Just in time for Halloween, Cradle of Filth have returned with a new standalone single and video, “Malignant Perfection,” which can be streamed below.
Frontman Dani Filth called the track the band’s “horrific homage to All Hallows Eve.” Subtle, bouncing keyboard lines are the most prominent sound in the mix aside from Dani’s raspy harsh vocals, creating a regal and festive atmosphere — as if he’s addressing a gathering of guests at some haunted banquet. Guitars are employed selectively, adding the occasional instrumental flourish and carrying the buildup during the song’s dramatic bridge section.
“It is a perfect musical accompaniment to the spirit of the witching season; invoking dark, Autumnal splendour and celebrating the time when the thin line between life and death is at its most tenuous and the denizens of the otherworld seek to break the veil into ours,” elaborated Dani in the press release for the song.
Regarding the video, featuring a very-Halloween cast of ghoulish entities — Dani added, “The video, directed by the imitable Vicente Cordero and featuring the creative masterstroke of one Missy Munster, is a playground of seductive darkness rife with malicious monsters and cryptid creations, all vying voraciously for the viewer’s eternal soul.”
The new song comes as the UK extreme metal vets gear up for their upcoming Fall UK/European tour. The outing kicks off October 27th in Bristol, UK, with tickets available here.
Watch the video for “Malignant Perfection” below.
“Malignant Perfection” Artwork: