LIVE REVIEW: CRADLE OF FILTH + DEVILDRIVER @ THE TIVOLI 09/07/26

Words by Cecilia Pattison-Levi Photos Charlyn Cameron

Brisbane was about to be hit by “double trouble” with two distinct and contrasting co-headliners, Cradle Of Filth and DevilDriver, joining forces to deliver heavy metal's most improbable concert mix. As I approached the Tivoli, the lines stretched away from the venue in two directions. I have never seen such a huge VIP line. The GA line had already stretched down the road. The look was basic black everywhere. It was going to be a huge night!

The Tivoli is an excellent venue for heavy metal bands to play and the sold-out crowd packed in to see this fascinating show. The feeling around the venue was buzzing. Now, it’s important for context to realise that the bands have links, similarities and differences. It is important to note the link that Dez Fafara manages Dani Filth and Cradle Of Filth. The similarities are that both bands have distinctive front men and vocalists: Dani Filth is unmistakable, as is DevilDriver’s Dez Fafara. The differences between the bands are: Cradle Of Filth is the perfect union of goth, metal, horror and the macabre, while DevilDriver delivers some of the hardest-hitting groove metal sounds one could ever hear.

The night commenced to the sounds of rain and a building storm coming through the PA before DevilDriver arrived on stage to unleash a torrent and a wall of hard metal sounds with ‘Clouds Over California’. Dez Fafara welcomed the crowd to the gig with a “Hello Brisbane” and a “Let’s get that pit open and let’s dance”. The band delivered ‘Not All Who Wander Are Lost’ and an enthusiastic mosh pit started to boil and bounce. The band reached out into the crowd to give high fives and the joyous, groove-laden set began.

DevilDriver formed in Santa Barbara, California, in 2002. The band emerged as one of the most successful groove metal bands of the post-Pantera era with their unique combination of chugging riffs and infectious rhythms with the raw intensity of death metal. Like any band that has been touring and recording for as long as DevilDriver, the band has undergone several line-up changes over the years, with the only consistent member being Dez Fafara. The current iteration of the band features founding bass player Jon Miller, guitarists Alex Lee and Gabe Mangold, and drummer Davier Ortega Perez.

The red and white lights pulsed as the guitars squealed and the bassline and drums pounded as Dez Fafara roared over the top as ‘The Wretched’ was played. Fists were in the air and the first crowd surfers had made their way to the barrier. The guitarist was playing so hard the guitar broke. This short break gave Dez Fafara a chance to address the crowd and organise the circle pit. As the guitarist returned, the band quickly started to deliver ‘I Could Care Less’.

Then, the two best songs from DevilDriver’s new album Strike And Kill, the fun ‘Dig Your Own Grave’ and the aggressive ‘Dead In The Water’, were performed next. Dez Fafara told the circle pit “to run”, then checked in on the drummer after that marathon effort. The mosh pit was going off and becoming very dynamic. DevilDriver fed off the crowd’s energy as the command was given: “When this shit kicks in, I want to see you put the boot in.”

Then, the tracks ‘Hold Back The Day’, ‘My Night Sky’, ‘Sail’ and ‘GrinFucked’ made the crowd bounce harder, headbang more and the crowd surfers – even a guy crowd surfing in a wheelchair – kept coming over the barrier. Dez Fafara was so impressed with the crowd’s effort while surfing the wheelchair he just stood there and said: “Fuck yeah!”

Dez Fafara let the crowd know about his love of rain and the storm and his first ever song before the band launched into it: ‘Cry for Me Sky (Eulogy of the Scorned)’. Then, Dez Fafara only needed to say the words “let’s move” and the circle pit was moving like a herd of cattle being mustered. And, the delicate heavy metal ballad turned into a monster of a headbanging anthem.

Then, Dez Fafara encouraged the crowd to put their middle fingers high into the sky as he said: “Show us your middle fingers because in life this is a tool,” as he encouraged the crowd “to live every day” while the band performed ‘The Mountain’.

Dez Fafara let the crowd know that “this is our last song – and I’m not going to yell at you – get down here and dance” as he turned his attention to a fan on the floor. “I wouldn’t want to box with you.” Then, the band played ‘End Of The Line’, which was like hitting a wall of sound. At the end, DevilDriver left the stage as picks and drumsticks were thrown into the appreciative crowd.

There was a stage reset for Cradle Of Filth. The stage was stripped back, a synth was put in place and setlists were plastered to the floor. The crowd waited until the lights went down and the Tivoli was turned a royal purple shade. Out of the mist came medieval monk-like shapes as the band took to the stage and got into position.

Cradle Of Filth formed in Suffolk, England, in 1991. While the band’s origins could be considered more black metal, over the years they have developed their sound to be much grander, with goth, horror and the macabre blending into their heavy metal template. The band consists of Daniel Lloyd Davey, aka Dani Filth, Kelsey Peters (synths), Martin "Marthus" Škaroupka (drums), Daniel Firth (bass) and guitarists Donny Burbage and Joff Bailey. Their sound features haunting female vocals blended with dual guitars, orchestral synths and thumping basslines – the sonic, rock opera theatrical landscape was unmistakable.

The crowd was at full frenzy when Cradle Of Filth started to play and the lights illuminated their white faces as the music literally erupted into a wild mix of sound. It was like a sonic assault as ‘To Live Deliciously’ was played. The next two tracks, ‘Demagoguery’ and ‘Nocturnal Supremacy’, followed quickly as the screams and roars of Dani Filth’s vocals filtered through the venue.

Dani Filth stopped to address the crowd with a jokey “Greetings Austria – I was close?” before saying, “Brisbane, make some noise,” and the crowd reaction was huge. Cradle Of Filth ploughed on, first informing the “flaming galahs” about the history behind ‘Malignant Perfection’. Then ‘The Principles Of Evil Made Flesh’ followed, and it was historic. It had a whole new edginess to it as Dani Filth leaned over the fan suggestively to cool off while singing.

The merging of Dani Filth’s vocals with Kelsey Peters proved to be a perfect coupling that really added to the soundscape. It also became obvious that Dani Filth had picked up a bug while travelling to Oz. He was putting his face into a humidifier to help him breathe. Kelsey Peters’ vocals were a real treat as she underscored the band’s devilish aggression with her angelic counterpoint, holding the melody line together as the crescendo swept over the crowd.

The crowd was loving the set as it built in gothic tension. The guitarists and bassist were simply off the charts and were in complete harmony with each other as ‘How Many Tears’ and ‘Nymphetamine’ were performed. The orchestral elements came into play with ‘White Hellebore’ and ‘Bathory Aria’, and the crowd surfers started breaking over the barrier. Each musician in Cradle Of Filth played their vital and enigmatic role as ringmaster Dani Filth conducted the crowd and narrated the set.

With these songs over, the regulation set had finished and the band left the stage bathed in green light and distortion as a disembodied voice talked about the “depths of hell”. But the encore was ready to go as Cradle Of Filth returned to deliver ‘Gilded’ and ‘Cruelty Brought Thee Orchids’. The last song of the night was wrapped in pageantry and an unrelenting pace as ‘Her Ghost In The Fog’ was performed.

Cradle Of Filth thanked the crowd as they took a band photograph with the audience. The noise of appreciation was massive. As Dez Fafara had stated earlier to the crowd: “You guys have made it worthwhile coming here – the travel, the time – it**’**s great when this is the result.” One exhausted but very happy crowd wandered off into the night.