While the over the top visuals, onstage and off, have garnered Dani Filth and his British purveyors of death a decent following, many a metalhead (especially those above the drinking age) wants nothing to do with them. That’s unfortunate, given the quality of their recent recorded output. With a whopping 15 tracks on the expanded, two-disc digi-pak, "Darkly Darkly Venus Aversa" continues to see Dani tone down the frenetic yelping and at the same time, write fast, sinister numbers. In a return to those early Cacophonous releases, it’s substance over form, once more. The first instrument heard is a harpsichord, female haunting cooing and symphonic string are met with a female voiceover. BANG! Right into screeches, pounding drums and wild guitars. ‘One Foul Step From The Abyss’ sees Filth practically whispering his words, in a throaty rasp. Could hear ‘Forgive Me Father (I Have Sinned)’ on a Paradise Lost or My Dying Bride album in the late 90s. Grandiose symphonic elements, piano, female voice, even speaking roles (‘Lilith Immaculate’, ‘Beyond Eleventh Hour’) are never far away, throwing all into a heady witches brew.

If you’ve been put off by the name Cradle Of Filth, or never venture into the (shallow?) end of this pool, maybe it’s time to check out the darkly lit corner.