| | Full Review | Ratings (393) |
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| 5.0 classic | Brandon Scott EMERITUS | July 5th 15 |
Simultaneously overblown and tasteful, Hammer of the Witches is ACTUALLY Cradle of Filth's best album since Midian. No longer using their symphonics as a crutch for weak songwriting, the skill of new axe-slingers Richard Shaw and Marek 'Ashok' ?merda make this one of Cradle's most guitar dominated albums to date. Of course the band still has an affinity for grand orchestrations, but their incorporation is more thoughtfully done, accentuating the other instruments instead of suffocating them. As if these other factors weren't enough, Dani sounds at the top of his game here, his vocals seemingly revitalized by band's new blood. Even Cradle haters may have a tough time scoffing at this one.
7 Bumps | Bump |
| 4.5 superb | VortexDNR | July 5th 15 |
It's incredible how much creative energy the new axemen has put into this release. Perhaps Allender was the one too blame for the poor albums after Midian. This is their best in years.
3 Bumps | Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | DatsNotDaMetulz | July 7th 15 |
I've generally avoided the Filth and only treated them as a running joke in The IT Crowd ("It sounds horrible, but it's actually quite beautiful") but I'm genuinely impressed by this album. Everything works together, the guitars are lethal and the symphonic elements accentuate the live instruments nicely. Dani Filth has a very "love it or hate it" vocal style but it wouldn't be Cradle of Filth without his trademark banshee wailing.
2 Bumps | Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | Trey STAFF | January 23rd 20 |
I slowly wrote off Cradle of Filth after their last great release, Midian. It felt like each subsequent album just fell further and further away from the sound and quality that had made them so awesome in the beginning. By the time Hammer of the Witches was released my expectations were at rock bottom. In fact, the only reason I even bothered is because I read there were some new members this time around. With Hammer of the Witches, Cradle of Filth came back with an album that thrilled the fans that had been craving the dark, gothy, black metal that embodied the band's first four releases. Hammer of the Witches was more than just a nostalgia release, though. The new members injected a renewed life into a band that had started to sound like it was going through the motions. Finally, Cradle of Filth were back with an album that was creative, heavy, aggressive, melodic, catchy... and they did it without just going back and ripping off their classic albums.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | CamiloG | October 30th 15 |
I couldn't help the feeling of shivers down my spine when I first heard this record. Cradle of Filth has always been one of my favorite bands, but somehow I was really losing my hope in them after that strike of weak releases beginning with Damnation up through The Manticore, but then I decided to catch up and give them an opportunity with this one, and it blew me away from start to finish. This is one of the most rewarding listens I have had in a long time. A serious contender for album of the year and a very welcome comeback from one of the most divisive bands out there.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | Benjamin Kuettel EMERITUS | July 4th 15 |
This is their most fun and seamless release in quite a while. The line-up changes yield their most focused songwriting in years, especially given the centerpiece of twin guitar riffs, harmonies, and soloing throughout.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 3.3 great | Erwann S. STAFF | August 9th 23 |
Symphoblack = yeah it's overblown!!! Def a great release that my non-sympho ass can't thoroughly enjoy, Hammer of the Witches does riff and whatnot.
Bump |
| 2.5 average | Watchuu lookin at? | October 27th 21 |
the flatest cradle, only yours immortally can be considered worthwhile, everything else is just a competent motionsgoing that acts like its going to go somewhere and then just doesnt
Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | Lordeggaron | August 8th 15 |
It's about time these guys did something right. The Manticore and Other Horrors was a truly abysmal album and this is a much welcome return to form. Let's hope they keep the current line up this time around.
Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | Jared Floryan | July 13th 15 |
So potent was the star under which extreme metal troupe Cradle of Filth were born. Their latest album Hammer of the Witches will remind many of the band's earlier, less mainstream style, albeit with a noticeable modern touch this time around. Even if you find it hard to like Dani Filth, you'll eventually admit that his vocals are legitimately powerful. The departure of longtime member Paul Allender and the return of a six-person lineup makes CoF's newest library of souls sound fresh, aggressive, and plain fun above anything else. "Blackest Magick in Practice" will go down in history as one of my favorite songs that these guys have concocted.
Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | BloodBathed | July 7th 15 |
A surprising return to form for this marmite of a band. The love hate as usual boils down to Danis unique vocs style. In the Hammer... however he does not over use his high pitched screams which finally blends wonderfully with the 2 new axe slingers. The great persistent high tempo keeps the songs flowing, with rare symphonic fillers. Some masterful organ based backgrounds really do make some of the songs feel majestic and well crafted. High time for Cradle fans.
Bump |
| 0.0 | zaruyache | July 5th 15 |
Oh, I'm sure I'll find a way to hate it.
Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | MaSuPe | April 15th 24 |
| 4.0 excellent | Halez | March 17th 24 |
| 3.5 great | Mitch | March 3rd 24 |
| 4.0 excellent | gfgfg11 | January 14th 24 |
| 3.5 great | Trebor. EMERITUS | August 17th 23 |
| 3.5 great | xlev | May 16th 23 |
| 3.5 great | haxxiy | March 5th 23 |
| 3.0 good | Phasma | December 15th 22 |
| 5.0 classic | KManoc1 | October 21st 22 |
| 3.5 great | vale | September 23rd 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | Matty CONTRIBUTOR | June 15th 22 |
| 4.5 superb | Piglet | January 17th 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | Bulgaro | December 19th 21 |
| 3.0 good | JoneHK | December 6th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | abysmo | November 27th 21 |
| 4.5 superb | Trism | November 1st 21 |
| 4.5 superb | ftdiwr | October 25th 21 |
| 4.5 superb | Dmax28 | October 22nd 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | namsaap | September 16th 21 |
| 3.0 good | Spag | July 6th 21 |
| 3.5 great | ariich | February 21st 21 |
| 3.0 good | ErichB | January 24th 21 |
| 4.5 superb | Oobaloo | December 24th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | Chili | June 25th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | bSmith | May 6th 20 |
| 3.5 great | thawey | April 30th 20 |
| 3.5 great | kodama | January 23rd 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | mEyck07 | December 27th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | Lefteris | November 13th 19 |
| 3.5 great | Risodo | September 25th 19 |
| 3.5 great | nbats | May 15th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | Faenrir | April 26th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | Blurbs | December 19th 18 |
| 4.5 superb | heck | June 24th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | YourDad | March 31st 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | Aranox | February 23rd 18 |
| 5.0 classic | ikano2 | December 28th 17 |
| 5.0 classic | ikano1 | December 28th 17 |
| 3.5 great | Fear | December 27th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | mshrooms | December 20th 17 |
| 3.5 great | dvd0bvb | November 28th 17 |
| 3.5 great | Warpt | September 26th 17 |
| 3.5 great | FT427 | September 25th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Scoot | September 23rd 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | SB129 | September 23rd 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Nero | August 3rd 17 |
| 3.5 great | aghast | July 21st 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Ebola | July 17th 17 |
| 3.5 great | Sebe | June 5th 17 |
| 2.5 average | RMHQ | March 15th 17 |
| 2.5 average | ICDD | March 14th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | KMC8613 | March 6th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | alexts | March 4th 17 |
| 1.5 very poor | Mordaunt | December 12th 16 |
| 1.5 very poor | Divaman | August 19th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Poet | July 10th 16 |
| 3.5 great | Snide | May 14th 16 |
| 2.5 average | trve | February 26th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | shem | February 18th 16 |
| 3.5 great | jmh886 | February 11th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Egarran | January 26th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | cutex | January 16th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Keating | December 26th 15 |
| 2.5 average | Pho3nix | December 16th 15 |
| 2.5 average | manu8a | December 4th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | Essence | November 18th 15 |
| 3.0 good | Coast | November 1st 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | mEyck97 | September 29th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | gas83 | September 10th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | KingNick | September 8th 15 |
| 2.9 good | Deviant. STAFF | September 1st 15 |
| 3.5 great | ckssr1 | August 31st 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | joitp | August 8th 15 |
| 2.0 poor | Hati | August 7th 15 |
| 4.5 superb | Goup09 | August 1st 15 |
| 4.5 superb | advate | July 26th 15 |
| 3.5 great | Jeejee | July 25th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | Xhoven | July 21st 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | Asaura | July 19th 15 |
| 4.5 superb | mifzal | July 19th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | boff | July 15th 15 |
| 3.0 good | Majkl | July 15th 15 |
| 4.5 superb | gumi | July 15th 15 |
| 3.0 good | Rail | July 12th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | manosg EMERITUS | July 12th 15 |
| 3.0 good | Prole | July 12th 15 |
| 4.5 superb | coopj | July 11th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | Yusuf | July 11th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | Brabiz | July 10th 15 |
| 2.5 average | adr | July 8th 15 |
| 1.5 very poor | Runeii | July 8th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | Surtur | July 6th 15 |
| 4.5 superb | Hawks | July 5th 15 |
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