Hammer of the Witches
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''Hammer of the Witches'' is the eleventh studio album by English
extreme metal Extreme metal is a loosely defined umbrella term for a number of related heavy metal music subgenres that have developed since the early 1980s. It has been defined as a "cluster of metal subgenres characterized by sonic, verbal, and visual tran ...
band
Cradle of Filth Cradle of Filth are an English extreme metal band formed in Suffolk in 1991. The band's musical style evolved originally from black metal to a cleaner and more "produced" amalgam of gothic metal, symphonic metal and other metal genres. Their ly ...
. It was released on 10 July 2015 and is their first release under record label
Nuclear Blast Nuclear Blast is a record label and mail order record distributor with subsidiaries in Germany, the United States and Brazil. The label was founded in 1987 by Markus Staiger in Germany. Originally releasing hardcore punk records, the label mov ...
. ''Hammer of the Witches'' features the band's new line-up following the departure of
Paul Allender Paul Allender (born 17 November 1970) is a lead guitarist best known for his work with the British extreme metal band Cradle of Filth. He was a longtime member with stints in the band from 1992–1995 and then again from 1999–2014. Cradle of ...
and James McIlroy, which includes new guitarists Marek 'Ashok' Šmerda and Richard Shaw and new keyboardist and female vocalist Lindsay Schoolcraft.


Background

''Hammer of the Witches'' is the first Cradle of Filth album since 1998's ''
Cruelty and the Beast ''Cruelty and the Beast'' is the third studio album by English extreme metal band Cradle of Filth. It is a concept album based on the legend of the Hungarian "blood countess" Elizabeth Báthory and features guest narration by actress Ingrid Pit ...
'' to not feature work from longtime guitarist
Paul Allender Paul Allender (born 17 November 1970) is a lead guitarist best known for his work with the British extreme metal band Cradle of Filth. He was a longtime member with stints in the band from 1992–1995 and then again from 1999–2014. Cradle of ...
. Work on the album began in early 2014, with frontman Dani emphasizing that the band planned on taking their time with it. In an interview in 2016, Lindsay Schoolcraft stated that she was pleased with the fan-response and that the band had actually finished work on the album quicker than they had expected to.


Cover art

Vocalist Dani Filth stated: "The artwork for ''Hammer of the Witches'' was created by Latvian artist Arthur Berzinsh and is a lavish walk-through of the lyricism, drawing on rich
renaissance The Renaissance ( , ) , from , with the same meanings. is a period in European history marking the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and covering the 15th and 16th centuries, characterized by an effort to revive and surpass ideas ...
themes and displaying them in beautiful-yet-unsettling scenarios. Half of the detailed pieces are totally original for the release, others are Berzinsh classics cunningly tailored to the themes of the album, which are themes rife with heady witchcraft, be it persecution, retribution or unfettered spiritual liberation. The female form is rampant throughout the artwork, unashamedly displayed in its classical rendition of beauty... and horror."


Release

The first single and video for the track "Right Wing of the Garden Triptych" was released on 14 May 2015. ''Hammer of the Witches'' was released on 10 July.


Reception

''Hammer of the Witches'' has received a favourable response from critics, who appreciated its change in direction. It has also received a more positive fan response than previous releases in recent years such as '' The Manticore and Other Horrors'' and '' Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa'', with many praising it as the band's best album since ''
Cruelty and the Beast ''Cruelty and the Beast'' is the third studio album by English extreme metal band Cradle of Filth. It is a concept album based on the legend of the Hungarian "blood countess" Elizabeth Báthory and features guest narration by actress Ingrid Pit ...
'' (1998). ''
The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...
'' called it "both a joyous nod towards past glories and a significant creative rebirth" and wrote "these are the most vital and incisive songs Dani Filth has conjured from the dark ether in a long time".
AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...
wrote "on their 11th studio album, this unholy horde, forever wrapped in corpse paint, leather, and spikes, look back more than they do forward. And that proves a good thing ..''Hammer of the Witches'' doesn't reach the heights of '' Dusk of Her Embrace'' , but it does offer proof that there is plenty of fire and creativity left in Cradle of Filth."


Track listing


Personnel

Credits for ''Hammer of the Witches'' adapted from liner notes.(2015). "''Hammer of the Witches'' liner notes". In ''Hammer of the Witches'' D booklet Nuclear Blast. Cradle of Filth *
Dani Filth Daniel Lloyd Davey (born 25 July 1973), known professionally as Dani Filth, is a British singer who is the vocalist, lyricist and founding member of the extreme metal band Cradle of Filth. He has a five-octave vocal range. Personal life Danie ...
– lead vocals, lyrics * Richard Shaw – guitar * Marek 'Ashok' Šmerda – guitar * Daniel Firth – bass * Lindsay Schoolcraft – female vocals, harp * Martin 'Marthus' Škaroupka – drums, keyboards, orchestrations, score, arrangements Additional musicians * Alexey Aslamas – violin * Dalibor Strunc – cimbalom Production * Scott Atkins – production, engineering, mixing, mastering * Toni Davey – design * Artūrs Bērziņš – cover art, artwork * Miloš Makovský – conductor * Rob Kimura – layout * Sam Scott-Hunter – photography


Charts


References


External links

* {{Authority control Cradle of Filth albums 2015 albums