
2021’s Existence Is Futile found Suffolk’s venerable institution in the most bitter and apocalyptic form of their lives, spat out as the world navigated the tragedies and tyrannies of the Covid nightmare. With that venom out of their system, the more perky, celebratory vibes of Cradle Of Filth’s 14th LP are neatly signalled by the aspirational decadence of scampering opener To Live Deliciously.
With twiddly Maiden-esque harmonies, 80s German thrash riffs, horror soundtrack bombast and sexy goth allure, it’s peak Cradle crystallised. Its definitiveness is comforting on an album that opens up several new musical wormholes to slither through, some more elegantly than others.