Cradle of Filth Unleash Chaos & Carnage at Summit

May 17, 2025 Off By Jennifer Saint-Fort

Photos: Sandisz Thieme

The passion that Cradle of Filth brought to Chaos and Carnage at The Summit Music Hall Wednesday, May 14, created a unique, awesome space. One where, if nothing else, you could truly be yourself. From the smudged eyeliner, spiky hairstyles, and the feeling of freedom in the crowd, to the spikes, studs, leather, and full-face paint on stage, Cradle of Filth fully captivated me. And here I haven’t even mentioned the face-melting sounds of metal shrieking out of the speakers.

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The moment the lights dimmed, their bone-rattling chords forced a realization: this wasn’t just a concert. This was a ritual. Their devotion to their dark world was crystal clear and astounding.

This was my first Cradle of Filth show. I’ve been to other metal and hardcore shows, but taking part in Cradle of Filth’s ritual, being in this environment they created, it was different. It made me feel free and alive. They created a place where it was OK to be you and express yourself the way that you wanted to, just like frontman Dani Filth screeching like a crying valkyrie, or guitarist Marek Šmerda, who was raising hell in a full Pin-Head face paint. They created an environment that allowed me to tap into myself. I could feel the passion they have for the music and this environment they’d conjured up, all around me.

The sweat-soaked crowd, which is what the whole ritual is really for—bumping, shoving, and crowd surfing—was exhilarated. I could tell that they could feel it, too. It was as if we were on a different planet. The music didn’t just captivate you; we were possessed. Our souls were taken to some other place while our bodies continued to participate.

The bone-crushing sonics were out of this world. As the guitar sliced through the crowd and the drums pumped in our bloodstreams, everything became so poetic. You cannot deny the passion that Cradle of Filth has, and the passion that the fans send right back to the stage.