By Christopher David,<\/p>\n
Pushing the extremes of mainstream musical acceptability (you don\u2019t just decide to name a song \u201cGilded Cunt\u201d without considering its influence) as well as stylistic boundaries for over twenty years now, Cradle of Filth have always done an admirable job of creating a melting pot, distilling influences like early thrash\/black-metal overlords like Celtic Frost and Bathory alongside elements of gothic rock and death metal to create an ambitious sound that few can replicate down the line. That versatility was on full, bombastic display when the band arrived in Chicago this week. Vocalist Dani Filth has long since cracked the balance between a classic death metal growl and a more melodic, Blackie Lawless-style sneer when it comes to his delivery, and it\u2019s one of the elements to Cradle\u2019s sound that has given the band an edge over some of the peers through the years, allowing them to evolve while maintaining core components of their sound.<\/p>\n
That evolution was represented by a wide variety of cuts from the band\u2019s extensive catalog, the quintet in top form from top to bottom. Opener \u201cHeaven Torn Asunder\u201d from 1996\u2019s Dusk\u2026and Her Embrace<\/em> provided a strong introduction to the night, and the setlist in general focused more on the band\u2019s catalog at large than 2015\u2019s Hammer of the Witches<\/em>, though \u201cYours Immortally\u201d was dedicated to the sweaty mass of folks in the front row and \u201cBlackest Magick in Practice\u201d most certainly has a place in Cradle\u2019s legacy of epics. And as one might expect, classics were in abundance for those long-time fans, with Midian<\/em>\u2019s one-two punch of \u201cLord Abortion\u201d and \u201cHer Ghost in the Fog\u201d (maybe the closest thing Cradle has to a recognized \u201chit\u201d) leading that charge.<\/p>\n The band\u2019s fan base has certainly evolved over time, a fact that was clear from the demographic of the crowd, and they inspire the kind of devotion that many bands would kill for. Taking a sign from a member of the crowd that said she wanted to marry the band, Filth commented that \u201cthat would be polygamy and I won\u2019t be part of it,\u201d but noted that he wouldn\u2019t care if she married the guitarists. With that, the night ended on a double shot from the band\u2019s first album (The Principle of Evil Made Flesh<\/em>) \u2013 <\/em>a treat for the lifers and a strong, career-spanning look at what makes Cradle of Filth tick for the newer initiates.<\/p>\n Cradle of Filth, House of Blues, Chicago, IL, March 1, 2016 (setlist)<\/strong><\/p>\n Humana, Inspired to Nightmare (Intro)<\/p>\n Heaven Torn Asunder<\/p>\n Gilded Cunt<\/p>\n Blackest Magick in Practice<\/p>\n Lord Abortion<\/p>\n Right Wing of the Garden Triptych<\/p>\n Malice Through the Looking Glass<\/p>\n Yours Immortally<\/p>\n Born in a Burial Gown<\/p>\n Cruelty Brought Thee Orchids<\/p>\n At the Gates of Midian<\/p>\n Cthulhu Dawn<\/p>\n Nymphetamine (Fix)<\/p>\n The Twisted Nails of Faith<\/p>\n Her Ghost in the Fog<\/p>\n From the Cradle to Enslave<\/p>\n The Principle of Evil Made Flesh<\/p>\n The Forest Whispers My Name<\/p>\n Blooding the Hounds of Hell (Outro)<\/p>\n ——————————————————————————————————————————————————————–<\/p>\n For more on Cradle of Filth including tour dates, tickets and music, click here<\/a><\/p>\n For photos from the Chicago, House of Blues show, click here<\/a><\/p>\n