Images: Natalie Lorenz Photography
You knew things were gonna get wild the second you saw the queue snaking halfway down the street outside the Tivoli. The heavy hitting double trouble bill of DevilDriver and Cradle of Filth is always a recipe for beautiful mayhem, and they absolutely smashed it.
DevilDriver kicked things off like an absolute freight train. Honestly, seeing Dez Fafara up there after all his crazy health scares lately was incredible, he is completely re-energized and bringing a level of pure, unadulterated aggression that nobody else can match. The crowd lost its mind instantly. We’re talking relentless circle pits and, no joke, a guy in a wheelchair literally crowdsurfing over the barrier. Dez has the best team behind him now, with Alex Lee and Gabe Mangold shredding on guitars, Davier Perez absolutely ripping on the drums, and original bass beast Jon Miller back where he belongs. They hit us with this massive, heavy wall of sound that somehow kept the perfect mix of groove and melody. Even after twenty years, they’re still pushing forward, treating us to a bunch of unreleased stuff from the upcoming record alongside classics like “I Could Care Less” and that heavy-ass cover of “Sail.” By the time “End of the Line” wrapped up, the room was packed to the rafters.
After a quick set change, this creepy, atmospheric intro started pumping through the PA, and everyone knew it was time for Cradle of Filth. Dani Filth swaggered out looking like a disheveled vampire lord in his dark hood, leading a band that sounded like they were running from the grim reaper. With the moody lighting dialed in perfectly, they ripped through a killer setlist that gave a massive nod to their legendary older shows. They essentially took us on a wild ride through their massive back catalog, dusting off bangers like “Malignant Perfection,” “The Principle of Evil Made Flesh,” and the absolute epic “Bathory Aria.” Dani is just the ultimate showman. Hilarious, theatrical, and packed with endless energy. The room completely ate it up. You had old school metalheads, young kids, and parents all losing their minds together, switching from headbanging to violent mashing in a split second. Thank god the Tivoli actually had the AC pumping, because it was getting downright apocalyptic in there. Hearing “Her Ghost in the Fog” was a goosebump moment for the Brissy crowd. Cradle of Filth are just a different breed, and the metal scene would be a whole lot boring without them.
What an amazing kick off to this great double billing, there are barely any tickets left for the remaining shows, so don’t sleep on it. Get out and get in the pit
