hmmmmm...I'm a bit disappointed. I was really expecting this to be one of their best albums. I figured with a full orchestra, choir, and lotsa money, this would be something to behold. Sort of like Dimmu Borgir's "Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia" (their best album, in my opinion). I wouldn't say that "Damnation.." is a bad album, just that it's not likely to see the interior of my CD player very often, so long as I have all their other masterpieces. The main problem, I think, cannot be blamed on the new record company, but on the band themselves. It's the songwriting. There has always been something unique about a CoF song. Usually, it's the interesting intermission sections, like those at the ends of Death Magick for Adepts, Summer Dying Fast, Haunted Shores, Malice Through the Looking Glass, Lustmord and Wargasm, etc. But that flare is totally non-existent on this album. It's 100% generic stock "metal." The guitars never get a break. Furthermore, there are no lead guitars (I don't mean solos). All guitar parts are rhythm. The songs are so similar, it's difficult to tell when a new track has begun, unless you're paying close attention. Each one sounds like, "duh nu nu nu nu nu nu nu" There are a few songs that are pretty good, however. I like "A Promise of Fever," "Presents from the Poison-Hearted," and I think maybe 1 or 2 others. I'm likely to just put those few songs on my laptop and pretend the album was never released, hoping the next one is better. Does anyone else have this album? What do you think? Is it just me?

Okay, final listing of tracks I like: 2, 3, 8, 10, 11, 12, 15. These tracks are pretty good. That's 7 out of 17, or 41.17% of the CD. The instrumental tracks have really good qualities, but they just seem too brief. They really could have made them longer and more involved, like Creatures that Kissed in Cold Mirrors and Portrait of the Dead Countess. I wish they'd release orchestral versions of those songs :metalhead Anyway, I'd say that the album is worth purchasing if you're a CoF fan. Don't expect it to be better than anything they released after, and including, "Dusk...And Her Embrace," but its merits outweigh its detractions, I think. Its definetly better everything they released prior to "Dusk..."

i disagree full heartedly!!! i really like the new album i think it combines eveything togther nicely..and its a faster album but its really good. i also like the whole concept of making the cd and the lyrics to the story of genesis...i though that was cool...and the songs dont sound the same......my fav probably are 4,6,ummm shit, 10,14 and more i know..i mean i like em all so w/e..but yeah i like it!:metalhead

Where do you think it stands amongs Cradle's other albums? I'm not asking you to rank them, but are there albums you think are definetly better or worse?

shit i dunno.....each one is different as in using choir, or having mor eor less organs and such...so it matters which u like more..i guess i could say i like this one better than some and some more than this one...depends on my mood as wel..i know it sounds weird..heh

that doesn't sound weird. Cradle's sound changes so much from album to album, it just takes time to get used to. When I first got Midian, I didn't like it too much, but now it's definetly one of my favorites. Maybe I just need to get used "Damnation..."

indeed......the more i listen the more i like.... i dunno but listenig to their music gets me excited and happy...i love the little fuckers and their awsome ass music!

Eh, I lost any sort of faith in that little group of angry vampire people a long time ago. I am an avid Black Metal fan, and even play the stuff, and USED to be a huge fan of CoF. Now, I am one of their largest debunkers. Have heard some of their new CD, and was not at all impressed. Sounded much like everything else they do, where the instruments are very soft and the singing is a high pitched screaming girl talking about sex and vampires. None to appetizing to me, if you know what I mean.

meh...pish posh to me i supose

better to reign in hell blew me away the first time i listened to it and its still my favorite song along with presents from the poisen-hearted and the promise of fever (a typical opener i think).
I also like an enemy led the tempest, serpent tongue, carrion and doberman pharao.

i dont like the last three songs a lot, especially mannequin (sounds to me as if they needed a song to fill some space).

I also dont think damnation and a day is better than midian or cruelty and the beast (which is their best in my view) but its nevertheless a good album and worth the money.

Probably im going to see them live soon here in germany...even though i dont think they are a good live band im looking forward to it......

I agree with Zarthon, "Damnation..." can't be compared to Midian, Cruelty or Principle.
Of course, it is not a bad album, but it sounds too much like bitter suites did. The songs are too normal build up (esp. the Chorus' are used far too often).
"Better to reign in hell" is a topic that has often been used before. And the guitars are more thrash or death like black. When listening to the album, I always get the feeling like having heard a song like this before and having heard it better, more innovative...

@ Zarthon: Are we going to see them on stage or not?

i just got the album a few days ago and have listened to it many times already..... better then midian i think... seems more heavy to me... hurt and virtue, better to reign in hell and presents from the poison hearted are my fav's ...

mmmmm

midian is my fav along with bitter suites to succbi,

damnation blew me away

its not my fav... but its still quite bloody fantastic!

It's not my favorite (principle) but it is really damn good. I pretty much stopped listening to CoF ages ago but recently people have been dropping their stuff into my player and I've enjoyed it. Actually broke out a couple of the older discs and gave 'em a listen. Damnations really good, I enjoy it, and it's good to have a couple cds friends can stand in the car.

Nice sig, skinless.

*smiles*

thanks justin

switchblade symphony are brilliant

Oh, shit, I didn't reply to this.

Yeah, Damnation isn't as good as their past work.

They seem to be less black metal as every album progresses, to be honest.

So what? It's still decent. Doesn't have to be black metal to be good..

Its the fact that they are just losing their style... Especially since their 'Green Period.'

You see, that's funny, because CoF isn't black metal.