CRADLE OF FILTH AND DEVILDRIVER REVIEW
Cradle of Filth and DevilDriver played at the Enmore Theatre last night, and from the moment you walked into the venue, you could tell it was going to be a massive night. The place was buzzing, and the fans were wearing band shirts and battle jackets. The excitement in the room was contagious, and once the lights started to dim, everyone was ready for a night of heavy riffs and huge performances.
DevilDriver hit the stage, and the anticipation exploded into pure chaos, and no time was wasted launching into "Clouds Over California", and the pit was in full swing. Heads were banging, fists were in the air, and the front rows were screaming every word back at the band. It was the perfect way to kick off the night.
The crushing songs continued with "Not All Who Wander Are Lost, Grinfucked and Meet the Wretched" and vocalist "Dez Fafara" owned the stage from start to finish, and his raw aggressive vocals were razer sharp with every lyric, and it made the fans sing back louder to every song. Guitarist "Gabe Mangold" delivered crushing riffs with precision, and "Alex Lee" delivered a relentless wall of sound that sounded even heavier live. Bassist "Jon Miller" kept everything sounding thick and powerful, and it locked in perfectly with drummer " Davier Pérez", and his relentless drumming drove every song forward with incredible intensity.
The band brought a tight set as "I Could Care Less, Dig Your Own Grave and Dead in the Water" played, and every breakdown landed with serious impact, every solo was spot on, and there wasn't a moment where the energy dipped. The set continued with "Hold Back the Day, My Night Sky and Sail", and it kept the circle pits spinning and the crowd singing along. You could see the band feeding off the audience's energy, and every time the crowd got louder, DevilDriver somehow found another gear.
As their set reached its final moments, the energy inside the Enmore Theatre was somehow even bigger than when they started. DevilDriver closed with "Cry for Me Sky (Eulogy of the Scorned), The Mountain and End of the Line", and they walked off to a huge cheer from the fans. DevilDriver played an epic co-headlining performance, and it left the crowd completely fired up for what was still to come.
After a quick changeover, the lights dropped, and the atmosphere shifted. The Dark lighting, eerie intro music and theatrical staging slowly built the anticipation. Cradle of Filth made their way onto the stage to a deafening roar from the audience.
The band walked out on stage, and Dani came out with his face covered, then he ripped it off, and Cradle of Filth opened the night with "To Live Deliciously, Demagoguery and Nocturnal Supremacy", and it immediately drew everyone into their dark, gothic world. From the very first note, vocalist "Dani Filth" had the crowd completely captivated, and he effortlessly switched between haunting melodies and ferocious screams while commanding every inch of the stage.
As the set continued, with "Malignant Perfection, The Principle of Evil Made Flesh and How Many Tears to Nurture a Rose?", Guitarists "Donny Burbage and Joff Bailey" delivered razor-sharp riffs and soaring solos, and they sent a thunderous vibe through the room. bassist "Daniel Firth" delivered driving rhythms that were thick and commanding, and it added an extra layer of atmosphere. Drummer "Martin "Marthus" Škaroupka" powered through the set with incredible speed, precision and consistency as his beats kept the band with perfect timing. Kelsey Peters was fantastic, as she brought haunting keyboard melodies and strong backing vocals that perfectly complemented the band's dark, symphonic sound. She added another layer of atmosphere that made the performance even more powerful. Together, they created the huge wall of sound that Cradle of Filth fans have come to expect.
The crowd responded to every song with nonstop energy. As the highlights, including "Nymphetamine (Fix), White Hellebore and Bathory Aria" played, the audience sang, screamed and threw their horns in the air. Everywhere you looked, there was constant headbanging, and the fans were completely immersed in the performance.
As the final moments of the night arrived, Cradle of Filth closed with "Gilded Cunt, Cruelty Brought Thee Orchids and Her Ghost in the Fog", and it brought an unforgettable evening with a powerful finish. From DevilDriver's explosive opening set to Cradle of Filth's theatrical performance, the Enmore Theatre hosted a night that metal fans won't forget anytime soon. We cannot wait for this tour to come back to Australia, and if the show hasn't hit your city yet, make sure you grab a ticket.