Cradle of Filth -- Moscow, Russia -- April 30th, 2011

[brutal_descent]

@ A2 (formerly known as B1 Maximum)
Support: Mandragora Scream

Humana Inspired To Nightmare
Heaven Torn Asunder
Funeral in Carpathia
Honey and Sulphur
Lilith Immaculate
Her Ghost in the Fog
Nymphetamine (Fix)
The Principle of Evil Made Flesh
Under Huntress Moon
Ebony Dressed for Sunset
The Forest Whispers My Name
Encore
Ave Satani
Cruelty Brought Thee Orchids
From the Cradle to Enslave

Cool show, my first black metal gig. Seeing Watain in early June, promises to be gooood.

Anyway, as Indestructible knows, I sort of ditched my friend around 7:15 to drive to the venue. He was supposed to come by around half past 7, but obviously he got lost or something. I now know he never came by, so I made the right decision

As soon as I got to the venue (club A2, home to many fine acts such as Megadeth, Anthrax, Cannibal Corpse, and Alice Cooper), I noticed there was a OH MY FUCKING GOD WHAT THE FUCK huge line to the stairs leading to the floor. Needless to say, I was extremely surprised to see so many people lined up to see a band like Cradle of Filth. There must be a fuckload of gothic/black/extreme metal fans in Moscow I cut the line somehow, and when they let everyone in I think I heard some people being trampled on the stairs. Poor decision on management's part. The floor was empty, and I took the center rail spot.

The set start time was 9 PM, but for some reason the opening act (Italian female-fronted gothic metal act Mandragora Scream) came out at around 8:15. They played around 7-8 songs, but I couldn't get into them at all. Their singer reminded me too much of Doro, who is (in my humble opinion) way too old to be singing metal. At least for a woman I'm sort of meh towards all female-fronted metal apart from Arch Enemy and Eyes Set to Kill. Maybe I haven't heard the right ones yet

Cradle of Filth came out at 9:20-ish, and fuck the setlist - the stage prescence James Mcllroy, their rhythm guitarist, has is fucking amazing. I was just watching him rock out all night That guy is like, the coolest live guitarist I've ever seen. Dani Filth was, y'know, Dani Filth, so I wasn't too impressed. Everything sound-wise was spot on, and I actually did like the fast, thrashy old stuff they played.

8.5/10 show.

Plus their keyboardist is pretty cute for a goth

[mars24]

Humana Inspired To Nightmare
Heaven Torn Asunder
Funeral in Carpathia
The Principle of Evil Made Flesh
The Forest Whispers My Name
Cruelty Brought Thee Orchids