UK metal vets Cradle of Filth released their 13th studio album, Existence Is Futile, back in October, and completed a fall US tour in support of the effort. Frontman Dani Filth recently caught up with Heavy Consequence to discuss the LP, what it was like recording and touring during the pandemic, and Cradle of Filth’s 30th anniversary as a band.
“Is it fair to say that I actually enjoyed the pandemic at first?” remarked Dani when we asked him about recording the new album during lockdowns. “Because we literally just finished three years of ’round the world touring … 2019 was literally our biggest year ever.”
He went on to say that the pandemic allowed the band more time to work on the album at a comfortable pace. “We had the majority of the record already written on the tour,” he added. “And then the pandemic stuck proper, and there were lockdowns and everything. … It was essentially just me and the producer in the studio for a couple of months. … It just afforded us that luxury of being very clinical and self-analytical about [the recording of the album].”
As one of the few overseas acts to successfully mount a US tour in 2021, Dani also talked the band’s experience of touring while following COVID protocols. “We had to jump through so many hoops just to get [to the States],” said Dani. “They didn’t make it easy for us, but we persevered.”
In addition to discussing select songs from Existence Is Futile, Dani also reflected on Cradle of Filth’s 30 years as a band, having formed the group in 1991. Among his favorite moments over the past three decades was Cradle of Filth’s stint on the Ozzfest tour in 2003.
“It was a long 10-week summer [run],” recalled Dani. “It was a huge lineup, and the things we got up to … it was just immensely fun. … When you imagine being in a band [and] a rock star, that’s the kind of thing you imagine in your head. … That just stands out as a huge moment in the band’s career. … When I came back, my blood was literally green colored from all the Jägermeister!”
Watch our full interview with Dani Filth in the video above, and pick up Cradle of Filth’s new album, Existence Is Futile, via Amazon. While Cradle of Filth have yet to announce any 2022 US tour plans, the band will be streaming a special “Infernal Vernal Equinox” livestream concert on March 20th, in which they’ll be playing their 1996 album, Dusk… And Her Embrace, in full. Pick up tickets here.
Trouble viewing the video interview in the player above? Watch on YouTube.
