despite of its awkward album title, 'godspeed on the devil's thunder' evovled into my second to favourite cradle of filth album. after i wasn't totally convinced by 2004's 'nymphetamine' and 'thornography' was a downright disappointment in 2006, i lost track a little. eventually in 2010, after four years of complete abstinence and two years after the release of this record, i checked 'godspeed...' for the first time and was delighted.
gone were the horror rock elements of 'thronography' and gone was the exaggerated blood romantic of 'nymphetamine'. back with furious speed, back with majestic harmonies and back with frantic energy. some pissed punk attitude on top and you have one of the best cof records ever written. i love the great drumming of the then new member martin in particular. convince yourself with 'tragic kingdom' and 'darkness incarnate'.
the next thing that made me fall in love with this album is the lyrical concept. based on life and times of gilles de rais, 'godspeed...' is pure entertainment on various levels. de rais was a french nobleman living in the fifteenth century. he fought against the english on the side of jeanne d'arc. the album concept implies that gilles was in love with jeanne d'arc and after she was burned on the pyre, he gave hisself to alchemy and dark rituals inside his castle tiffauges.
the last part is historically proved and in order to fulfill his cruel rituals he is said to be the murderer of over a hundred victims at least, foremost children of the peasant population. after a considerable amount of time he was adjudged guilty for his crimes, first in front of a clerical and afterwards in front of a secular court and was hanged with two of his complices. stuff made for a cof album. it was pressed by roadrunner records in 2008 on an unknown amount of black vinyl.
