Cradle of Filth

The latest aural excretion from Cradle of Filth is a transitory creature, revisiting last year's Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa while looking ahead to an orchestral monster now in progress. The Evermore Darkly CD features mostly remix and demo material, framed by a little narration and a new track ("Thank Your Lucky Stars") on one end and an orchestral reworking of "Summer Dying Fast" on the other. This particular transformation involves tossing out any kind of electric guitar work and lead vocals and going for a brooding film soundtrack aesthetic ― the band's usual level of orchestration taken to a more grandiose level. An optional companion DVD sees the UK goth metallers (tongues firmly in cheek) expose themselves in visual form as well, with live footage, a promo video and a mini-"rockumentary." Cradle of Filth completists or collectors will want to add this to their collection, but the CD on its own is pretty ordinary fare, a placeholder before their next more elaborate release.