LIVE REVIEW: Cradle Of Filth, Butcher Babies, High Parasite, Black Satellite, SWG3, Glasgow, 07/11/2024
Photo Credit: Andy Davies
The anticipation in the air tonight as we entered Glasgow’s SWG3 venue was electric. This was the first Cradle of Filth show in five years and the long queue up the street stood testament to how much of a respected band they are in 2024.
Black Satellite was up first, all the way from New York to warm up the respectably sized Glasgow crowd. Let’s face it, opening up a four-band bill on a weeknight is not an easy task, but the band rose to the occasion with ease with their hard-hitting industrial metal, bringing to mind bands like Korn or even Linkin Park in places. Let’s make no mistake here though, this band are fully capable of carving out their own path and becoming a well-respected name in the metal scene. We’re already looking forward to their return to Glasgow.
High Parasite, were up next. New on the scene, fronted by Aaron Stainthorpe of My Dying Bride, and despite being a new band, the confidence and charisma on display was staggering. The bands doomy mid-paced metal had the first front rows headbanging in unison, and the band gave a great performance. The fact they’re already booked for some of next year’s hottest metal festivals says a lot. Keep this band on your radar.
After stealing the show last time they were in town opening for Fear Factory, LA’s finest Butcher Babies exploded onto the stage and delivered the sort of energy most bands can only dream of. Tonight, they were playing as a three- piece due to visa issues, but this did not stop the band in their quest to destroy the Glasgow crowd. Frontwoman Heidi Shepherd gives the performance of a lifetime, up against it due to the loss of band members, but nothing gets in the way of this band delivering a truly amazing performance every time they play. The large crowd lapped up every moment, with Heidi even leading a huge circle pit at one point! The band’s groove-filled party metal might make people wonder if they were a good choice opening for tonight’s headliners, but in reality, they were the perfect fit.
The lights dropped, and it was time for tonight’s headliners, Cradle of Filth, to lay waste to Glasgow and true to their reputation, that’s exactly what they did. Set opener Existential Terror ignited carnage on the dance floor as the venue crowd swayed forward whilst frontman Dani Filth led the band with his unique, outstanding voice, which still makes my jaw drop after all these years of seeing the band live.
A dive into the band’s back catalogue was in order, with Saffrons Curse and 1UU4’s The Forest Whispers My Name sounding massive, echoing around the large SWG3 hall. The lighting was spot on, with the moody colours making the experience of watching the band as wonderful as listening. The current line up of Cradle of Filth looked and sounded stronger than ever. Guitarists Marek Šmerda and Donny Burbage work perfectly together, solidifying a solid wall of noise. The incredible Martin “Marthus” Škaroupka on drums held everything together whilst never missing a beat. A true master of his craft.
Malice Through the Looking Glass from the 1996 classic Dusk and Her Embrace sounded as devasting as it did when we first saw the band live in 1997. In fact, we have to say, we stood amazed at how, after all these years, the band still sounded this incredible. Dani Filth was full of humour between songs and clearly loved the response Glasgow was giving the band. After tonight’s staggering performance, it’s easy to pin him as one of the finest frontmen in British metal history.
The encore of Cruelty Brought Thee Orchids, Scorched Earth Erotica and Her Ghost in the Fog was nothing short of faultless. As the lights came up, a few thousand fists raised into the air for one last time ending one of the finest metal performances this reviewer has seen in a long time.
Words and Photos: Andy Davies
