Cradle of Filth is a band that has always flirted with commercial success. The band is loyal to its formula of black metal blended with melodies and gallop beats, but with each passing album, the band seems to be incorporating more hooks and sing-along choruses to their music. This was most noticeable on the band’s previous release “Nymphetamine” this album had a very splitting effect on the band’s fan base. As usual some people loved the album and others hated it. With “Thornography” Dani Filth and company have achieved what they set out to do with “Nymphetamine”. And that is to create an album that’s catchy but most important has some chest beating metal to it.

“Thornography” is Cradle of Filth crowning achievement, as the album contains a great balance of hooks and pounding beats that will please most black metal fans. The album is filled with the common Cradle of Filth trademarks, only this time they are arranged in a way that works a lot better than on any of the band’s previous releases. Not to mention the songwriting that has improved tremendously. The album starts things off with “Dirge Inferno” which comes off as one of the weaker songs on the record. The band makes it up with “Tonight in Flames”, probably one of the best songs on the record, the song contains a great mix of riffs and grooves. The intensity of the album continues with “Libertina Grimm” which is also a very bombastic track. Other great cuts of this album are “The Byronic Man”, “Cemetery & Sundown” and “I Am Thorn”. This album brings in a few new elements such as guitar solos and more melodies, which are fused with a lot of synth work and Dani Filth’s piercing shrieks.

“Thornography” is an album that finds Cradle of Filth on its strongest point, with a line-up that delivers on every song. The album does have some generic moments but the great songwriting and musicianship allow the band to indulge themselves, and in return they deliver a great black metal album that doesn’t feel prefabricated as most of their peers do.