Jun 15 2026, 9.34am / Features
Dear Joey and Brooke, What a wild ride! I just wanted to write to express …
Cradle of Filth’s dark, theatrical and brutal performance will once again return to our shores, this time around in support of their latest album Cryptoriana–The Seductiveness of Decay released 8 months ago.
On their 12th studio album the band went for a Victorian gothic horror tale after frontman Dani Filth was persuaded by his wife to take inspiration from the 19-century literature he was reading and use it in the albums lyrics.
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The lengthy promotion of the album embarked them on a busy touring schedule that has covered many parts of the globe so we asked them if once they arrive in Australia they will get some time off to do regular tourist activities and site seeing: “We hope so, time allowing” says keyboardist Lindsey Schoolcraft, “This will be my first time in Australia, so as well as looking forward to the shows, I’m really looking forward to seeing and experiencing as much as possible”.
In 27 years the band’s appeal in the underground extreme metal world has grown considerably and they are now into a second generation of fans who are claiming the music as their own. When attending a Cradle of Filth show it is a mixed crowd of old fans that have made the band their soundtrack and younger fans that are just discovering the outfit’s intriguing hellish idiom for the first time: “You can definitely see some of the audience getting older, the fans who have grown with the band. But we see younger fans all the time too. I think we’ve reached that level where older siblings or parents are introducing their kids to our music and it’s being passed down. It’s great to see how wide spread the age range is at our shows”.
I think a lot of people are drawn to the darker side of life. Fairytales have their dark moments that are meant to terrify and teach us lessons.
[ Lindsey Schoolcraft ]
The outfit’s vision of creating a sinister stage show alongside an aesthetic style that is often seen in gothic fairytales and horror films has allowed the band to spread their wings creatively and with each new album and tour they find new inspiration to keep their nightmarish imaginations alive but after all these years how are they able to consistently reinvent themselves? “All of us watch horror films and are influenced by classic metal/rock/punk bands of the past. There’s something about those classic bands and horror films that appear larger than life. We intend to do the same with our music and live shows. It’s not enough for us to simply go onstage in our street wear. Don’t get me wrong, some bands do it incredibly well and I love those bands, but for Cradle, the image goes hand in hand with the music”. Cradle Of Filth’s charming English countryside town in Suffolk hardly seems like a place for a demonic metal band but Lindsey insists they are all real people who are real music fans and their stage act reflects their personalities: “It’s not that it’s not real, it’s just this extension of our darker sides that everyone has. We’re just lucky in Cradle that we get to release it onstage. Offstage, I think we’re all just music and film geeks who are lucky enough to tour the world and make music”.
I’ve got friends in the industry who have had number one albums in the UK and are still struggling to make a living and struggling to match that success.
[ Lindsey Schoolcraft ]
For some the fascination with the darker side comes early; as kids perhaps it could be a tendency for frightening your friends or a flair for wicked costumes during Halloween. It all lies in the person’s imagination and has been a major source of inspiration for artists throughout the centuries: “I think a lot of people are drawn to the darker side of life. Fairytales have their dark moments that are meant to terrify and teach us lessons. You could say Disney films have their moments of mild fright. I think everyone is drawn to it at some point from an early age. Some of us are lucky enough to channel that darker side”.
Download Cradle Of Filth’s Cryptoriana -The Seductiveness Of Decay here.
When Cradle of Filth are on tour it takes some stamina and a level of fitness to perform the music they play night after night and they admit it can be difficult to keep in shape for a tour. The band claims the sheer intensity of their performance keeps them fit by default but they are aware of ex band members who’ve had serious neck problems and have heard horror stories of musician’s necks seizing up. For all these reasons the band takes stretching exercises before they go on stage very seriously and another important factor that fits into their touring lifestyle is to not underestimate the power of a good nights sleep. It’s no wonder bands do break up and burn out after being together for so long but the flame has kept going for Cradle of Filth simply because they love what they do: “I love music so much that I never feel the need to get away from it. Even on days off, if there happens to be a band in town, I’ll go. But saying that, sometimes you need a break from playing and listening to metal. I listen to all kinds of music to balance myself out. When I’m home, I usually keep occupied by seeing friends and family, so I naturally get a break from 24/7 music and the lifestyle of the road.
To be in this industry, it’s a lifestyle that you have to be 100% in love with. Any doubt and it’s not for you.
[ Lindsey Schoolcraft ]
These extreme metal lords have had three top ten albums on the billboard hard rock charts but it isn’t the be all or end all for them, they’re also not a band who earn mega bucks as some might imagine. They are working musicians who also earn a living through teaching and as session players: “I’ve got friends in the industry who have had number one albums in the UK and are still struggling to make a living and struggling to match that success. All I’ve ever wanted is a career in music and we’re lucky to have incredibly supportive fans that will come to see us time and time again. That means more than any chart position or awards. I’m lucky to earn a living playing music back home, but I don’t earn a living purely from Cradle of Filth. Saying that, I wouldn’t change it for the world. To be in this industry, it’s a lifestyle that you have to be 100% in love with. Any doubt and it’s not for you”.
If you have felt the absence of an unsettling and haunting evening that pits bone-chilling fear against hot-blooded metal passion for five long years, then get ready for Cradle of Filth’s fleeting Australian return on their Cyptoriana World Tour this May.
Cradle Of Filth Cyptoriana World Tour dates below:
Wednesday 9 May // The Basement // Canberra (18+ *new venue, all tickets remain valid*)
Thursday 10 May // The Triffid // Brisbane (18+)
Friday 11 May // 170 Russell // Melbourne (18+)
Saturday 12 May // Metro Theatre // Sydney (18+)
Monday 14 May // Capitol // Perth (18+)
