When I got this album, in order to write this review, my feelings were quite complex I may say. On one hand I was very excited because I was about to listen the brand new album of the band which brought a whole different sound in the extreme Metal music. On the other hand these guys have released 3 albums since Midian that I don't even want to recall their titles...Two years after the ambivalent Thornography, CRADLE OF FILTH returns to drawn us back to the good old times of the band. Without further blabbering, let us go straight to the point.
The eighth CRADLE OF FILTH album Godspeed On The Devil's Thunder is 'more' than what I expected to be. Subtitled The Life And Crimes Of Gilles De Rais it is a concept album about the life of Gilles De Rais, the French noble man who was Joan of Arc's brother in arms. The cover of the album (I am talking about the standard edition, which I think  is a very poor cover artwork selection for a CRADLE OF FILTH album, and especially in comparison to their previous album covers) - clearly depicts the double life of Gilles De Rais showing his multiple nature from the ostensibly religious landlord to a corrupted liege, and from one hand God and the other Devil and hell, giving us a preview of the album concept.
Once again CRADLE OF FILTH uses the well-known atmospherical opening pattern with In Grandeur And Frankincense Devilment Stirs which is typical for a CRADLE OF FILTH album and sets the mood for the whole album. Then they create variety with the catchy Shat Out Of Hell and Death Of Love, which has a heroic and almost epic timbre to the boldness and might of Tragic Kingdom.
Godspeed On The Devil's Thunder is dark, heavy, strong and fast! It is how a CRADLE OF FILTH album should sound like! It is full of great and inspired guitar riffs, showing that the band is returning to their Black Metal musical trademark, leaving behind the gothic or trashy passes of their last works. The keyboard parts are excellent, providing the band's dark, sounds of an asylum like atmosphere we were used to all these years, without being overwhelming and boring as if they were trying to just fill in the gaps of their  music. The guitars riffs are really clever and unique in each song, having a British Heavy Metal manipulation and being catchy as well as virtuosic. The rhythm section has done an awesome, solid work, varying between fast and groovy rhythms. Especially the drumming is quite impressive, being technical or simpler when needed, and with the blast beating to be back for good. I did not find any of the thirteen songs in the album to work as filler and I believe tracks like Tragic Kingdom and Midnight Shadows Crawl To Darken Counsel With Life will enter the favorite list of the band's fans.
The narrations are done by the Pinhead man from the Hellraiser movies, Dug Bradley. Dani Filth has given for once again his best so that his vocals can take any form. The CRADLE OF FILTH frontman displays his vocal flexibility going from brutal, high-pitched, raw to recitations having as a result the creation of voices and vocal lines that can make you imagine that Gilles De Rais is right in front of you. Sarah Jezebel Daeva has also sung the backing vocals in this album providing her well-known and tested voice qualities. It must also be mentioned that in many songs a young girl can be heard, sometimes speaking and sometimes laughing.
The album is produced by Andy Sneap, who has previously worked with CRADLE OF FILTH while mixing the band's 2006 album Thornography. You can't expect anything more that a powerful sound outcome a band like this ought to have, in order to provide its music at its best.
Godspeed On The Devil's Thunder was a really unexpected surprise for my ears and I am sure that CRADLE OF FILTH fans will be enjoying this album over and over again.