10/10
6. I Am The Thorn - Some really great killer moments and some nice riffs now and then. I do think this song is a wee bit too long though. 8/10
7. Cemetery & Sundown - The chorus is a wee bit boring, mainly cause Sarah sounds so bored in it. Although this song has some really cool twists and turns throughout. 7/10
8. Lovesick For Mina - Probabbly one of the best songs on the album. The doomy start, which reminds me of My Dying Bride, is really killer, and when the song explodes into a real kick ass metal song, it really blooms beautifuly. Their is also a really kick ass chorus on this song. 10/10
9. The Foetus Of A New Day Kicking - Cradle...making a 3 minute pop song. Yes...and it worked. Well its not a pop song, but it is extremely acccesible. Great chorus, with some nice clean vocals from Dani. 10/10
10. Rise Of The Pentagram - Ok, now the thing with long instrumentals is that their not always good. Metallica try to do it, and it just fails most of the time. But this one isn't too bad. Some really killer riffs and some nice lead lines, and keyboard breaks. The narration at the start by Doug Bradley is also really cool too. 7/10
11. Under Huntress Moon - This is a really jaunty song, and probabbly one of the most accesible on the album. Great vocals from Dani & Sarah. Theirs also some really cool eerie moments, which harkens back to their older stuff. 9/10
12. Temptation - Ok, a very cheesy cover, but meh, it works pretty well. Some nice moments, and the take on the song is pretty cool, altough it does remind me of industrial metal. 7/10
CONCLUSION: Ok, I was toying with the mark, and I think a good, but not essential is a good enough mark for this. I really do like this album. By far is it their best, but its not their worst either. You can either like it...not not like it that much...your choice.
6.9/10