I t was the 5th of December, and all the boys and girls in the Netherlands opened presents they got from Sinterklaas, but in Amsterdam there was a spooky vibe going around. It was time for Cradle of Filth to haunt the Melkweg. Alongside Black Satellite, Mental Cruelty and Butcher Babies this was going to be a night to remember. 

The opener of the night was none other than Black Satellite fronted by Larissa Vale. Earlier that day we got the chance to speak to Larissa Vale about the band and what the future has in store. You can check out the interview here. The crowd slowly started to walk in because the doors opened pretty early for a show on a weekday 18:00 PM so it wasn’t that crowded when the band started playing at 18:45 PM . The people that were there did get to see a new band on their first ever European tour. Their mix of industrial and goth with an American touch brought a certain flair to this night and most of the crowd seemed to enjoy it. For their first time in the Netherlands I was quite impressed by what the band was able to do with the small crowd that amassed in front of the stage and while most of their songs are new to the people in the Melkweg. I think it’s safe to say that they made some new fans after the show ended. They played for about 30 minutes and they played most of their own songs plus a special cover at the end to keep the crowd going.

Mental Cruelty took over the stage after a brief changeover and wow there was so much energy with the band. In this quite diverse lineup deathcore band, Mental Cruelty had their work cut out for them but they blew everyone away as soon as the first note started. The opening song “Midvinter” started off a bit slow but after the intro an explosive wall of sound scattered the eardrums and brought smiles to many faces in the crowd. From that moment on we were treated to blackened deathcore at its finest and I was happy to be standing in the front with friends for this one. Dancing, circle pits and mosh pits swept the crowd away from beginning to end and it was really a sight to behold.  If you ever have the chance to see this band live, just do it ! 

Before the headliner of the evening Cradle Of Filth started, Butcher Babies came on stage.

I’m going to be very honest here, they were not at their best. Ever since the lineup change it seems they have lost a bunch of energy and at this show it just really fell flat. 

Now it was time for the headliner of the evening: Cradle of Filth. The stage looked like it came from a horror movie with skeletons on each side and cages around the drum kit. The recognizable voice of Dani Filth blasting over the speakers, and we were off. Personally I think Filth’s voice has become better over the years and this show everything just worked together. Maybe it was because I was standing all the way in the front but the sound was amazing. The variety of songs from older albums to their latest release “Malignant Perfection” it felt truly amazing to see them perform on a headline tour again. A lot of fan favorites were played and left the crowd amazed, happy and wanting more. I was very happy to hear the first notes of “Nymphetamine (fix)” as I turned around and saw the entire crowd singing along. “Existential Terror”, “Summer Dying Fast”, “Heartbreak and Seance” and “Born in a Burial Gown” were played before the show had a quick break for the encore. While the band was taking their quick break and came back for 3 more bangers I was really hoping for 1 song. As “Cruelty Brought Thee Orchids” & “Scorched Earth Erotica” passed i looked to someone on my right and said well I hope they will still play my favorite song (as apparently everyone does when they go see a band play live). At that moment someone else walked on stage and the intro started for “Her Ghost in the Fog” I think I jumped so high because of sheer joy, everyone looked at me as if I was crazy but I didn’t care because they played my song !  The band said their goodbyes and that was it, another successful show and another night of music done. Sad that it was over but happy that I was able to see Cradle of Filth shine again.

Black Satellite Setlist

Dead Eye
Broken
Far Away
Void
Don’t Remind Me
Decay
Sonne (Rammstein Cover)

Mental Cruelty Setlist

Midvinter
Obsessis a Deamonio
King Ov Fire
Forgotten Kings
Nordlys
Zwielicht
Symphony of a Dying Star

Butcher Babies Setlist

Backstreets of Tennessee
Red Thunder
Monsters Ball
King pin
Sleeping with the Enemy
Sincerity
It’s Killin’ Time, Baby!
Beaver Cage
Spittin’ Teeth
Last December
Magnolia Blvd

Cradle of Filth Setlist

Existential Terror
Saffron’s Curse
The Forest Whispers My Name
She is a Fire
Malignant Perfection
Summer Dying Fast
Heartbreak and Seance
Nymphetamine (Fix)
Born in a Burial Gown
Malice Through the Looking Glass

(encore)

Cruelty Brought Thee Orchids
Scorched Earth Erotica
Her Ghost in the Fog